Bolthole Index

Converse County, Wyoming

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Converse County, Wyoming

53Index Score / 100
#15 of 23 in Wyoming

Unincorporated Converse County, Wyoming has no general county residential building permit or county zoning regulations12. Septic systems are the exception: the county's Special Projects Director permits every small wastewater system in Converse County34. State fire review, inspection and occupancy approval still apply to certain public, commercial and institutional projects567.

At a glance

Building permit
No general county residential building permit; state review applies to certain project types15
Zoning
No county zoning regulations; municipal zoning can apply inside town or city limits28
Septic
County-permitted through the Special Projects Director34
Minimum lot size (if subdividing)
4 acres by default, down to 12,000 sq ft with public water and sewer9
RV in a mapped flood zone
Limited to under 180 days unless licensed/highway-ready or built to manufactured-home standards10
Well permit
Required statewide before drilling; $50 filing fee for a domestic or stock well11
Access easement on 35+ acre parcels
A recorded 40-foot ingress/egress/utility easement to a public road is required12

Who to call

Septic permits

Converse County Special Projects (Septic / Small Wastewater Permitting)

OSSF and small wastewater system permits, plan review and inspections for Converse County, issued by the Special Projects Director

307-358-1990

[email protected]

Roads & driveways

Converse County Road & Bridge

County road maintenance, culvert applications and driveway access questions on Converse County road rights-of-way

307-358-3602

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Converse County, Wyoming?

Unincorporated Converse County has no general county residential building-permit program1. Wyoming's state fire marshal still requires plan review for certain projects, including state or local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 square feet, multistory public buildings, childcare centers housing more than 10 children, specified assembly and hospitality uses, and fuel-dispensing facilities5. For a project subject to that review, the state fire marshal inspects the completed work for conformity with the approved plans6. A qualifying new building must then receive a certificate of occupancy before use; remodeled buildings receive a compliance letter instead7. Converse County could enforce building standards only after applying for and receiving delegated authority from the state fire marshal, and we could not confirm that delegation; ask Special Projects which authority applies before starting an unusual, public-facing or commercial project1314.

Who handles permits in Converse County, and how do you reach them?

Converse County has no building-code department; the county's Special Projects office is the one you'll deal with for septic and small-wastewater permits, and it also coordinates the county's subdivision and floodplain review144. The Special Projects Director must act on a complete septic permit application within 15 days, and no septic permit can issue inside the 100-year floodplain without a FEMA Letter of Map Amendment15. Subdivision permits, including new lots and plat recording, go through the Board of County Commissioners, which sets the fee by separate resolution rather than in the subdivision regulations themselves1617. For county road access questions, including driveway culverts on a county road right-of-way, contact the county's Road & Bridge office18.

Does Converse County have zoning?

Converse County states that it has no county zoning regulations; its Land Use Plan is guidance rather than an enforceable zoning document2. That answer changes at municipal boundaries: Douglas has zoning within its incorporated limits, and buyers inside other incorporated municipalities should check that municipality's current ordinance and boundary map8. No county zoning does not erase the county's narrower subdivision, floodplain, airport-influence-area, or wind-and-solar siting programs2. For newly subdivided land, the default minimum lot size is four acres, reduced to two acres for Transitional Residential subdivisions with public or community water or sewer, and to 12,000 square feet where both are available9. A subdivision inside the Airport Influence Area must also meet the height and population-density controls in the subdivision regulations19.

How do septic permits work in Converse County?

The Converse County Special Projects Director, not the state, permits every small wastewater (septic) system in the county; Wyoming DEQ's own list of counties it permits directly does not include Converse3420. No one may discharge sewage from a dwelling or install, add to, or modify a small wastewater system without a permit from the Special Projects Director first, and the office must act on a complete application within 15 days15. About 36.8% of the county's soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, better odds than many rural counties, but a site-specific evaluation still decides what a given lot needs21. Before backfilling, the installer must give the county at least 48 hours' notice so the Special Projects Director's representative can inspect the system; covering it early risks the county requiring it be dug back up22. No septic permit can issue inside the 100-year floodplain without a FEMA Letter of Map Amendment, so check flood mapping before you count on a specific building site15.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Converse County?

Converse County has no confirmed countywide rule allowing or barring long-term RV or tiny-home occupancy on ordinary private land outside a flood zone or RV park; this remains an open question resolved only by asking the county directly10. Where a site sits in flood zones A1-30, AH, or AE, an RV may stay only if it is on the site fewer than 180 consecutive days, is fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meets the same permit, elevation, and anchoring requirements as a manufactured home10. A commercial RV park is a different, confirmed path: it requires a subdivision application, spaces of at least 1,800 square feet, 30 feet wide and 60 feet long, and compliance with Wyoming DEQ, State Engineer, and State Fire Code requirements23. Neither the flood-zone rule nor the RV-park rule answers whether an RV or tiny home can serve as a year-round residence on an ordinary rural lot, so confirm directly with the county's Special Projects office before relying on either as a general answer14.

Building a home in Converse County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel is outside any incorporated town; the county's minimal permitting applies only to unincorporated Converse County9.
  2. If you're creating a new lot rather than buying an existing one, get a subdivision permit from the Board of County Commissioners before selling, recording a plat, or starting construction; the default minimum lot size is four acres169.
  3. Apply for a well permit (Form U.W. 5) with Wyoming's State Engineer's Office before drilling; the filing fee is $50 for a domestic or stock well11.
  4. Apply for a septic permit from the county's Special Projects Director; the office must act within 15 days of a complete application, and no permit can issue in the 100-year floodplain without a FEMA Letter of Map Amendment1514.
  5. Give the Special Projects Director at least 48 hours' notice before backfilling the septic system so it can be inspected22.
  6. Check with the county's Road & Bridge office about a culvert or access permit if the driveway crosses a county road right-of-way18.

What to check before you buy land in Converse County

Converse County is genuinely rural: about 3.2 people per square mile, with the nearest metro area roughly 181 miles away2425. About 65% of the county's land sits at 15% slope or less, and only 6.7% is wooded, so expect open range rather than forest, with wind and weather bigger factors than terrain2627. If the parcel is 35 acres or larger and being sold outside the subdivision process, make sure it comes with a recorded ingress, egress and utility easement at least 40 feet wide to a public road; Wyoming law only requires this for large-parcel sales, so older or informal transfers may lack it12. About 36.8% of the county's soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, and annual precipitation runs about 14.3 inches, so pair any septic plan with a real look at the site's water supply2128. Farmland here runs about $709 an acre and the typical home is valued around $318,556, with an effective property tax rate near 0.6% and a median annual bill around $1,55729303132.

Watch-outs

  • Converse County has no county zoning regulations, but incorporated municipalities may have their own zoning inside municipal boundaries28.
  • We could not confirm that Converse County has taken over state building-code enforcement; call the Special Projects office before assuming no review is needed for a project covered by state fire-safety rules1314.
  • An RV park's rules and the flood-zone RV rule are not a general answer to whether you can live in an RV on your own land; confirm directly with the county10.
  • A large parcel (35+ acres) sold outside the subdivision process should still come with a recorded 40-foot access easement to a public road; verify it exists before buying12.

Sources

  1. Converse County Permits & Regulations (2026 county census)
  2. Statement from the Converse County Board of Commissioners Regarding the Pronghorn H2 Project, quoted and re-checked
  3. Converse County Regulations for a Permit to Construct, Install, or Modify Small Wastewater Facilities and Related Design Standards (2026 county census)
  4. Converse County Regulations for a Permit to Construct, Install, or Modify Small Wastewater Facilities and Related Design Standards, quoted and re-checked
  5. Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, Article 1 — Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, quoted and re-checked
  6. Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, Article 1 — Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, quoted and re-checked
  7. Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, Article 1 — Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, quoted and re-checked
  8. Statement from the Converse County Board of Commissioners Regarding the Pronghorn H2 Project, quoted and re-checked
  9. Subdivision Regulations for Converse County, quoted and re-checked
  10. Flood Damage Prevention Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  11. General Processes (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, W.S. 35-9-121 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Converse County Special Projects (Septic / Small Wastewater Permitting) (conversecountywy.gov)
  15. Converse County Regulations for a Permit to Construct, Install, or Modify Small Wastewater Facilities and Related Design Standards, quoted and re-checked
  16. Converse County Subdivision Regulations 2023, quoted and re-checked
  17. Converse County Subdivision Regulations 2023, quoted and re-checked
  18. Converse County Road & Bridge (conversecountywy.gov)
  19. Subdivision Regulations for Converse County, quoted and re-checked
  20. Small Wastewater Systems (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  22. Converse County Regulations for a Permit to Construct, Install, or Modify Small Wastewater Facilities and Related Design Standards, quoted and re-checked
  23. Subdivision Regulations for Converse County, quoted and re-checked
  24. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  30. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Converse County in Wyoming

53
County map
Converse County highlighted among the Wyoming counties · colored by Index score

How Converse County scores

Seclusion90100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency18100% ev.
Admin Boringness8290% ev.
Durability44100% ev.
Property Autonomy74100% ev.
Carry Cost84100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$319kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$709Land / acre
14.3"Annual rain
19% of yrsSevere drought
5.8 / yr (+5.2)Mid-century 100°F days
20.5 daysMid-century dry spell
1.04" (+7.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.28×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,962Home insurance / yr
2.2% / yrInsurance growth
1.24%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
32People within 30 min
149,366People within 2 hr
269Radius comparison (15 mi)
3.2People / sq mi
14.3%Federal land
65%Land at 15% slope or less
36.8%Septic soil without severe limits
992,857 acWorkable land screen
6.7%Wooded land
17.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
44.9°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Converse County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Converse County rules

  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    County zoning regulations in Converse County, including the unincorporated county area.

    • The county has adopted a Land Use Plan, but the county states that the plan is guidance and is not an enforceable regulatory document.
    • The county maintains other limited regulatory programs, including subdivision, floodplain, airport-influence-area, and wind/solar siting regulations; those are not general countywide zoning regulations.
    “It is also important to note that Converse County does not have zoning regulations.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — Wind and/or solar energy facilities with gross generation of more than 0.5 MW on land outside incorporated municipal limits in Converse County.
      “Converse County Commissioners have promulgated the Converse County Wind and/or Solar Energy Siting Regulations for all lands located outside the corporate limits of municipalities in Converse County;”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local zoning across Converse County: the county states it has no zoning regulations, while incorporated municipalities may administer their own zoning regulations within municipal boundaries.

    • Converse County’s no-zoning statement applies to the county authority and does not eliminate municipal zoning authority.
    • The City of Douglas zoning regulations apply within the incorporated boundaries of Douglas and not to land outside those boundaries.
    • Other incorporated municipalities should be checked separately for current ordinances and boundaries.
    “The following provisions are intended to create a comprehensive set of zoning regulations for all land located within the incorporated boundaries of the City of Douglas”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots created by subdivision of unincorporated land in Converse County.

    • The default minimum is four acres excluding road easements.
    • Transitional Residential subdivisions may use reduced lot sizes where public or community water or sewer is available.
    • Where public or community water or sewer is available, the minimum may be two acres excluding road easements.
    • Where both public or community water and sewer are available, the minimum may be 12,000 square feet (0.2755 acres) excluding road easements.
    • Reduced-lot applications must include a memorandum of understanding from the municipality agreeing to provide water and/or sewer service.
    • A subdivision permit is required before sale, plat recording, or construction of a subdivision.

    default minimum lot size: >= 4 acres (excluding road easements) · reduced minimum lot size with public or community water or sewer: >= 2 acres (for Transitional Residential subdivisions; excluding road easements) · reduced minimum lot size with both public or community water and sewer: >= 12000 square feet (for Transitional Residential subdivisions; excluding road easements)

    “No division of unincorporated County land shall create any lot smaller than the minimum lot size of four (4) acres, excluding road easements except as provided below.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Subdivisions and certain land divisions located within the Converse County Airport Influence Area (AIA).

    • AIA subdivisions must comply with height and population-density restrictions in Appendix V of the county subdivision regulations.
    • A note acknowledging the AIA restrictions must be placed on the preliminary plat or record of survey before county processing.
    • The available opened text identifies Appendix V as the controlling schedule but does not expose its numeric height table.
    “Subdivisions proposed in the Airport Influence Area shall abide by height and population densities as outlined in Appendix V. If a subdivision is proposed within the AIA, a note acknowledging its restrictions shall be placed on the preliminary plat prior to processing by the County.”
  • Living in an RVAllowed (with conditions)

    RV parks created by a land division that can be severed and transferred to a second party and operated in Converse County.

    • A subdivision application is required.
    • Each space must be at least 1,800 square feet, 30 feet wide, and 60 feet long.
    • RV parks must meet Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and State Engineer requirements for solid waste, sewage, and water systems, including at least one approved sanitary station and one water station.
    • RV parks must meet State Fire Codes for setbacks and parking and comply with the County's adopted Land Use Plan.

    minimum RV space area: >= 1800 square feet · minimum RV space width: >= 30 feet · minimum RV space length: >= 60 feet

    “A subdivision application as provided for by these Regulations is required. [...] Minimum space size shall be eighteen hundred (1800) square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Recreational vehicles placed on sites within flood-hazard zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map in Converse County.
      “all recreational vehicles placed on sites within zones A1-30, AH and AE [...] be on a site for fewer than 180 consecutive days”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Administration and enforcement of individual small wastewater system rules throughout Converse County.

    • The county regulations identify the Special Projects Director as the permitting official.
    • Wyoming law permits delegation to qualifying counties; Wyoming DEQ states that other jurisdictions may have a permitting authority different from DEQ.
    “These regulations shall apply to all small wastewater systems as defined in Section VII of these regulations within Converse County. [...] No person may discharge sewage from an individual dwelling, install a small wastewater system or make an addition thereto: 1. Without first obtaining a permit from the Special Projects Director.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Discharge of sewage from an individual dwelling and installation, addition, construction, or modification of a small wastewater system in Converse County.

    • A permit must be obtained from the Special Projects Director before discharge or installation.
    • The system must comply with the county regulations.
    • Permits may be issued only where the land complies with Converse County Subdivision Regulations.
    • No permit may be issued within the 100-year floodplain without a FEMA Letter of Map Amendment.
    • New construction or modification after the regulations' effective date requires authorization under a new permit.
    • The application must include plans, specifications, design data, and other information required by the Special Projects Director.
    • The Special Projects Director must take final action within 15 days after receiving a complete application.
    • Construction may not begin until the permitting authority issues authorization.

    application decision time: 15 days (from receipt of the application; incomplete applications will not be processed) · permit duration: <= 1 year (unless a different expiration is recorded; permits without a specified expiration date last no more than one year) · floodplain condition: FEMA Letter of Map Amendment required (applies within the 100-year floodplain)

    “The installation of all components of a small wastewater system requires a permit to construct. [...] These regulations shall apply to all small wastewater systems as defined in Section VII of these regulations within Converse County.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Installation of small wastewater systems in Converse County before backfilling.

    • The applicant must notify the Special Projects Director at least 48 hours before backfilling.
    • The representative of the Special Projects Director performs the final inspection and signs the permit compliance section.
    • If inspection has not occurred within 48 hours after notification during normal business hours, backfilling may occur with approval and digital photographs.
    • Failure to notify may result in digging up the system, permit revocation, legal action, or all of these.

    advance inspection notice: >= 48 hours (before backfilling; notification must occur during normal business hours, Monday through Friday)

    “Backfilling over the small wastewater system shall not be done until an on-site inspection by the Special Projects Director’s representative is completed. If not inspected within 48 hours after the County representative has been notified, the system may be backfilled with the approval of the Special Projects Director and the submittal of digital photographs.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Subdivision applications for land governed by the Converse County Subdivision Regulations in unincorporated Converse County.

    • The Board of County Commissioners establishes the permit fee schedule by separate resolution.
    • The application must be accompanied by the established fee.
    • The County Clerk’s Office charges established recording fees for the plat and supporting documentation.
    • The regulation does not state the fee amounts in the subdivision regulations themselves.
    “The Board of County Commissioners shall establish by separate Resolution a permit fee schedule”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Subdivision sales, plat recording, and subdivision construction on land governed by the Converse County Subdivision Regulations.

    • The regulations apply to all unincorporated land in Converse County.
    • A subdivision permit must be secured from the Board of County Commissioners before covered land may be sold, a plat recorded, or subdivision construction commenced.
    • The subdivision permit is constituted by execution and recording of the final plat showing Board approval.
    • The regulations exclude lands within incorporated cities or towns.

    minimum lot size: >= 4 acres (Transitional Residential subdivisions may be reduced to 2 acres where public or community water or sewer is available, or 12,000 square feet where both public or community water and sewer are available, subject to the stated municipal memorandum requirement.)

    “These Regulations shall apply to all unincorporated land located within Converse County, Wyoming.”

Wyoming rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    State fire-and-electrical-safety plan approval before new construction or remodeling in Wyoming, including applicable projects in Converse County; this is not a determination that Converse County issues a general building permit.

    • The statute applies except where a municipality or county has received enforcement authority under W.S. 35-9-121, where the project qualifies for a statutory exception, or where remodeling is exempt under the International Code.
    • The plan-review categories listed by statute include state or local-government buildings; public buildings over 5,000 square feet including basement; multistory public buildings; child-care centers housing more than 10 children; specified public assembly and hospitality uses regardless of size; and public or private aboveground fuel-dispensing facilities.
    • If construction starts without approved plans, the state fire marshal may order the work to cease until plans are approved.
    • The state fire marshal must notify the sender of violations within 21 working days for initial plans or 10 working days for corrected plans, otherwise the plans are approved as stated in the statute.

    public building floor area threshold: > 5000 square feet (The statute states public buildings over 5,000 square feet of total floor area including basement.) · child-care center occupancy: > 10 children (The statute applies to child-care centers housing more than 10 children.) · initial plan-review response deadline: 21 working days (Approval follows if the state fire marshal does not provide written notice of violations within that period.) · corrected plan-review response deadline: 10 working days (Approval follows if the state fire marshal does not provide written notice of violations within that period.)

    “shall submit plans to the state fire marshal for review”
  • InspectionsLimited

    State fire-marshal inspection after completion of new construction or remodeling subject to the state fire-plan-review provisions in Wyoming, including applicable projects in Converse County.

    • The inspection requirement is subject to statutory exceptions, including local enforcement authority under W.S. 35-9-121, International Code remodeling exemptions, and the exceptions in W.S. 35-9-118.
    • The state fire marshal determines conformance with the plan review or amended plan review.
    • Electrical inspections have separate statutory procedures; the chief electrical inspector must inspect within five business days after a request by the owner or general or electrical contractor.

    requested electrical inspection deadline: 5 business days (Applies to an inspection requested by the owner or general or electrical contractor.)

    “the state fire marshal shall inspect the building”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificate of occupancy for a newly constructed building subject to Wyoming state fire-marshal plan review and inspection requirements, including applicable projects in Converse County.

    • The building must pass the state fire marshal's post-construction inspection and conform to the plan review or amended plan review.
    • The requirement is subject to statutory exceptions, including local enforcement authority under W.S. 35-9-121 and W.S. 35-9-118 exceptions.
    • A remodeled building receives a letter of compliance rather than a certificate of occupancy under this provision.
    • The building may not be used or occupied before issuance; premature use or occupancy may result in an order to cease use and occupancy.
    “shall issue a certificate of occupancy”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction of a groundwater well or development of a spring in Wyoming, including domestic and stock wells or springs flowing at most 25 gallons per minute.

    • An approved permit must be received before drilling or spring-development activities begin.
    • Springs flowing more than 25 gallons per minute, or springs used for purposes other than domestic or stock watering, must be permitted through the Surface Water Division.
    • Wells must be drilled by a Wyoming licensed water-well drilling contractor and pumps must be installed by a Wyoming licensed pump-installation contractor.
    • The U.W. 5 application must be complete and accurate and accompanied by the appropriate filing fee.
    • Domestic and stock applications are listed with a $50 filing fee.

    spring flow threshold: <= 25 gallons per minute (Higher-flow springs or non-domestic/non-stock use are handled through the Surface Water Division.) · domestic permit filing fee: 50 USD · stock permit filing fee: 50 USD

    “Wells and Springs - Before you drill a well, or develop a spring* (that flows less than or equal to 25 gallons per minute (gpm) and will be used f or D omestic and/or Stock W atering use only), you must submit an "Application for Permit to Appropriate Ground Water", or U.W. 5 Form, to the Ground Water Division and receive an approved permit prior to commencement of any drilling or spring development activities.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Certain land divisions for agricultural purposes under Wyoming's Real Estate Subdivisions Act, primarily in unincorporated areas subject to county administration.

    • The exemption applies unless the method of sale or other disposition is adopted for the purpose of evading the Act.
    • The division must be a sale or other disposition of land for agricultural purposes or affect the alignment of property lines for agricultural purposes.
    • The exempt divisions remain subject to county-board requirements regarding documentation of proper use and implementation of the exemption.
    • A division for an immediate family member has separate conditions, including qualifying family relationship, housing, business, or agricultural purpose, ownership and titling periods, and a five-acre further-division restriction; that family exemption is distinct from the agricultural-purpose exemption.
    • For parcels 35 acres or larger, ingress, egress, and utility easements of at least 40 feet to a public road are required unless specifically waived by the grantee or transferee in a binding and recordable document.

    large-parcel threshold: >= 35 acres (Subject to W.S. 18-5-316 and required easements.) · large-parcel easement width: >= 40 feet (To a public road; waiver must be binding and recordable.)

    “A division which is a sale or other disposition of land for agricultural purposes or affects the alignment of property lines for agricultural purposes;”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land in unincorporated areas of Wyoming, administered by the board of county commissioners of the county where the land is located.

    • The state Real Estate Subdivisions Act applies to subdivisions subject to regulation under the article.
    • A person must obtain a subdivision permit before selling land subject to subdivision regulation, recording a plat, or commencing construction of a subdivision.
    • The Act does not apply to specified exempt divisions, including agricultural-purpose divisions and boundary-line adjustments, subject to the statute's requirements and any county documentation requirements.
    • The Act generally does not apply to parcels 35 acres or larger, but ingress, egress, and utility easements must be provided by binding and recordable easements at least 40 feet wide to a public road unless specifically waived by the grantee or transferee in a binding and recordable document.
    • County boards may adopt rules and regulations implementing the Act and may exempt subdivision of one or more units into not more than five total units from specified application requirements.

    large-parcel threshold: >= 35 acres (Except as provided in W.S. 18-5-316.) · required easement width: >= 40 feet (To a public road; specifically waivable by the grantee or transferee in a binding and recordable document.) · small-subdivision threshold: <= 5 units of land (County rules may exempt such subdivisions from specified statutory application requirements.)

    “The regulation and control of the subdivision of land in the unincorporated areas in each county is vested in the board of county commissioners of the county in which the land is located.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Sale or other disposition of parcels 35 acres or larger subject to Wyoming subdivision law.

    • The rule is subject to W.S. 18-5-316.
    • Ingress, egress, and utility easements must be provided to each parcel by binding and recordable easements to a public road.
    • The easements must be at least 40 feet wide unless specifically waived by the grantee or transferee in a binding and recordable document.

    parcel area: >= 35 acres (subject to W.S. 18-5-316) · easement width: >= 40 feet (may be specifically waived by the grantee or transferee in a binding and recordable document)

    “Except as provided in W.S. 18-5-316, this article shall not apply to the sale or other disposition of land where the parcels involved are thirty-five (35) acres or larger, subject to the requirement that ingress and egress and utility easements shall be provided to each parcel by binding and recordable easements of not less than forty (40) feet in width to a public road unless specifically waived by the grantee or transferee in a binding and recordable document.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Building within the floodplain in Wyoming communities participating in the state-supported National Flood Insurance Program floodplain-management program.

    • The source states that Wyoming currently has 19 participating counties and 66 participating municipalities.
    • Enrollment and participation require a community letter of resolution, an application form, a permitting process, and a compliant ordinance adopted.
    • The permit must meet minimum standards set forth in the applicable local ordinance.
    • The source describes state technical assistance and oversight, while the local ordinance supplies the applicable minimum standards.

    participating counties: 19 counties · participating municipalities: 66 municipalities

    “Currently in Wyoming, there are 19 participating counties and 66 participating municipalities. Enrollment and participation in the program requires a letter of resolution by the community, an application form, a permitting process, and a compliant ordinance adopted. Building within the floodplain requires a permit, and must meet minimum standards set forth in the local ordinance.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    County regulation of the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use or occupancy of land in unincorporated areas of Wyoming.

    • The authority is exercised by each board of county commissioners for the unincorporated area of the county.
    • County zoning may not contravene the zoning authority of an incorporated city or town.
    • A zoning resolution or plan may not prevent a use or occupancy reasonably necessary for extraction or production of mineral resources.
    • A board may not require land use or physical development to be consistent with a local land use plan unless the applicable plan provisions have been incorporated into local zoning regulations.
    • Minimum lot size requirements or other zoning measures may not prevent residential or agricultural uses authorized for land divisions exempt from subdivision requirements under W.S. 18-5-303(a)(i).
    • Private schools meeting the statutory requirements may not be regulated differently from public schools: certification by the professional engineer or architect of record, capacity for fifty (50) students or more, and ownership and operation by a not-for-profit entity.
    “To promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the county, each board of county commissioners may regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, agriculture, industry, commerce, public use and other purposes in the unincorporated area of the county.”
  • county building authorityLimited

    County enforcement and interpretation of local or state fire, building, existing-building, and electrical safety standards, including residential construction in unincorporated areas, when the county obtains local enforcement authority under W.S. 35-9-121.

    • A county must apply for local enforcement authority and receive delegation from the state fire marshal by letter.
    • Before initial delegation, the state fire marshal must determine that the county has adopted minimum standards by ordinance or resolution equivalent to or more stringent than applicable department standards.
    • If the county fails to adopt new standards within six (6) months after department adoption, or fails to maintain standards at least meeting statewide standards, enforcement authority immediately reverts to the department.
    • For fire and building code enforcement, inspectors employed or contracted after July 1, 2010 must be certified by the International Code Council or the International Conference of Building Officials.
    • If electrical-code authority is requested, an electrical inspector must be certified by the International Code Council or International Association of Electrical Inspectors and licensed by Wyoming as a journeyman or master electrician.
    • If the county fails to maintain a required certified inspector, enforcement authority reverts to the department one hundred twenty (120) days after the inspector leaves.
    • A local governmental entity may assume sole plan-review authority and sole construction-inspection authority on approved plans, subject to the statutory certification requirements.
    • If local code provisions are more stringent than adopted state codes, the local code prevails.
    • The statute grants authority to enforce and interpret building standards; it does not establish that every Wyoming county universally requires a residential building permit without county-specific implementation.

    new standards adoption deadline: 6 months (following adoption of new standards by the department) · certification applicability date: July 1, 2010 (inspectors employed or contracted after this date) · authority reversion period after certified inspector leaves: 120 days

    “The state fire marshal shall delegate complete authority to municipalities and counties which apply to enforce and interpret local or state fire, building, existing building standards or electrical safety standards which meet the requirements of this section. The state fire marshal shall notify the governing body of the municipality or county of the minimum standards and requirements of this act and W.S. 16-6-501 and 16-6-502 and transfer jurisdiction and authority by letter.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from general building permits or inspections in Converse County.
  • Building code adopted — County building-code adoption for Converse County-administered areas.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size requirements in Converse County, including unincorporated county land and district-specific controls.
  • Setbacks — General building setbacks in Converse County, including unincorporated county land and district-specific controls.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements in Converse County, including unincorporated county land and district-specific controls.
5 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Converse County, Wyoming

Is Converse County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Converse County scores 53/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 32 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 14.3″ of rain a year.

Do you need a building permit in Converse County, Wyoming?

Converse County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Converse County (Minimum Standards Governing Individual Small Wastewater Systems). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Converse County, Wyoming?

Land in Converse County runs about $709 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Converse County?

Converse County gets about 14.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 19% of years.

How remote is Converse County?

A representative private-land location has about 32 people within a 30-minute drive and 149,366 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Converse County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Converse compares in Wyoming

Compare side-by-side →See all 23 Wyoming counties ranked →