County set to freeze grading permits for manmade waterbodies, 90 days
Teton County commissioners are set to adopt a 90-day freeze on accepting grading permits for new manmade waterbodies, and for modifications to existing ones, while staff drafts new rules.
Teton County commissioners are set to adopt a 90-day freeze on accepting grading permit applications that include new construction of manmade waterbodies, or modifications of existing manmade waterbodies, in unincorporated Teton County, per a draft resolution on Thursday afternoon. The resolution directs the County Engineer to stop accepting those applications for 90 days, and it says applicants may need to revise multi-part grading applications to remove any waterbody work before re-submittal. special meeting agenda
The freeze is tied to grading permit review under the Land Development Regulations (LDRs), and it is aimed at buying time to draft new regulations for manmade waterbodies. The draft carves out exemptions for stormwater management ponds verified by the County Engineer as having the sole purpose of stormwater management, and for agricultural ponds that are part of an agricultural operation meeting the standards for exemption in Land Development Regulation 6.1.3.B. freeze resolution
Background
In October 2026, the Teton County Planning Commission recommended a nine-month freeze on grading permits for new manmade waterbodies to allow time for regulatory updates and water quality protections.
Latest: 2026-10-12 — Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend a nine-month temporary freeze on grading permits for new manmade waterbodies, with specific exemptions, to the Board of County Commissioners.
curated as of 2026-10-21
Teton County's freeze on new manmade waterbodies allows time to update LDRs per the $1.2M Water Quality Management Plan (June 2024), with new rules expected by September 2027 or sooner.
Latest: 2027-09-02 — Estimated end of extended freeze period; new LDRs expected to be adopted and effective by this date at the latest.
curated as of 2026-10-24
Source Documents
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| September 3, 2026 | Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting Agenda | agenda |
| September 3, 2026 | Manmade Waterbody 90-Day Freeze Resolution | resolution |