Bolthole Index

Goshen County, Wyoming

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Goshen County, Wyoming

45Index Score / 100
#23 of 23 in Wyoming

Unincorporated Goshen County, Wyoming does not require a county residential building permit and has no county zoning regulations or building inspections123. State electrical wiring permits and water-well permits still apply, while Goshen County issues septic permits and charges a $100 application fee4567.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Goshen County; the county has no building inspections13
Zoning
None; the county has no zoning regulations28
Septic permits
Goshen County Planning Office issues the permit; $100 county fee69
Electrical wiring permit
Required statewide for new construction or remodeling needing a utility connect/disconnect; $50 fee, waived for a qualifying owner-builder410
Well permit
Required before drilling; $50 state filing fee, licensed driller required5
RV / tiny home living
Tiny homes face no county zoning-based minimum home or lot size; RV occupancy is unconfirmed1112
Subdividing land
A subdivision permit from the Board of County Commissioners is required before selling, platting or building on divided land under 35 acres per parcel1314
Septic soil difficulty
50.3% of county soils are free of severe limits for a conventional drain field15

Who to call

Also useful

Goshen County Planning & GIS

Confirms Goshen County has no zoning regulations or building inspections; staffs the Planning Commission and is the office to ask about subdivision plats

307-532-3852

P.O. Box 160, Torrington, WY 82240

Septic permits

Goshen County Planning Office (small wastewater / septic permitting)

Accepts the small wastewater (septic) permit application and $100 county fee; applications can also be filed with the Goshen County Engineer/Surveyor's Office

(307) 532-5002

Courthouse, Torrington, WY 82240

Roads & driveways

Goshen County Road & Bridge

County-road right-of-way public-works permits, rural addressing and county-road questions

307-532-3716

4740 U.S. Highway 26/85, Torrington, WY 82240

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

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

No. Goshen County's Planning & GIS office states plainly that the county has no zoning regulations or building inspections, so an ordinary house, cabin, barn or shop built in unincorporated Goshen County doesn't go through a county building-permit review13. Two statewide rules still apply on top of that silence, though. First, new construction or remodeling that requires a public utility to connect or disconnect electrical service needs a $50 state electrical wiring permit, unless the installer qualifies for the owner-builder waiver available to an owner, partner or major stockholder of a family corporation working on their own non-resale property410. Second, Wyoming has adopted the 2024 International Building, Fire, Fuel & Gas, Mechanical and Existing Building Codes, but state plan review and inspection under those codes only reaches specific building types — state or local government buildings, schools, buildings over 5,000 square feet with public access, child-care centers for more than 10 children, and places of assembly, among others — not an ordinary single-family home1617. A county can also apply to take over local fire, building and electrical enforcement from the state, but nothing in Goshen County's own materials shows it has done so18.

Who handles planning, septic and permit questions in Goshen County?

Goshen County has no county building official for ordinary residential permits or inspections119. Goshen County Planning & GIS is the practical first call for zoning status, subdivision questions and the Planning Commission20. Goshen County handles septic permitting under delegated authority, and the $100 application fee goes to the Goshen County Engineer/Surveyor's Office21722. Goshen County Road & Bridge handles public-works permits within county-road rights-of-way and rural addressing23. A county right-of-way construction or maintenance permit has a $125 base permit fee, while extra plan-review or marker charges may apply24. Water-well permits come from the Wyoming State Engineer before drilling begins5.

Does Goshen County have zoning?

No. Goshen County's official site states directly that the county currently has no zoning regulations, and no county zoning districts have been published225. Wyoming law lets any county's board of commissioners adopt zoning to regulate buildings, structures and land use in its unincorporated area, but Goshen County simply hasn't exercised that authority26. Because there's no zoning ordinance, the county sets no minimum dwelling size, no minimum lot size, no setbacks, no lot-coverage limit and no building-height limit on unincorporated land1112272829. Subdividing land is a separate matter from zoning, though: Wyoming's Real Estate Subdivisions Act puts subdivision review in the hands of the county commissioners, and no one may sell, plat or start construction on a covered subdivision without a county subdivision permit first1330. That Act generally doesn't reach a parcel of 35 acres or more, and it exempts land divided for agricultural purposes, though the county can require documentation that the exemption is being used properly, and any 35-acre-plus parcel still needs a recorded 40-foot access easement to a public road1431.

How do septic permits work in Goshen County?

Every new septic system, replacement tank, replacement leachfield or complete replacement system in Goshen County needs a county application before construction9. Submit the application and $100 fee with photos of an 8-foot exploration pit and at least 3 percolation tests in the proposed leachfield area; review generally takes 1–2 business days732. After construction, give at least 48 hours' notice for inspection and leave the piping, distribution box and leachfield visible3233. The conventional-system path covers domestic flows below 2,000 gallons per day and requires at least 4 feet between the leachfield bottom and seasonal high groundwater, bedrock or impervious clay; projects outside the stated criteria may require a non-conventional design and contact with the district engineer34. Only 50.3% of county soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so evaluate the parcel before relying on a standard system15. A septic tank in the floodplain needs watertight lids and a backflow preventer at each end35.

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

Unincorporated Goshen County has no county zoning-based minimum dwelling size or minimum lot size, which removes those two common barriers for a tiny home1112. We could not confirm a separate Goshen County rule allowing or restricting full-time RV occupancy, temporary camping or short-term rentals, so ask Goshen County Planning & GIS before relying on any of those uses20. Wyoming provides that short-term rental of detached one-family and two-family dwellings and townhomes is not treated as commercial use for fire, building and electrical standards, but that rule does not decide whether a local government may regulate the rental under other authority36. An electrical hookup that requires a utility connection or disconnection still needs the $50 state wiring permit unless the owner-builder waiver applies410. Any conventional septic system serving an off-grid home still follows the county permit and inspection process34.

What are the steps to build a home in Goshen County?

  1. Confirm the tract is legal and whether a land division needs county subdivision approval; exemptions may apply to agricultural divisions or parcels of at least 35 acres1314.
  2. Ask Goshen County Road & Bridge about rural addressing and any work within a county-road right-of-way23.
  3. File the U.W. 5 application and receive the Wyoming State Engineer's permit before drilling a well; the domestic filing fee is $505.
  4. Submit the county septic application, $100 fee, exploration-pit photos and percolation-test results before construction327.
  5. Obtain the $50 state electrical wiring permit if the project requires a utility connection or disconnection, unless the owner-builder waiver applies410.
  6. Give at least 48 hours' notice for the septic inspection before covering the system33. An ordinary home in unincorporated Goshen County has no separate county building inspection to schedule119.

What should you check before buying land in Goshen County?

Water is the headline concern here: Goshen County averages only 14.7 inches of precipitation a year, and 22.8% of years bring severe drought, so a well's depth and reliability deserve real scrutiny, and remember drilling needs a state permit before you can even start37385. Soils are better than average for septic, with 50.3% of the county free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, but confirm your specific parcel with a site evaluation before you buy15. The land is gentle and open — 85.2% sits at 15% slope or less, and just 0.9% is wooded — which keeps building and driveway grading simple but offers little wind shelter3940. If the tract you're buying was recently split from a larger parcel, confirm the seller obtained any required county subdivision permit, since selling, platting or building on land subject to subdivision regulation without one carries real risk13. Typical property tax runs low, about 0.6% effectively, with a median bill near $1,395 a year, against a typical home value around $253,669414243.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm a Goshen County rule for RV living, short-term rentals or utility connections on unincorporated land; ask Goshen County Planning & GIS before relying on any of those uses20.
  • A septic system in a Goshen County floodplain needs watertight tank lids and backflow preventers, but we could not confirm the separate approval path for other floodplain construction; ask Goshen County Planning & GIS before building in a mapped flood area3520.

Sources

  1. Goshen County - Planning & GIS (2026 county census)
  2. Planning & GIS | Goshen County, WY (2026 county census)
  3. Planning & GIS | Goshen County, WY, quoted and re-checked
  4. 2025 Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, Article 1: Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, quoted and re-checked
  5. Ground Water Frequently Asked Questions, quoted and re-checked
  6. Goshen County Land Use Plan (2026 county census)
  7. 2024 Conventional Septic System Application with Cover, quoted and re-checked
  8. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  9. Goshen County Land Use Plan, quoted and re-checked
  10. 2025 Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, Article 1: Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, quoted and re-checked
  11. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  12. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  13. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  14. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  16. Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  17. 2025 Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, Article 1: Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, quoted and re-checked
  18. Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, W.S. 35-9-121 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Planning & GIS | Goshen County, WY, quoted and re-checked
  20. Goshen County Planning & GIS (goshencountywy.gov)
  21. Goshen County Land Use Plan, quoted and re-checked
  22. Goshen County Planning Office (small wastewater / septic permitting) (goshencountywy.gov)
  23. Goshen County Road & Bridge (goshencountywy.gov)
  24. Goshen County Public Works Construction Permit, quoted and re-checked
  25. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  26. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18, W.S. 18-5-201 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  28. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  29. Planning & GIS, quoted and re-checked
  30. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  31. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  32. 2024 Conventional Septic System Application with Cover, quoted and re-checked
  33. 2024 Conventional Septic System Application, quoted and re-checked
  34. 2024 Conventional Septic System Application with Cover, quoted and re-checked
  35. 2024 Conventional Septic System Application with Cover, quoted and re-checked
  36. 2015 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 149, quoted and re-checked
  37. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  38. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  39. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  40. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  41. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  42. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  43. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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

Goshen County in Wyoming

45
County map
Goshen County highlighted among the Wyoming counties · colored by Index score

How Goshen County scores

Seclusion85100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency1396% ev.
Admin Boringness92100% ev.
Durability42100% ev.
Property Autonomy74100% ev.
Carry Cost88100% ev.

Evidence strength: 99%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$254kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$1,871Land / acre
14.7"Annual rain
22.8% of yrsSevere drought
9.6 / yr (+8.4)Mid-century 100°F days
23 daysMid-century dry spell
1.04" (+9.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.3×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,028Home insurance / yr
2.1% / yrInsurance growth
0.39%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
81,030People within 2 hr
1,275Radius comparison (15 mi)
5.7People / sq mi
2%Federal land
85.2%Land at 15% slope or less
50.3%Septic soil without severe limits
589,856 acWorkable land screen
0.9%Wooded land
0.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac
47.6°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Goshen County

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

Goshen County rules

  • InspectionsNot required

    County building inspections in Goshen County, including ordinary private residential construction in unincorporated areas, subject to any separate state inspection authority.

    • The county page does not identify a separate municipal scope; incorporated municipalities may have their own rules.
    • State electrical inspections and state fire-marshal inspections for covered projects remain separate requirements.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not required — County-administered building inspections in Goshen County, Wyoming.
      “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    County zoning regulation administered by Goshen County in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • This finding does not establish whether incorporated municipalities within Goshen County administer their own zoning.
    • The county Planning & GIS page lists subdivision regulations and planning applications; this claim is limited to zoning regulations.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Absent — County zoning regulations in unincorporated Goshen County.
      “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • Local zoningAbsent

    County zoning regulations in unincorporated Goshen County, Wyoming.

    • Goshen County states that it does not have zoning regulations.
    • This claim does not determine whether incorporated municipalities within Goshen County have their own zoning regulations.
    • Other county or state requirements, including subdivision or other land-use regulations, may still apply.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • Zoning districtsNot published

    County zoning districts in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • This conclusion is limited to Goshen County's unincorporated jurisdiction.
    • Municipal zoning or other local rules may apply inside incorporated municipalities.
    • Other non-zoning requirements, including septic, subdivision, floodplain, road-right-of-way, and health requirements, may still apply.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Not published — County zoning districts and zoning regulations in unincorporated Goshen County.
      “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeNone

    County zoning-based minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • Goshen County states that it has no zoning regulations; incorporated municipalities may have separate rules.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • Minimum lot sizeNone

    County zoning-based minimum lot size in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • Goshen County states that it has no zoning regulations; subdivision requirements and statutory exemptions may still apply separately.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • SetbacksNone

    County zoning-based setbacks in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • Goshen County states that it has no zoning regulations; non-zoning requirements may apply.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • Lot coverageNone

    County zoning-based lot-coverage limits in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • Goshen County states that it has no zoning regulations; non-zoning requirements may apply.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • Building heightNone

    County zoning-based building-height limits in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • Goshen County states that it has no zoning regulations; building-code or other non-zoning requirements may apply.
    “Currently Goshen County does not have Zoning Regulations or Building Inspections.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Individual sanitary wastewater treatment facilities and septic tank permitting in Goshen County.

    • The Goshen County Land Use Plan states that the State delegated septic-tank permitting and standards-setting responsibility to Goshen County by contract.
    • The Wyoming DEQ page identifies Campbell, Carbon, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties as DEQ permitting jurisdictions and states that other jurisdictions may require different forms or additional information.
    “Prior to constructing your small wastewater system, you must complete the attached application and submit it along with the $100.00 application fee (payable to Goshen County) to the Goshen County Engineer/Surveyor’s Office”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction of individual sanitary wastewater treatment facilities and conventional septic systems in Goshen County.

    • A county permit application is required before construction authorization.
    • The 2024 county application identifies a $100 Goshen County permit fee.
    • The application is revised 05/24.
    • Construction and approval conditions may include county standards and the permitting authority's review.

    permit fee: 100 USD

    “A permit application is required for all new systems, as well as all replacement tanks, replacement leachfields, or the replacement of complete systems.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Conventional septic sewage systems in Goshen County.

    • The applicant must contact the county planner 48 hours before covering the sewage system for final approval.
    • The form states that final approval is required before the system is covered.
    • The application states it is a statement of compliance with present standards only, not a guarantee of the sewage system.
    • The application revision is 05/24.

    advance notice before covering sewage system: 48 hours

    “To be sure someone is available to inspect upon completion, 48 hours’ notice is required for an inspection.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Conventional off-grid domestic wastewater systems using a septic tank and leachfield in Goshen County.

    • A permit application is required for all new systems and for replacement tanks, replacement leachfields, or replacement complete systems.
    • Before construction, the completed application and $100.00 Goshen County application fee must be submitted to the Goshen County Engineer/Surveyor’s Office at the specified Torrington address.
    • The application must include photos of an 8-foot-deep exploration pit and at least 3 percolation tests in the leachfield area.
    • The county generally reviews an application within 1-2 business days; 48 hours’ notice is required for inspection completion.
    • The conventional application package applies only to systems treating less than 2,000 gallons per day of domestic wastewater, with standard trench or bed disposal, at least four feet between the leachfield bottom and seasonal high groundwater, bedrock, or impervious clay, and soil percolation rates greater than 5 and less than 60 minutes per inch.
    • If those conventional criteria are not met, a non-conventional system may be required and the applicant must contact the district engineer.
    • The source does not state that a public-sewer connection is required to use this permit path.

    application fee: 100 USD · domestic wastewater flow: < 2000 gallons per day (Systems exceeding this threshold require contact with the Underground Injection Control Program.) · seasonal high groundwater, bedrock, or impervious clay depth below leachfield bottom: >= 4 feet · soil percolation rate: 5-60 minutes per inch (The source states greater than 5 and less than 60 minutes per inch.)

    “A permit application is required for all new systems, as well as all replacement tanks, replacement leachfields, or the replacement of complete systems.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land in unincorporated Goshen County.

    • The county Planning & GIS page warns that the Subdivision Regulations in the Land Use Plan are outdated and directs applicants to the separate Subdivision Regulations attachment.
    • Subdivision requirements and incorporated-municipality rules may differ.
    “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. [...] No person shall sell land subject to subdivision regulation under this article, record a plat or commence construction of a subdivision without first obtaining a subdivision permit pursuant to W.S. 18-5-306 or, if applicable, W.S. 18-5-316 from the board of the county in which the land is located.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Small wastewater systems located in the floodplain in Goshen County; the cited source establishes septic-system conditions, not a comprehensive rule for all floodplain development.

    • For a system in the floodplain, the tank must have water-tight lids.
    • A backflow preventer must be installed at each end of the tank.
    • The planner must be contacted 48 hours before covering the sewage system for final approval.
    • The document is marked “Rev: 05/24”; this revision notation is not treated as an effective date.

    inspection/final approval notice: >= 48 hours (contact the planner before covering the sewage system)

    “If your system is in the floodplain, your tank must have water-tight lids and you will need to install a backflow preventer at each end of your tank. [...] CONTACT PLANNER 48 HOURS PRIOR TO COVERING SEWAGE SYSTEM FOR FINAL APPROVAL.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Goshen County Public Works construction or maintenance permits for work by others within county road rights-of-way.

    • The permit applies to new construction or maintenance within a Goshen County right-of-way.
    • The listed fees are nonrefundable.
    • Special maintenance permit cost may be determined jointly by county officials and the utility.

    inspection fee: 50 USD · marker fee: per 25 USD (each marker) · plan review fee: per 50 USD (number needed) · closure and filing fee: 25 USD · base permit fee: 125 USD

    “Inspection Fees $ 50.00 Marker Fees (Each) $ 25.00 Plan Review Fees $ 50.00”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Goshen County small wastewater system permit applications, including new systems and replacement tanks, replacement leachfields, or complete replacement systems.
      “Prior to constructing your small wastewater system, you must complete the attached application and submit it along with the $100.00 application fee (payable to Goshen County) to the Goshen County Engineer/Surveyor’s Office”
    • Published (with conditions) — Conventional small-wastewater permits administered through Goshen County.
      “$100.00 application fee (payable to Goshen County)”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Small wastewater system permitting in Goshen County, including new systems and replacement tanks, replacement leachfields, or complete replacement systems.

    • A completed application is required before construction.
    • The application must include photos of an 8-foot-deep exploration pit and at least three percolation tests in the leachfield area.
    • Applications are generally reviewed within 1–2 business days, after which the applicant is notified of questions or approval to construct.
    • The applicant must provide an estimated completion date.
    • At least 48 hours’ notice is required for inspection upon completion.
    • Before inspection, some backfilling around the tank up to the piping may be completed, but piping, the distribution box, and the entire leachfield must remain visible.
    • The county document is marked “Rev: 05/24”; this revision notation is not treated as an effective date.

    wastewater flow: < 2000 gallons per day (the county application package is for conventional small wastewater facilities; other systems may require different treatment or permitting) · application review time: 1-2 business days (the document states review will generally occur within this period) · inspection notice: >= 48 hours (notice is required before inspection upon completion)

    “Your application must be filled out completely, including photos of an 8-foot-deep exploration pit and at least 3 percolation tests, all in the leachfield area. Once an application is submitted, it will generally be reviewed within 1-2 business days and you will be notified of any questions or given approval to construct. At this time, you will be asked for an estimated completion date for the construction of your system. To be sure someone is available to inspect upon completion, 48 hours’ notice is required for an inspection.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Wyoming rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    Electrical equipment installed in new construction or in remodeling in Goshen County when the remodeling requires a public utility to connect or disconnect and restore electrical power, unless a local government with delegated electrical enforcement authority or a statutory exempt installation applies.

    • An electrical wiring permit must be obtained before installation.
    • A public utility may energize an electrical service in an emergency without proof of the permit, but must notify the department as soon as possible and no later than five days after energization.
    • The provision does not apply to municipalities and counties granted local enforcement authority under W.S. 35-9-121(a) or to exempt installations under W.S. 35-9-123(a)(ii)-(v).

    electrical wiring permit fee: 50 USD (Statutory maximum listed in W.S. 35-9-120(c)(ii).)

    “without obtaining an electrical wiring permit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    An owner, partner, or major stockholder of a family corporation installing electrical equipment on property owned or leased by that person in Goshen County, when the property is not for immediate resale.

    • The waiver concerns the requirement that electrical equipment be installed by licensed electrical contractors employing licensed master or journeyman electricians or registered apprentices supervised by them.
    • The property must be owned or leased by the person performing the installation or qualifying through the stated ownership relationship.
    • The property must not be for immediate resale.
    • The waiver does not exempt the person from meeting all other electrical-code requirements.
    • The exception does not apply to a person who contracts or subcontracts to or for an otherwise exempt person, partnership, or corporation.
    “This requirement is waived for the following”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    State-adopted building, fire, fuel-and-gas, mechanical, existing-building, and electrical codes applicable in Goshen County where Wyoming state plan-review jurisdiction applies.

    • A plan review is required for state or local government buildings; schools; buildings over 5,000 square feet with public access; child-care centers for more than 10 children; multi-story buildings; places of assembly regardless of size; alterations or remodeling of those buildings with valuation of $40,000 or greater; changes of occupancy or use to become one of those buildings; fire-protection-system installations, additions, or alterations regardless of size or valuation; alternative-energy installations or alterations; above-ground storage tanks or dispensing facilities for flammable or combustible liquids; Type I commercial kitchen exhaust hoods; spray-finish applications; and site plans for RV, camping, mobile-home, and similar parks or areas.
    • All new plan-review submissions from June 28, 2024 must comply with the adopted state codes and referenced standards.
    • Plans must be submitted for review and approval before work commences; review fees are calculated under Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety Rules Chapter 2, Section 3 and must be paid before issuance of a Permit to Construct.
    • The source identifies both the 2023 and 2026 editions of the National Electrical Code and states that the 2026 edition is effective July 1, 2026.

    state code adoption date: 2024-06-28 · public-access building threshold: > 5000 sq ft · alteration/remodeling valuation threshold: >= 40000 USD · International Building Code: 2024 edition · International Fire Code: 2024 edition · International Fuel & Gas Code: 2024 edition · International Mechanical Code: 2024 edition · International Existing Building Code: 2024 edition · National Electrical Code: 2026 edition effective July 1, 2026 (The page also lists the 2023 edition.)

    “The State of Wyoming, on June 28, 2024 adopted the 2024 International Codes.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Newly constructed buildings in Goshen County that are subject to state fire-marshal plan review under W.S. 35-9-108(a).

    • The state fire marshal issues the certificate after inspecting the completed building and finding conformance with the plan review or amended plan review.
    • No covered newly constructed building may be used or occupied before the certificate of occupancy is issued.
    • The requirement is subject to the local-enforcement, remodeling, and W.S. 35-9-118 exceptions stated in the statute.
    “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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction of a water well or other means of obtaining underground water for beneficial use in Goshen County, under Wyoming statewide groundwater law.
      “Any person who intends to acquire the right to beneficial use of any underground water in the state of Wyoming, shall, before commencing construction of any well or other means of obtaining underground water or performing any work in connection with construction or proposed appropriation of underground water or any manner utilizing the water for beneficial purposes, shall file with the State Engineer an application for a permit to make the appropriation (i.e., an Application for Permit to Appropriate Ground Water, or a U.W. 5 Form) and shall not proceed with any construction or work until a permit is granted by the State Engineer (W.S. 41-3-930).”
  • 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;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — State subdivision-regulation exemptions for agricultural-purpose land divisions, including land in Goshen County.
      “Unless the method of sale or other disposition is adopted for the purpose of evading the provisions of this article, this article shall not apply to the following subdivisions of land however, the following subdivisions are subject to requirements which may be adopted by the board of county commissioners regarding documentation of the proper use and implementation of the following exemptions: [...] (vii) A division which is a sale or other disposition of land for agricultural purposes or affects the alignment of property lines for agricultural purposes;”
  • 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.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes statewide, solely for purposes of fire, building, and electrical standards.

    • This provision addresses treatment as a commercial use for fire, building, and electrical standards and regulation under the International Building Code; it does not establish whether a particular county or municipality permits, limits, or prohibits short-term rentals under other authority.
    • The act states that it is effective July 1, 2015.

    effective date: 2015-07-01

    “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, short term rental of detached one (1) and two (2) family dwellings and townhomes shall not be regulated as a commercial use for purposes of fire, building and electrical standards and shall not be subject to regulation under the International Building Code.”
  • 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.

  • Mandatory utility hookup — Water or sewer utility connection requirements for property in Goshen County.

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.

Water rights & wells in Goshen County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Wyoming’s water agency.

Managed area

Groundwater is actively managed here, but a small household well is generally still available.

Household wellPermit required (issued by right)

Unlike most exempt-well states, Wyoming requires a permit for every well including domestic and stock, but the permit for a small domestic/stock well is a simple, routinely granted filing and those uses carry a preferred right (W.S. 41-3-907).

Limit: All wells require a State Engineer's Office permit before drilling; small domestic/stock wells (≤25 gpm) are a routine registration and hold statutory preferred rights

Wyoming State Engineer's Office — Ground Water ↗
  • Prairie Center Control Arealocalized of county

    Advisory-board control area in the Goshen County High Plains aquifer; new appropriations subject to control-area review (spacing, public notice) and can be denied if not in the public interest.

    Wyoming State Engineer's Office — Ground Water ↗

Prior-appropriation state (first in time, first in right). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Wyoming state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Goshen County, Wyoming

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

Goshen County scores 45/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: weak self-sufficiency basics: only 14.7″ of rain a year, in severe drought 22.8% of years and elevated current hazard exposure.

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

Goshen 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 Goshen County Planning & GIS (small wastewater under DEQ delegation). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. 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 Goshen County, Wyoming?

Land in Goshen County runs about $1,871 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Goshen County?

Goshen County gets about 14.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 22.8% of years. On water rights, Goshen County lies in the Prairie Center Control Area — Advisory-board control area in the Goshen County High Plains aquifer; new appropriations subject to control-area review (spacing, public notice) and can be denied if not in the public interest..

How remote is Goshen County?

A typical private-land location has about 1,275 people within 15 miles and 284,967 within 100 miles. These radius catchments are the published fallback where road routing is unavailable.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Goshen compares in Wyoming

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