Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy Permit (Commercial Plan Review) — Unincorporated Laramie County, Wyoming · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source: https://www.laramiecountywy.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/planning/documents/building/guidance-for-commercial-projects-5.13.25.pdf
PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements change and vary by project — confirm current details with the building department before you submit.
Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy Permit (Commercial Plan Review) in Unincorporated Laramie County, Wyoming
Required when an existing commercial building or space in unincorporated Laramie County changes use or occupancy classification. Laramie County's Building Department offers a dedicated 'Commercial Plan Review Only' application that 'reviews and approves commercial plans for new construction, remodels, changes of use, and certificates of occupancy/compliance' — a standard building permit is still required prior to any construction. Separately, changes of occupancy type or use that would make a building one of the categories subject to Wyoming State Fire Marshal plan review (e.g., buildings over 5,000 sq ft with public access, places of assembly, schools, government buildings, multi-story buildings, or child care centers for more than 10 children) additionally require state-level fire & life safety plan review under W.S. 35-9-108, on top of the county process.
Verified 2026-07-22 · Source
When you need this permit
- Filed as a 'Commercial Plan Review Only' application through the Laramie County, WY Public Portal (SmartGov), under Building Safety and Construction — Commercial
- Provide a clear set of Engineered Building, Foundation, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, and Fire plans, stamped by a Wyoming Design Professional and required to be site specific
- Include a Code Study: building height, design occupancy load, occupancy type, type of construction, risk category, structure use, and prior use (prior use not needed for new construction) — must meet current adopted building codes
- A standard commercial building permit is required prior to any construction resulting from the change-of-use/plan review
- Pre-application meeting with the Planning Department is required before starting any application for new or expanding commercial building projects (307-633-4303 or planning@laramiecountywy.gov)
- GOTCHA: If the change of use/occupancy would make the building one of the categories subject to Wyoming State Fire Marshal plan review (buildings over 5,000 sq ft with public access, places of assembly regardless of size, schools, state/local government buildings, multi-story buildings, or child care centers for more than 10 children), a SEPARATE state-level plan review and Certificate of Occupancy/Letter of Compliance from WSFM is also required, per W.S. 35-9-108 and the WSFM Plan Review Information page — the county's own guidance document uses the identical phrase 'certificates of occupancy/compliance' for its local process, so confirm with both agencies which one(s) apply to a given project
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Review timeline
Inspection process
- 1
Final
Required before occupancy under the new use; occupancy is authorized only by the Building Official
See the full Unincorporated Laramie County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- Laramie County's own Guidance for Commercial Projects document describes 'Commercial Plan Review Only' as covering 'new construction, remodels, changes of use, and certificates of occupancy/compliance' — this is the county's umbrella process for change-of-use reviews, distinct from a trade-specific building permit.
- GOTCHA: this same phrase, 'certificates of occupancy/compliance,' is also used verbatim by the Wyoming State Fire Marshal's Office to describe ITS OWN Certificate of Occupancy/Letter of Compliance issuance for buildings subject to state plan review — the two are separate processes administered by separate agencies (county vs. state); a qualifying change of use may require both.
- Confirm early with Laramie County Planning (307-633-4303) whether your specific change of use also crosses a WSFM state-plan-review threshold (e.g., assembly occupancy, >5,000 sq ft with public access, or child care for more than 10 children) — this can add a second, separate state review track.
Frequently asked questions
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-22.
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Unincorporated Laramie County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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