Cheyenne building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Last verified 2026-07-17 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 2101 O'Neil Avenue, Room 202, Cheyenne, WY 82001
- Phone
- (307) 637-6265
- Office hours
- Mon–Fri (contact department for current hours); permits/inspections managed via OpenGov portal (cheyennewy.portal.opengov.com)
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Cheyenne's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Cheyenne — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Wyoming has no statewide-mandated building code for general private construction. Under Wyoming Statute § 35-9-106, the Council on Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety in Buildings adopts minimum fire, building, mechanical, existing-building, and fuel-gas standards (not exceeding the International Codes), but § 35-9-121 makes local enforcement an opt-in delegation: a municipality or county must apply to the State Fire Marshal for local enforcement authority and adopt, by ordinance or resolution, standards equivalent to or more stringent than the state's — otherwise no local building code applies at all. In practice this produces exactly the fragmented picture that describes most of the state: some cities and counties (e.g., Laramie County, Natrona County) have adopted and enforce their own building codes, while many unincorporated county areas genuinely require no building permit for general construction. Electrical is different: under § 35-9-119(a)(i), the Chief Electrical Inspector (Wyoming State Fire Marshal's Office, Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety) enforces the National Electrical Code statewide by default, EXCEPT in localities that have been separately granted their own certified electrical-enforcement authority under § 35-9-121(a) — so electrical permitting may be issued by the state program or by the local jurisdiction depending on which one currently holds delegated authority. Always confirm both the current building-code adoption status (if any) and which entity — state or local — issues the electrical permit with the specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
- 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by Cheyenne Ordinance No. 4613 (§1), passed 2nd/3rd reading Feb 24, 2025. Municode Ch. 15.08.010 cites 'Ord. No. 4613, §1, 2-24-25': the ordinance number is 4613, and '2-24-25' is the adoption date (Feb 24, 2025).
- 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 4613 (§3, Feb 24, 2025); codified at Municode Ch. 15.10.010
- 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 4613 (Feb 24, 2025); Municode Ch. 15.09.010 confirms the '2024 Edition'
- 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 4613 (Feb 24, 2025); solar system pathway-to-ridge grandfather clause for systems installed/permitted before Mar 1, 2025. On Municode, the IFC is codified at Title 8 Ch. 8.12 (Health and Safety), not Title 15; the '2024 Edition' is confirmed there.
- 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — per City of Cheyenne ICC 2024 Building Codes adoption page
- 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — verified live 2026-07-17 via Municode Ch. 15.16.010 ('International Mechanical Code, 2024 Edition... Ord. No. 4613, §5, 2-24-25'); NOTE the city's own ICC-2024-Building-Codes webpage badge grid omits an IMC badge entirely, but the codified ordinance confirms 2024 is in force
- 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — verified live 2026-07-17 via Municode Ch. 15.12.010 ('International Plumbing Code, 2024 Edition') (NOTE: Cheyenne uses IPC, not UPC)
- 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — verified live 2026-07-17 via Municode Ch. 15.24.010 (Ch. 1–2 of the 2024 IPMC, adopted under the 'Dangerous Building Code' chapter heading; §15.24.020 amendments still reference some retained 2018 IPMC chapter numbers for Ch. 3–8)
2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — although the City's ICC 2024 Building Codes adoption page might suggest a 2024 edition, that page's own badge grid shows '2018 IECC', and Municode Ch. Show full textShow less
2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — although the City's ICC 2024 Building Codes adoption page might suggest a 2024 edition, that page's own badge grid shows '2018 IECC', and Municode Ch. 15.26.010 confirms 'International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 Edition' is the current in-force text, last amended by Ord. No. 4485 §8 (1-9-23) — the 2024/Ord. No. 4613 code-adoption cycle did NOT touch the IECC chapter
- National Electrical Code — City Municipal Code Chapter 15.20 'National Electrical Code Adopted'; 2023 NEC is the current edition in force
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction)
Required for new single-family dwellings, duplexes, and other one- and two-family residential construction in Cheyenne. Cheyenne's building permit is all-inclusive of structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing scope when submitted on one application. Governed by the 2024 IRC as adopted by Ordinance No. 4613 (Feb 24, 2025) [ordinance number corrected 2026-07-17, verified live via Municode Ch. 15.10.010].
From$23.50Residential Addition / Remodel Permit
Required for additions, structural alterations, remodels, basement finishes, garage conversions, and other significant alterations to existing one- and two-family dwellings in Cheyenne. Uses the same all-inclusive, valuation-based Building and Construction Permit Fee schedule as new construction.
See fee scheduleElectrical Permit
Cheyenne is a home-rule municipality with its own delegated building-code authority and its OWN electrical permitting/inspection program (Municipal Code Chapter 15.20 'National Electrical Code Adopted'), separate from the Wyoming State Fire Marshal's default statewide electrical program. The City's Compliance Department (Building Safety Division) issues electrical permits directly using its own 'Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical Permit Application' form, and requires a City of Cheyenne contractor license (not just a Wyoming state license) to pull the permit.
From$23.50valuation-basedPlumbing Permit
Required for plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs in Cheyenne. Issued by the City's Compliance Department (Building Safety Division) under the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — NOTE: Cheyenne uses the IPC, not the Uniform Plumbing Code.
See fee scheduleMechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for heating, cooling, ventilation, and fuel gas installations in Cheyenne. Issued by the City's Compliance Department under the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC).
See fee scheduleRoofing Permit (Reroof)
Required for roof replacement (tear-off and reroof) on residential and commercial buildings in Cheyenne. Processed as a standard valuation-based Building and Construction Permit.
See fee scheduleSolar PV Permit
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in Cheyenne. Processed through the standard building/electrical permit process (structural + electrical scope); a separate Solar Access Permit System review exists for solar-access-rights questions under UDC § 39-4.
See fee scheduleAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit
Required for construction of a new ADU in Cheyenne. As of a Feb 2026 third-reading ordinance, the City removed its owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs and adjusted parking regulations and ADU/semi-attached-dwelling definitions in the Unified Development Code (UDC), making it easier to build and rent ADUs without the owner living on-site.
From$600.00Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of structures in Cheyenne. Contractors must hold City of Cheyenne contractor and building trade licenses before performing demolition work. Processed via the standard Compliance Department permit application, with 'Demolish' as a selectable work-type checkbox.
See fee scheduleCommercial Tenant Improvement Permit
Required for interior build-out, remodeling, or change-of-use work in commercial spaces in Cheyenne. Valuation-based, and commercial plan review runs a longer 21-business-day timeline than residential.
See fee scheduleDeck Permit
Decks in Cheyenne require a building permit regardless of attachment status, per the City's Building FAQ, which lists decks among the 'residential work' requiring a permit. Processed as a valuation-based Building and Construction Permit.
From$1valuation-basedBasement Finish Permit
Finishing a basement (framing, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work) in Cheyenne requires a remodel-type building permit. Processed as a valuation-based Building and Construction Permit, potentially all-inclusive of any trade scope if disclosed on the application.
See fee scheduleElectric Vehicle (EV) Charger / EVSE Permit
Cheyenne has no standalone EV charger or EVSE permit type or fee line -- the City's own Compliance Department (Building Safety Division) electrical-permit process explicitly names 'EVSE' as one of the categories of electrical work requiring a permit (Cheyenne Municipal Code Chapter 15.20, National Electrical Code Adopted; 2023 NEC current edition), and it is billed under the City's single unified valuation-based Building and Construction Permit Fee table (Ordinance 4254) rather than a separate EV-specific fee schedule.
From$23.50valuation-basedSign Permit
Required for new permanent signs and remodels/alterations of existing signs (wall, projecting, ground, low-profile, freestanding, billboard, and pedestrian-category signs) in Cheyenne, per Unified Development Code (UDC) Section 6.5. A sign permit is issued by the Building Safety Division at the same time as the building permit -- no sign may be erected without a building permit -- and certain low-impact sign types are exempt from the permit requirement entirely.
From$50.00Fire Protection System Permit (Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm)
Cheyenne does not issue a standalone fire sprinkler or fire alarm permit or charge a distinct fee for one. Fire protection system plans (sprinkler and alarm) are submitted as part of the standard Building Permit application/plan set and are forwarded internally by the Building Safety Division to Cheyenne Fire Rescue for review, per the City's 2026 Plan Review Information handout, under the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) as adopted by Ordinance No. 4613 (Feb 24, 2025).
See fee scheduleChange of Use Permit
Required when a property's use changes in a way that meets the Unified Development Code's (UDC) change-of-use criteria. Combines a Building/Compliance Department 'Change of Use Permit' fee with, in most cases, a Planning and Development Department Site Plan (or reduced Site Plan Change of Use Documentation) review, and concludes with issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the new use.
From$250.00
Cheyenne's permit history isn't searchable here yet
This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Cheyenne yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.
Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Cheyenne lands. Privacy.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-08)
- 5units
4 buildings · $1.3M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 241units
10 of 12 months reported · #4 in Wyoming coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-08)
- 151units
108 buildings · $28.7M valuation
8 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 394units
184 buildings · $85.3M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-08 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Wyoming building activity
Tips & gotchas
- IMPORTANT: The city of Laramie (Albany County) is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT municipality from Laramie COUNTY (where Cheyenne is the county seat). Do not confuse City of Laramie's building department, codes, or fees with Cheyenne's/Laramie County's — they are separate jurisdictions with separate permitting authority.
- Cheyenne is a home-rule city with its OWN delegated electrical inspection authority (Municipal Code Ch. 15.20) — it does NOT default to the Wyoming State Fire Marshal's statewide electrical program for work inside city limits. This differs from many smaller Wyoming towns that DO rely on the WSFM state program.
- Cheyenne's Building and Construction Permit Fee is ONE unified valuation-based schedule (Ordinance 4254) that covers building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and demolition scope — unlike some cities (e.g., Reno, NV) that use separate flat-rate tables per trade/permit type.
- Cheyenne adopted the 2024 IBC, IRC, IEBC, and IFC via Ordinance No. 4613 on Feb 24, 2025 (Municode Ch. 15.08.010/15.10.010/15.09.010 all cite 'Ord. No. 4613'); the City's own 'ICC 2024 Building Codes' adoption page also lists 2024 IPC, IMC, IFGC, and IPMC. Cheyenne uses the IPC (not UPC) and its own locally-adopted NEC (Chapter 15.20) — the 2023 NEC is the current edition in force. NOTE: the Energy Conservation Code is still the 2018 IECC (Municode Ch. 15.26), NOT 2024 — the 2024 code-adoption cycle did not touch the IECC chapter.
- All building permits/plan reviews expire if work isn't started within 180 days (or suspended for 180 days); extensions up to 180 days each may be granted in writing for justifiable cause.
- Design criteria to use for Cheyenne, per the City's current live Table R301.2(1) Design Criteria embedded on the ICC 2024 Building Codes webpage: 105 mph ultimate wind speed VULT / Exposure C; Seismic Design Category A-B; 32 lb/ft² ground snow load; 36-inch minimum frost depth; Weathering SEVERE. Climate Zone 6B and the winter design temp of -1°F (7,381 HDD) are NOT on the current live table — those two values come from an older 2023 Plan Review Information handout.
- A City of Cheyenne contractor license (Class A/B/R/C-1/C-2/C-3/D/E/F/S) is required for all contractors and subcontractors working in the city — this is separate from and in addition to any Wyoming state trade license.
- Sheds/detached accessory structures under 200 sq ft need no permit if detached from the home; 200 sq ft or larger, or attached, requires a permit. Fences over 6 ft require a permit.
- As of a Feb 2026 ordinance, Cheyenne removed the owner-occupancy requirement for Accessory Dwelling Units — a recent, significant policy change worth flagging to anyone researching ADUs based on older information.
- Plan review timelines ARE published and verified: 10 business days (residential) / 21 business days (commercial) per the Building Safety Department's Plan Review Information handout.
- Several permit types (reroof, demolition, solar PV construction, temporary power pole) have no separate flat-fee line in the adopted Schedule of Fees (Ordinance 4254) — these are charged under the single general valuation-based Building and Construction Permit Fee table, which is a fully verified fee treatment, not a gap.
- cheyennecity.org serves its HTML pages behind an edge firewall (Akamai), but its static asset PDFs on the /files/sharedassets/ CDN path (e.g., the Schedule of Fees PDF) are directly downloadable; all cited sources are official City of Cheyenne, Municode, or Wyoming State Fire Marshal URLs (never a third-party news/mirror site).
- Cheyenne's Schedule of Fees PDF is served normally to an ordinary web browser but blocked to automated retrieval - open the link in a browser rather than a fetch tool. No fee in that schedule has drifted. One line reads oddly and is worth knowing before you price it: Additional Plan Review is listed at $47.00 with a 'Min. Charge .5 Hours', meaning a half-hour minimum charge, not a $47.00 charge per half hour. Watch three code-citation points. The omnibus 2024-code ordinance is No. 4613. The IECC in force is the 2018 edition, not the 2024. And the City's live Table R301.2(1) design criteria are 105 mph wind, 32 lb/ft2 snow, and Seismic Category A-B - if you are working from a 2023 handout showing 115 mph, 30 psf and Category B, those figures are materially different and superseded, so design to the current table. The February 2026 ADU owner-occupancy repeal is still in force with no subsequent amendment or reversal.