Water Rights Doctrine by State

Name: Water Rights Doctrine by State
Creator: Federal & State Law
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Federal & State Law Editorial TeamLast reviewed: April 2026

Eastern states generally follow the riparian rights doctrine, which ties water use to land ownership adjacent to a waterway. Western states predominantly follow prior appropriation ('first in time, first in right'), while several western and mid-continent states use a hybrid system combining elements of both doctrines.

50 States4 data columnsLast updated: 2026-05-23

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State	Surface Water Doctrine	Groundwater Doctrine	Permit Required	Citation
Alabama	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Ala. Code §9-10B-1 et seq.
Alaska	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Alaska Stat. §46.15.010 et seq.
Arizona	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Ariz. Rev. Stat. §45-101 et seq.
Arkansas	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Reasonable use	For large uses	Ark. Code Ann. §15-22-201 et seq.
California	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Correlative rights	Yes	Cal. Water Code §100 et seq.; Katz v. Walkinshaw (1903)
Colorado	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Colo. Rev. Stat. §37-92-101 et seq.
Connecticut	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Conn. Gen. Stat. §22a-365 et seq.
Delaware	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Del. Code Ann. tit. 7, §6001 et seq.
Florida	Riparian	Reasonable use	Yes	Fla. Stat. §373.019 et seq. (Consumptive Use Permit)
Georgia	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Ga. Code Ann. §12-5-20 et seq.
Hawaii	Riparian	Reasonable use	Yes	Haw. Rev. Stat. §174C-1 et seq. (public trust doctrine)
Idaho	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Idaho Code §42-101 et seq.
Illinois	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Ill. Comp. Stat. ch. 525, §45/1 et seq.
Indiana	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Ind. Code §14-25-3-1 et seq.
Iowa	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Iowa Code §455B.261 et seq.
Kansas	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Prior appropriation	Yes	Kan. Stat. Ann. §82a-701 et seq.
Kentucky	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §151.100 et seq.
Louisiana	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	La. Rev. Stat. §30:961 et seq. (civil law tradition)
Maine	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 38, §401 et seq.
Maryland	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Md. Code, Env. §5-501 et seq.
Massachusetts	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 21G, §1 et seq.
Michigan	Riparian	Restatement (Second) approach	For large uses	Mich. Comp. Laws §324.32701 et seq.
Minnesota	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Minn. Stat. §103G.271 et seq.
Mississippi	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Miss. Code Ann. §51-3-1 et seq.
Missouri	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Mo. Rev. Stat. §256.400 et seq.
Montana	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Mont. Code Ann. §85-2-101 et seq.
Nebraska	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Correlative rights	For large uses	Neb. Rev. Stat. §46-201 et seq.
Nevada	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Nev. Rev. Stat. §533.010 et seq.
New Hampshire	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §485-C:1 et seq.
New Jersey	Riparian	Reasonable use	Yes	N.J. Stat. Ann. §58:1A-1 et seq. (Water Supply Management Act)
New Mexico	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	N.M. Stat. Ann. §72-1-1 et seq.
New York	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law §15-0501 et seq.
North Carolina	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-215.11 et seq.
North Dakota	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Prior appropriation	Yes	N.D. Cent. Code §61-01-01 et seq.
Ohio	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Ohio Rev. Code §1501.30 et seq.
Oklahoma	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Absolute ownership	For large uses	Okla. Stat. tit. 82, §1 et seq.
Oregon	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Prior appropriation	Yes	Or. Rev. Stat. §537.010 et seq.
Pennsylvania	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Pa. Stat. Ann. tit. 32, §631 et seq.
Rhode Island	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	R.I. Gen. Laws §46-15-1 et seq.
South Carolina	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	S.C. Code Ann. §49-5-10 et seq.
South Dakota	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Prior appropriation	Yes	S.D. Codified Laws §46-1-1 et seq.
Tennessee	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Tenn. Code Ann. §69-7-201 et seq.
Texas	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Absolute ownership	For large uses	Tex. Water Code §11.001 et seq.; Edwards Aquifer Auth. v. Day (2012)
Utah	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Utah Code Ann. §73-1-1 et seq.
Vermont	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 10, §1001 et seq.
Virginia	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	Va. Code Ann. §62.1-10 et seq.
Washington	Hybrid (Riparian + Appropriation)	Prior appropriation	Yes	Wash. Rev. Code §90.03.010 et seq.
West Virginia	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	W. Va. Code §22-26-1 et seq.
Wisconsin	Riparian	Restatement (Second) approach	For large uses	Wis. Stat. §30.18 et seq.
Wyoming	Prior appropriation	Prior appropriation	Yes	Wyo. Stat. Ann. §41-3-101 et seq.
District of Columbia	Riparian	Reasonable use	For large uses	D.C. Code §8-103.01 et seq.; DC Water regulatory authority

Water rights are among the most complex areas of state law — they vary not only by state but by basin, well type, use type, and historical priority. This table provides a high-level orientation only. Always consult a water-rights attorney in your jurisdiction for any specific question. This is legal information, not legal advice.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.