Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming

Town of Star Valley Ranch’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New or existing buildings or structures within Star Valley Ranch town when an enumerated action is undertaken.

  • Application is submitted to the Town front office and the Town reviews, approves or disapproves it.
  • New construction over 200 square feet, exterior construction/additions/structural alterations, load-bearing interior work, most roof replacements, fences, specified driveway work, demolition, commercial temporary buildings, certain decks, and retaining walls over four feet are listed actions.
  • In-kind roof replacement does not require a permit but requires validation of Class A roofing materials.
  • Commercial permit issuance additionally requires State Fire Marshal approval.

  new-construction footprint threshold: > 200 square feet (Permit list applies to construction greater in footprint area than 200 square feet)

  “A building construction and alteration permit application shall be required before any of the following actions are undertaken on a new or existing building or structure:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and temporary structures built or located within Star Valley Ranch town.

  • The adopted IBC edition is 2021.
  • All IBC appendices are specifically excluded.
  • Construction documents must be designed and sealed by a Wyoming-certified structural or civil engineer.

  International Building Code edition: 2021 (All appendices excluded)

  “Buildings and temporary structures built or located within the town from and upon the adoption of this subchapter shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the International Building Code (IBC), 2021 Edition, as published by the International Code Council (ICC), specifically excluding all appendices.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Dwellings or duplexes completed within Star Valley Ranch town.

  • The final structure cannot be occupied until an acceptable final construction inspection is completed and its report furnished to the Town.

  “Copy of all required building inspections. Inspection Reports must show as having been passed and be signed by a Certified Building Inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Star Valley Ranch town's incorporated limits.

  • The code divides the total incorporated area into zoning districts.

  “The total incorporated area of the town is hereby divided into the minimum number of zoning districts necessary to achieve compatibility of uses and character within each zoning district, to implement the comprehensive plan, and to achieve the purposes of these land development regulations.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Use of a motor home or trailer as a principal or seasonal dwelling anywhere inside Star Valley Ranch town.

  • Storage of recreational vehicles and related temporary dwellings is separately limited to a lot with an existing principal dwelling and required district setbacks.

  “No person shall use or permit the use of any temporary dwelling, motor home or trailer as defined in this chapter as a principal or seasonal dwelling on any site, lot, field or tract of land.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured/mobile homes inside Star Valley Ranch town; placement remains subject to applicable zoning district rules.

  • Manufactured/mobile homes are not allowed in the Single-Family Residential Zone.
  • Where allowed, the home must have been manufactured no more than 12 months before application and must be on a permanent continuous foundation.
  • Towing devices, wheels, and axles used solely for initial transportation must be removed within 30 days of delivery.

  maximum age before application: <= 12 months (Manufactured/mobile homes permitted the same as new on-site built homes where zoning allows)

  “Manufactured/mobile homes will be permitted the same as new on-site built homes, and shall have been manufactured no more than 12 months prior to the date of application and shall be placed on a permanent continuous foundation.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Certificate-of-occupancy documentation for development inside Star Valley Ranch town.

  • Town code requires a copy of a wastewater permit from Lincoln County before a certificate of occupancy issues.

  “Copy of the Wastewater Permit from Lincoln County.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Projects inside Star Valley Ranch town seeking a Town certificate of occupancy.

  • A copy of the Lincoln County wastewater permit is required documentation for issuance of a Town certificate of occupancy.

  “Copy of the Wastewater Permit from Lincoln County.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision applications inside Star Valley Ranch town.

  • At application, the applicant must provide a complete study certifying compliance with all county, state, and federal septic/sewer standards.
  • Lots under five acres for single-family residences are subject to the stated county advanced-treatment standard.
  • High-density, MR-1, or MR-2 plans require a current DEQ Chapter 23 Wastewater Study under state statutes and county regulations.

  single-family lot size threshold: < 5 acres (County standard requires enhanced/advanced septic treatment system directed by NSF Standard 40)

  “The applicant shall provide to the town, at the time of application, a complete study certifying that all county, state and federal standards for septic/sewer requirements have been met.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Installation of a driveway or vehicular access on a public right-of-way inside Star Valley Ranch town.

  • A permit issues only after prescribed fees are paid and Town regulations are met.
  • The Town must be advised at application of affected meters, signs, poles, hydrants, trees, or obstructions.
  • Developments generating 200 or more vehicle trips per day require an accessibility study before a development permit.
  • No driveway-construction permit issues unless users can park entirely within private property lines.

  traffic-study threshold: >= 200 vehicle trips per day (Accessibility study required before a developmental permit)

  “It shall be unlawful for any person either as owner, agent, servant, contractor or employee to install or cause to have installed any driveway, or any vehicular access, on any public right-of-way in the town without a permit.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Building-permit applications or development plans for parcels wholly or partially within the Town Alluvial Fan Flood Overlay.

  • Additional scaled duplicate plans must show specified drainageways, landscape alterations, and existing/proposed structures.
  • The application must describe alteration or relocation of a watercourse, abandoned channel, or natural drainage.
  • The Floodplain Administrator reviews applications and plans to assure all necessary federal, state, and local permits are obtained.

  “Applications for a building permit or development plans for parcels wholly or partially within the Alluvial Fan Flood Overlay shall include the following additional items:”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Town building and construction permit fees.

  • Fees are set by resolution and reviewed annually.

  “Fees are set by resolution and reviewed annually.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Town building-permit applications.

  • Application is submitted to the Town front office.
  • The Town reviews, approves or disapproves the application.
  • The Town issues the building permit if it approves the application.
  • Before construction, the approved permit must be visibly posted at the job site until approved final inspection has issued.

  “A building permit application shall be submitted to the Town front office. The application will be reviewed, approved or disapproved, by the Town. A building permit will be issued by the Town, if approved.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Star Valley Ranch

Town of Star Valley Ranch does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  New dwelling structures in the Town Single-Family Residential Zone.

  • Attached-garage area is excluded from the footprint minimum.
  • A variance procedure is used if adherence is impossible because of existing natural features.

  minimum new-dwelling footprint: >= 900 square feet (Excludes attached-garage building area)

  “The minimum footprint for all new dwelling structures shall not be less than 900 square feet excluding the building area of any attached garage.”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  Short-term rentals in the Town Single-Family Residential Zone.

  • An HOA or equivalent legal entity may exclude the use.

  “Short-Term Rentals are only allowed in the Single-Family Residential zone unless otherwise excluded by a Homeowner's Association (HOA) or equivalent legal entity.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Star Valley Ranch or Lincoln County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Star Valley Ranch town.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Star Valley Ranch town.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Star Valley Ranch town.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Star Valley Ranch town.
• Septic inspection — Onsite wastewater systems inside Star Valley Ranch town.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Star Valley Ranch means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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