Existing Rights-of-Way and Easements

Property owners are responsible for maintaining their property and improvements within a Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) right-of-way. The SNWA will maintain only its facilities, many of which are buried and are not visible from the surface.

Improvements

To protect Water Authority facilities from damage, all proposed improvements must be pre-approved by the SNWA Development Plan Review office and all work must be in accordance with the provisions of the existing easement and consistent with Water Authority standards. Usually, these provisions and standards define certain owner improvements as being either acceptable or prohibited, as indicated below.

Acceptable improvements:

• Parking lots
• Shallow-rooted landscaping
• Walkways

Prohibited improvements:

• Buildings
• Structures
• Walls
• Posts
• Fences
• Trees
• Deep-rooted shrubs

The Water Authority must be contacted before starting construction work or alterations of any kind. An application package must be submitted to the Development Plan Review office for review and approval.

After obtaining approval and before starting construction, use the "Call Before You Dig" hotline at 811 to determine the locations of existing utilities in the construction area, including SNWA facilities, free of charge.

A Water Authority transmission inspector will monitor the construction activities within the SNWA easement for compliance with the approved plans.

For more information regarding working within an existing right-of-way or easement, or to determine whether or not there is an existing SNWA facility or right-of-way on your property, contact SNWA Development Plan Review at (702) 862-3444. Rights-of-way held by SNWA also should be listed on a title report for your property.