Bill > HB449

This bill addresses water well restrictions for property owners by prohibiting certain covenants and water service companies from preventing customers from installing private water wells for irrigation purposes. Specifically, the bill prevents homeowners' associations and water service companies with over 2,000 customer connections from creating or enforcing rules that would stop property owners from installing, operating, or maintaining water wells on their own land for irrigation. The wells must be used exclusively on the owner's property, cannot provide water to other parcels, and the owner cannot sell water from the well or authorize others to use it. The bill defines key terms like "surface water" and "water services" and applies to both existing and future covenants and contracts. Importantly, the bill does not override local county, municipal, or consolidated government regulations regarding water well installation. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to give property owners more flexibility in managing their water resources for landscape irrigation, potentially reducing reliance on municipal water systems for non-drinking water needs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70321