The objectives of this study were: identification of the most common legal, regulatory, and institutional constraints at the state, regional, and national levels that affect development of new water supplies or expansion of existing supplies; characterization of constraints in sufficient detail that utility managers and planners can proactively understand how constraints operate and how they affect water utility planning; development of tools to aid utility managers and planners in analyzing the particular set of contraints they face and developing strategies to permit appropriate responses; and, recommendation of strategies with broad application to utilities across the nation that can assist in anticipating and responding to the constraints identified. Case studies were used to identify and analyze the legal, institutional, and policy constraints that commonly face utility managers and planners. A total of thirteen utilities were examined. As a result of the surveys and follow-up interviews with the various utility partners, a set of 18 legal, institutional and policy constraints were identified. Two categories of constraints are shown: regulatory programs and policies, and institutional factors. Includes 3 references, tables, figure.