Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Buffalo, Wyoming

Buffalo’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, moving or demolition of buildings inside Buffalo city

  • Application is made to the city building official
  • Chapter 5 sec. 5.3.1 lists work exempt from permit; not reviewed

  “any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change a building or structure, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings and structures in incorporated Buffalo city

  • Adopted with city amendments; sections deleted, modified or amended apply
  • Chapter 5 also adopts 2018 IRC, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and existing building codes (per section list)

  IBC edition: 2018 (including appendices A, B and I, as amended)

  “there is hereby adopted by reference that portion of that certain document known as the international building code, 2018 edition, including appendix a, b and i, as copyrighted by the international code council.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Buffalo city

  • Inspections follow the building department inspection card
  • 24-hour notice preferred

  “inspections will be made according to the building department inspection card. twenty four hour notice is preferred, but same day inspections are not uncommon, please call either way.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All property within Buffalo city limits

  • Property exempted by law is not governed
  • Administered by P&Z staff, P&Z commission and city council

  “all property within the city limits, except that property exempted by law, is governed by this ordinance according to the zoning district in which it is located.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Buffalo city

  • Districts also include B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2 and PUD per the table of contents

  “29-6 r-1 - single-family residential 29-7 r-2 - medium-density residential 29-8 r-3 - high-density residential 29-9 rms - residential mobile home subdivision 29-10 mhc - residential mobile home community”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of property inside Buffalo city

  • Lot line adjustments, replats and summary plats need staff approval; preliminary plats and lot splits need P&Z commission; final plats also need city council
  • Plats are recorded with Johnson County

  “all property proposed to be subdivided or which has lots, public rights-of-way or easements to be added to, or vacated from an existing subdivision, must be approved as follows:”

• Permit feesPublished

  Planning and zoning applications inside Buffalo city

  • Fees are non-refundable and due at application
  • Building permit fees are in Chapter 5 sec. 5.3.2, not read
  • Schedule may be dated

  “the fees described above are due when application is made and are non-refundable.”

• Permit processPublished

  Zoning applications (amendments, zone changes, special uses, plats, variances) inside Buffalo city

  • Applications due the first Monday of each month
  • Public hearing before the P&Z commission

  “the applicant shall complete and submit the approved application forms, with help from the p & z staff as required, along with the required application and processing fee by the required deadline which is the first monday of each month.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Buffalo or Johnson County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Buffalo city
• Certificate of occupancy — Buffalo city
• Minimum dwelling size — Buffalo city
• Lot coverage — Buffalo city
• Living in an RV — Buffalo city

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.