FAQ - Building, City Clerk, Planning & Development, and Engineering

A building permit gives you legal permission to start construction of a building project in accordance with approved drawings and specifications.

Yes, a permit is required if the structure is over 200 square feet in size. If the structure is under 200 square feet a permit will not be required if it is detached from the home. Please see What are the required setbacks for an accessory building (shed, carport, detached garage, etc.)? in the Planning and Development FAQ section below for more information. 

Yes, a permit is required if the carport is over 200 square feet in size or is attached to another structure. Please see What are the required setbacks for an accessory building (shed, carport, detached garage, etc.)? in the Planning and Development FAQ section below for more information. 

No, a permit is not required for flat work or concrete work, unless you are doing any work within the City right-of-way. Work done within the City right-of-way requires a Right-of-way permit. 

Fences over 6-feet in height require a building permit.

General things to consider when constructing a fence are that fences can be constructed to the property line, can be a maximum of 4-feet in height in front of the house, can be a maximum of 6-feet in height behind the front building line of the house, and must be 2-feet from any public sidewalk.  

A full list of the fencing regulations can be found in UDC Section 5.8.4 here(PDF, 7MB).

Project valuation determines the permit fees. Valuation has four (4) components which are, labor, materials, overhead and profit. Valuation can also be determined by a contractor’s contract price.

Building plans/permits may take up to ten (10) business days to be reviewed. Holidays and heavy volumes will influence the length of time needed for review.

Every permit issued shall become void unless the work authorized by such permit is started within 6 months after its issuance, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 6 months after the time the work is commenced.

The Building Department is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for a period not more than 180 days each. The request for an extension shall be in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

After a permit is obtained and work is completed, inspection requests can be made via the calendar option on your online application. Applicant must provide a minimum of 48-hours notice. No inspections are available to take place on weekends or holidays. Call (307) 637-6265 for any additional questions.  

Usually, an inspection can be scheduled within 48 hours of your request for an inspection (weekends and holidays excluded).

Due to varying work schedules and staff availability, only general arrival times can be given in either the morning or in the afternoon.

The project is to be completed according to the approved plans. All electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural installations must be completed. The project must be complete and ready to occupy. 

Yes, both new signs and remodels of existing signs require a building permit. Sign regulations can be found in UDC Section 6.5. Information for sign regulations can be found here (pages 227-234 of PDF document). For further information or questions, you can contact Seth Lloyd in the Planning and Development Department at (307) 637-6286 or slloyd@cheyennecity.org.

A license or permit is required to conduct business in the City of Cheyenne (includes permanent places of business or as a temporary vendor). If a City license is required, you cannot operate your business until this has been acquired and all necessary inspections have been completed. To view a full list of City license and permit applications visit www.cheyennewy.viewpointcloud.com.   

The City Clerk's Division is responsible for liquor licensing within the City. Pursuant to authority granted cities and towns by Wyoming Statutes, the sale, consumption and related activities of alcoholic liquors and malt beverages must be in compliance with Wyoming Statutes and City Code. If you plan on selling or serving alcoholic beverages contact the City Clerk’s Office for further information at 307-637-6346. Additional information on liquor licensing can be found here. 

Any type of food services and/or preparation (whether it is pre-packaged items or full menu restaurants) involves approval by the City/County Environmental Health Department, State Agriculture Department, and Board of Public Utilities (BOPU). A permit or City license may be required. Contact the City Clerk’s office at 307-637- 6330 for additional information or visit www.cheyennewy.viewpointcloud.com to find and apply online for the license/permit that pertains to your business. 

The Department of Revenue collects state sales tax. You must collect Wyoming sales tax on any sales (unless exempt) and remit it to the Department of Revenue. They can be contacted at 307-777-5200

To incorporate your business or to register your company to do business in the State of Wyoming as a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or limited partnership, contact the Secretary of State’s office at 307-777-7311

City Clerk licenses and permits can be completed online at www.cheyennewy.viewpointcloud.com. However, we understand some processes require additional forms and/or information from other City departments or outside agencies. Contact information for other City departments and outside agencies can be found below:

City Departments/Divisions

Board of Public Utilities Engineering Division

307-637-6497

2406 Snyder Avenue

P.O. Box 1469

Wastewater Treatment Division

307-635-3163  Ext. 15

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Building Permits Division

307-637-6266

Municipal Building, Rm 202

2101 O’Neil Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001

Business Licensing

307-637-6330

Municipal Building, Rm 101

2101 O’Neil Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001

Contractor Licensing

307-637-6332

Municipal Building, Rm 202

2101 O’Neil Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001

Development/Zoning Office

307-637-6282

Municipal Building, Rm 202

2101 O’Neil Ave. Cheyenne, WY 82001

City/County Environmental Health Department

307-633-4090

100 Central Ave., Rm 216

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Cheyenne Fire Department

307-637-6327

415 W. 18th Street

Cheyenne, WY 82001

(City) Liquor Licensing

307-637-6346

Municipal Building, Rm 101

2101 O’Neil Ave.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Mayor’s Office

307-637-6300

Municipal Building, Rm 310

2101 O’Neil Ave.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Community Recreation and Events

307-637-6427

Municipal Building, Rm. 302

2101 O’Neil Ave.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Cheyenne Police Department

307-637-6521

415 W. 18th Street

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Community Events

307-637-6328

4603 Lions Park Drive

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Traffic Division

307-637-6288

Municipal Building, Rm 210

2101 O’Neil Ave.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Laramie County Offices

Assessor’s Office

307-633-4307

309 W. 20th St.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Auto Licenses

307-633-4232

309 W. 20th St.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

Auto Titles

307-633-4247

309 W. 20th St.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

County Clerk’s Office

307-633-4264

309 W. 20th St.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

County Elections Office

307-633-4244

309 W. 20th St.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

County Real Estate

307-633-4350

309 W. 20th St.

Cheyenne, WY 82001

State of Wyoming Offices

Agriculture Department Consumer Health Services

307-777-7211

2219 Carey Ave.

Cheyenne, WY 82002

Department of Revenue Sales Tax Division

307-777-5200

Herschler Building, 2nd Floor West

122 W. 25th Street Cheyenne, WY 82002

Secretary of State Corporations Division

307-777-7311

Capitol Building, 1st Floor

123 Capitol

Cheyenne, WY 82002

State Licensing Wyoming Business Council

307-777-2843

214 W. 15th St.

Cheyenne, WY 82002

Wyoming Liquor Division

307-777-7233

6601 Campstool Rd.

Cheyenne, WY 82002

Wyoming Department of Transportation

307-777-4228

5300 Bishop

Cheyenne, WY 82002

Worker’s Comp Division

1510 E. Pershing, 2nd Floor

307-777-6763

Unemployment Division

307-235-3217

OSHA

1510 E. Pershing Blvd. West Wing

307-777-8650

You can determine whether your property is in the City or in the County by using one of the two maps below.  

General Information Map

Laramie County Accessors Map

Yes. The City’s Zoning Regulations can be found within the Unified Development Code (UDC). A full pdf version of the document can be found here(PDF, 6MB).

Failure to comply with the City’s Zoning Regulations will constitute a Zoning Violation. You may be fined $100.00 a day for being in violation. 

You can look up the zoning of your property by using one of the two online maps. Each map has a layer for zone districts, and you can search for your address.

General Information Map

Laramie County Accessors Map

Interested to know what you can do in your zone district? You can find the Zone District Use Table in UDC Section 5.1 here(PDF, 7MB). 

To know exactly where your property lines are you will need to contact a local survey company and hire a surveyor to survey your property. You can get a rough idea of where your property lines are by using one of the two online maps below. The rough location of the property lines will be the outline of your property that the maps show.

General Information Map

Laramie County Accessors Map

Setbacks are based on your Lot Type. Lot Type can be determined by the size, zoning and frontage of your lot. Standard lot types for most residential properties are the DD5, DD6 and DD7. These lot types are found in UDC Section 5.1.5. You can use the link here to view Article 5 of the UDC. All accessory buildings must be located 10-feet behind the front building line of the house.

If your accessory building is under 200 square feet, there is no side or rear setback requirements. The only setback required is for the structure to be 10-feet behind the front building line of the house.

Accessory Building Regulations can be found in UDC Section 5.8.8.

If you have trouble determining your lot type or have other accessory building questions, please call the Planning and Development Department at (307) 637-6282.

Carports are considered accessory buildings and must follow accessory building regulations. This means a carport can not be in front of the house and must be 10-feet behind the front of the house. If a carport is attached to the house it must meet principal building setback. Generally a house is required to have a 25-foot front setback.

General things to consider when constructing a fence are that fences can be constructed to the property line, can be a maximum of 4-feet in height in front of the house, can be a maximum of 6-feet in height behind the front building line of the house, and must be 2-feet from any public sidewalk.

A full list of the fencing regulations can be found in UDC Section 5.8.4 here(PDF, 7MB).

Fencing Diagram(PDF, 437KB)

You can find all the information on our Temporary sign application. The application can be found here.

You'll be required to create an online account if you've never applied for a City license/permit through the OpenGov online portal (launched March 2023). If you have applied for a City license/permit through our online portal, simply login using your credentials. 

An application for a site plan shall be submitted by the owner or authorized agent where any of the following occur:

1. Any change of use or a new building.
2. Alterations to the site affecting over 15% of the nonbuilding area of the site (examples include changes to parking, or open space and landscape areas).
3. Any other development activity or change of use that triggers applicability and compliance with any of the Design Standards in Article 6.
4. Any other on-site development activity or change of use that triggers improvements in the public right-of-way and applicability and compliance with any of the Standards in Article 4.
5. No site plan is required for single family, duplex, or townhouse development, except when associated with common lots associated with Cottage Lots or a Regulating Plan or Development Master Plan.

Change of use constitutes at least one of the following:

1. The proposed use is appreciably different than the current use;
2. There is an increase in the size of the existing building or extent of the use of the land;
3. The use is permitted in the zoning district in which the use is located, but requires more parking than the previous use;
4. The number of vehicle trips generated by the new use is or will be greater than the number of vehicle trips generated by the previous use as determined by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation, latest edition;
5. The amount of stormwater runoff or impervious (to drainage) surface area will be increased with the new use.

Any project that requires a Site Plan and a final inspection from the Planning and Development Department will require a financial surety bond for any unfinished exterior work on the site prior to issuance of a TCO or a CO from the Building Department. This includes site work, landscaping and right-or-way work. The bond will be required at 125% for site and landscaping, right-of-way work will need to be bonded at 150%. 

Yes, the application can be filled out and submitted here.

You'll be required to create an online account if you've never applied for a City license/permit through the OpenGov online portal (launched March 2023). If you have applied for a City license/permit through our online portal, simply login using your credentials. 

Wireless Telecommunication regulations can be found in UDC Section 5.8.1 here(PDF, 7MB). 

There are no specific regulations regarding short term rentals within the City. The City treats short term rentals the same as other residential uses. Multiple short term rentals on a single property must have all applicable approvals to be considered legal.  

Yes, but you must meet all of the requirements of the City’s Home Occupation Regulations and you must register your home business by filling out and submitting a Home Occupation Application. The application can be found here. Regulations are in UDC Section 5.7.2 here(PDF, 7MB).

The following businesses shall not be allowed as home occupations:

1. Auto body or mechanical repair, to include any modification, assembly or painting of motor vehicles and repair of internal combustion engines;
2. Massage parlors/technicians;
3. Beauty parlors, nail salons and barber shops;
4. Animal grooming salons and boarding kennels;
5. Body piercing/body art/tattoo art.

See the floodplain map here.

Any party undertaking development within a designated floodplain must obtain a floodplain development permit prior to the work commencing. FEMA defines development in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 59.1 as: Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filing, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or storage of equipment or materials. Other human activities that are considered development include but are not limited to: alterations of a structure through additions, demolition and remodeling, fences, retaining wall, moving/placement of remanufactured or mobile homes, campgrounds, storage of equipment, vehicles or materials (storage yards, salvage yards).

See City Engineer website for floodplain management information.

https://www.cheyennecity.org/Your-Government/Departments/City-Engineer

The public may report drainage, traffic, alley grading, or pothole concerns online at www.cheyennecity.org/reportaconcern. Once on the City's Report a Concern webpage, click on the button applicable to your concern and submit an online form. Submitted requests are sent directly to pertinent staff to address the issue. 

See Cheyenne Police Department-Parking website for on street critical parking.

https://www.cheyennepd.org/Services/Parking

Most sidewalk, curb, gutter and likely a portion of your yard behind the sidewalk are part of the city right of way. The exact limits of your property will need to be surveyed for legal property limits. Approximate property limits and city right of way can be found via the Laramie County Cooperative GIS Database.

https://greenwoodmap.com/laramie/map

This is the responsibility of the homeowner and all work within the right of way will require a right of way permit. If you are adding a new driveway, you may need an access permit as well. Permits are obtained through the Compliance Department (Building Department).

You will need a grading permit for any commercial projects or residential projects moving over 50 cubic yards of material.

To view interactive maps of the City of Cheyenne visit https://clcgisc.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html also https://www.plancheyenne.org/data/

If the interactive version is not what you are looking for and you require a hard copy; you may inquire with the City Engineer’s GIS Department at 307-637-6210.  There will be a charge based upon the size and type of map you are needing.

The City of Cheyenne utilizes a pavement management software program that incorporates survey data collected every four years from the entire roadway network. The program analyzes this data to determine the existing condition, what streets should receive treatments, the order in which streets are scheduled for treatment, and what treatment should be applied. The program is also able to determine an approximate construction cost for the scheduled maintenance which assists staff when budgeting for future projects. 

The City currently institutes several different surfacing treatments in our pavement management program including; crack seal, slurry seal, asphalt patch, mill and overlay with hot mix asphalt, and high-performance wearing course. These treatments are just some of what are available. The City staff continually researches other new and innovative products to ensure we are using the most efficient, durable, cost-effective treatment available for the pavement management budget.

Per City Code 12.04.120, all curb, gutter, driveway and sidewalk repair or replacement in the public right-of-way is the responsibility of the abutting property owner. However, whenever any of those repairs are required in the public right-of way in conjunction with a construction project of the city, the board of public utilities or any other agency or entity, the cost of the repair or replacement is the responsibility of those agencies or entities. If your sidewalk did not get replaced, it was out of the scope of the project.