Unincorporated Natrona County, Wyoming requires building permits for new residential and commercial buildings, additions, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing work1. The county also zones all land outside incorporated municipalities2. The Casper-Natrona County Health Department handles small wastewater and septic systems throughout the county3.
At a glance
- Building permit
- Required for new residential and commercial buildings, additions, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing work1
- Zoning
- Yes; every unincorporated parcel is in a county zoning district24
- Setbacks
- District-specific; many districts use 25 feet from a public road and 10 feet at the front, sides and rear5
- Septic permits
- Handled by the Casper-Natrona County Health Department throughout Natrona County3
- RV or tiny-home living
- Countywide occupancy rules could not be confirmed; ask Planning about the parcel's district6
- Owner-builder exemption
- Could not be confirmed; ask the Building Department before relying on one7
- Well permit
- An approved state permit is required before drilling a domestic or stock well8
- Septic soil suitability
- 30.9% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field9
Who to call
Building permits
Natrona County Building Department
Plan review, building-permit issuance and inspections
200 N. Center ST, Room 205, Casper, WY 82601
Planning & zoning
Natrona County Planning Department
Zoning, related planning permits, subdivision review and code enforcement
200 N. Center St., Room 202, Casper, WY 82601
Septic permits
Casper-Natrona County Health Department, Environmental Health Division
Permitting, installation oversight and use of onsite wastewater treatment systems
1017 S Conwell St., Casper, WY 82601
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 Natrona County, Wyoming?
Yes. Unincorporated Natrona County requires a building permit for new residential and commercial buildings, additions, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing work1. The Natrona County Building Department administers plan review, permit issuance and inspections10. Its work enforces minimum adopted building-code requirements11. Wyoming law allows a county to enforce building standards after the state fire marshal delegates authority, provided the county maintains the required standards and qualified inspectors12. Start with the Building Department before ordering plans or materials, because the permit and inspection path depends on the proposed work10.
Who issues permits in Natrona County, and how do you reach them?
The Natrona County Building Department handles plan review, building-permit issuance and inspections at 200 N. Center ST, Room 205, Casper, WY 82601; call 307-235-9435 or use the online permit portal linked above10. The Natrona County Planning Department handles zoning, related planning permits, subdivision regulations and code enforcement at 200 N. Center St., Room 202, Casper, WY 82601; call 307-235-944713. A rural project may need clearance from both offices because an approved land use and a code-compliant structure are separate questions1013. The Casper-Natrona County Health Department is the separate contact for onsite wastewater systems3.
Does Natrona County have zoning?
Yes. Natrona County's zoning resolution applies to every unincorporated part of the county, not land inside incorporated municipalities2. Every unincorporated parcel falls within a published zoning district, and the official zoning map is part of the resolution4. Setbacks depend on the district; many listed districts use a 25-foot public-road setback and 10-foot front, side and rear setbacks, but those measurements are not universal5. Ask the Planning Department to identify the parcel's district and confirm the applicable use and dimensional rules before designing a site plan13. Wyoming county zoning authority covers building locations and land occupancy in unincorporated areas, subject to statutory limits14.
How do septic permits work in Natrona County?
The Casper-Natrona County Health Department's Environmental Health Division handles installation, repair and use of small wastewater and septic systems throughout Natrona County under delegated authority from Wyoming DEQ3. The department says it oversees permitting, installation and use of onsite wastewater treatment systems15. Wyoming DEQ directly permits small wastewater facilities only in specified jurisdictions, while other jurisdictions use their own permitting authorities and may require different forms or information16. Only 30.9% of Natrona County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so investigate the site before treating a standard system as a given9. We could not confirm that every system follows the same inspection sequence; ask Environmental Health what inspections your design requires15.
Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Natrona County?
We could not confirm a single countywide rule allowing or prohibiting RV residence, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy on ordinary rural parcels. Unincorporated Natrona County is divided into zoning districts, and county zoning regulates land use and occupancy414. Ask the Planning Department whether the parcel's district permits the proposed dwelling type and whether a temporary-use or related planning permit is required13. We also could not confirm a general minimum dwelling size or a general agricultural exemption from county permits. A manufactured-home park has a narrower published rule: each space must have piped potable water, electrical connections and sewage-disposal connections17.
What are the steps to build a home in Natrona County?
- Ask the Planning Department to identify the zoning district, allowed residential use, setbacks and any floodplain or planning review13.
- Confirm the site plan and building-permit requirements with the Building Department, then apply through its online portal110.
- Have the Casper-Natrona County Health Department review the onsite wastewater proposal before installation3.
- If the parcel needs a well, obtain an approved Wyoming State Engineer permit before drilling8.
- If the project divides land, obtain any required county subdivision permit before selling regulated land, recording a plat or beginning subdivision construction18.
- Schedule the inspections required by the Building Department as construction proceeds10.
What should you check before buying land in Natrona County?
Confirm the zoning district, permitted use and parcel-specific setbacks with the Planning Department before relying on a listing description413. Verify legal access carefully: Wyoming's large-parcel provision generally covers parcels of 35 acres or more and requires binding, recordable ingress, egress and utility easements at least 40 feet wide to a public road unless properly waived19. Federal land covers 44.6% of Natrona County, making boundary and access checks especially relevant20. Only 30.9% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so price septic feasibility before closing9. The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 189 miles from the county center, a useful reminder to price travel and contractor logistics21.
Watch-outs
- A setback copied from a neighboring Natrona County parcel may be wrong because setbacks vary by zoning district5.
- We could not confirm a general owner-builder exemption; ask the Building Department before assuming you may act as your own contractor710.
- We could not confirm countywide rules for temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size, off-grid sanitation or a general agricultural permit exemption; ask the Planning Department and Environmental Health about the proposed parcel and use1315.
Sources
- Building & Inspection FAQs (2026 county census)
- Natrona County 2022 Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
- Natrona County Small Wastewater System Regulations (Casper-Natrona County Health Dept) (2026 county census)
- Natrona County 2022 Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
- Natrona County 2022 Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
- Zoning (2026 county census)
- (2026 county census)
- General Processes (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
- Natrona County Building Department (natronacounty-wy.gov)
- Building & Inspection, quoted and re-checked
- Wyoming Statutes, Title 35, W.S. 35-9-121 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Natrona County Planning Department (natronacounty-wy.gov)
- Wyoming Statutes, Title 18, W.S. 18-5-201 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Casper-Natrona County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (casperpublichealth.org)
- Small Wastewater Systems (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Natrona County 2022 Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
- Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
- Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
- Distance to the nearest metro area: 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.