Bolthole Index

Sheridan County, Wyoming

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

68Index Score / 100
#2 of 23 in Wyoming

Sheridan County, Wyoming requires a zoning and/or building permit before covered construction, reconstruction, alteration or a change in the use of a structure or lot.1 Some structures or uses are exempt from a zoning permit, so Public Works should identify the correct application before work begins.1 Sheridan County also administers zoning in unincorporated areas and permits septic systems through Public Works.23

At a glance

Building permit
Required before covered construction, reconstruction, alteration or change of use1
Zoning
Yes; county rules apply in unincorporated areas2
Septic
Permitted by Sheridan County Public Works3
RV living
Long-term occupancy was not confirmed; ask Public Works about the parcel and proposed use4
Tiny homes
No specific occupancy rule was confirmed; zoning and permit review still apply52
Owner-builder
No owner-builder permit exemption was confirmed; ask Public Works before starting4
Private well
State approval is required before drilling a groundwater well6

Who to call

Building permits

Sheridan County Public Works Department

Building and zoning permit guidance, septic applications, floodplain permits and county development questions

307-675-2420

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

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

Yes, for work within Sheridan County's county permit jurisdiction.1 A zoning and/or building permit must be obtained before construction, reconstruction, alteration or a change in the use of a structure or lot.1 Some structures or uses are exempt from the zoning permit, but the county directs applicants to Public Works to determine whether an exemption applies and to obtain the proper application.1

Do not start first and sort out the paperwork later: Sheridan County assesses an additional inspection fee when construction begins without a permit.1 Incorporated municipalities may administer their own requirements, so land inside a city or town needs a municipal answer rather than an assumption based on unincorporated Sheridan County.1 County Public Works also provides letters of occupancy, although the reviewed material does not establish that every project requires one.7

Who issues building permits in Sheridan County?

The Sheridan County Public Works Department is the starting point for county building and zoning permit questions.4 Public Works can be reached at 307-675-2420 or [email protected].4 The department's published forms include building and zoning, floodplain, septic and driveway applications.4

Sheridan County Public Works encompasses building permitting and inspection, engineering, planning, code enforcement, the county water-system function, and road and bridge work.3 County code-enforcement staff issue zoning permits and address whether construction and development conform to zoning rules and approval conditions.2 Before filing, give Public Works the parcel location, present use, proposed use and basic project description so staff can identify the applicable jurisdiction and forms.4 The county's building-permit rule recognizes both possible exemptions and separate municipal administration, making that jurisdiction check the useful first call.1

Does Sheridan County have zoning?

Yes. Sheridan County Planning administers zoning and land-division rules for unincorporated areas, with zoning permits and a Planning and Zoning Commission.2 Wyoming law allows county commissioners to regulate the location and use of buildings and land in unincorporated areas, but county zoning cannot override an incorporated city or town's zoning authority.8

A parcel-specific zoning answer matters for residential use, accessory structures, setbacks and placement.2 The current minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and general building-height limits could not be confirmed, so ask Public Works for the parcel's zoning district and the current standards that apply.4 Some structures or uses may be exempt from the zoning permit, but the county tells applicants to have Public Works determine whether an exemption applies.1 A land division can also trigger subdivision review before sale, plat recording or subdivision construction.9

How do septic permits work in Sheridan County?

Sheridan County Public Works administers septic-system permitting in Sheridan County.3 The county's building page publishes a septic permit application and also lists applications for holding tanks, greywater systems and privy-vault non-plumbing sanitation.4 Those form names do not establish that every alternative system is allowed on every parcel, so ask Public Works which application and design standard fits the site.4

Only 16.2% of mapped Sheridan County soils avoid a “very limited” rating for a conventional septic drain field, so acreage alone is not evidence that a standard drain field will work.10 The reviewed county material confirms permitting but does not establish the inspection stages or exceptions for every system.3 Before fixing a house location, ask Public Works about site evaluation, design documents, installation authorization and the inspection sequence for the proposed wastewater system.4

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Sheridan County?

We could not confirm a general Sheridan County rule allowing long-term residential occupancy of an RV on private land in unincorporated areas.2 Ask Public Works about the parcel's zoning district, the proposed duration, utility connections and wastewater plan before moving an RV onto the property.4 Temporary camping rules also remain unconfirmed, so do not treat short stays as automatically permitted.4

A tiny home is not automatically outside county review.5 Sheridan County requires a zoning and/or building permit before covered construction or a change of use, while the specific occupancy treatment of a tiny home was not confirmed.1 Ask Public Works whether the proposed unit will be treated as a dwelling, manufactured home, recreational vehicle or accessory structure and what zoning and building approvals follow from that classification.4 The county also lists separate manufactured-housing-park regulations, which should not be read as a blanket answer for a single unit on private acreage.2

Building a home in Sheridan County: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Sheridan County Public Works to confirm whether the parcel is in county jurisdiction, identify its zoning district and name the required applications.14
  2. Resolve legal access before design; Wyoming law requires qualifying large-parcel dispositions to have binding, recordable ingress, egress and utility easements to a public road.11
  3. Secure water authority before drilling; Wyoming requires an approved groundwater permit before well or qualifying spring-development work begins.6
  4. Submit the wastewater proposal to Sheridan County Public Works and obtain the required septic authorization.3
  5. Obtain the zoning and/or building permit before covered construction, reconstruction, alteration or change of use begins.1
  6. Confirm required inspections and occupancy documentation with Public Works; the county provides letters of occupancy, but applicability depends on the project and jurisdiction.7

What should you check before buying land in Sheridan County?

Start with zoning, buildability, wastewater, water, legal access and flood exposure.2 Public Works answers floodplain questions for property in unincorporated Sheridan County and issues floodplain permits there.4 The county's published forms also include a driveway permit packet, but the operative driveway standards were not confirmed, so ask Public Works before relying on an existing approach or cutting a new one.4

Sheridan County receives about 18.4 inches of precipitation annually, and severe drought occurred in 16.9% of measured years, so verify a dependable water source rather than assuming a well will meet the intended use.1213 About 16.2% of mapped soils avoid severe limitations for conventional septic drain fields, making an early wastewater feasibility check especially valuable.10 Federal land makes up 27.3% of the county, so confirm recorded access rather than relying on an apparent road across adjoining land.14 The effective property-tax rate is about 0.6%, with a median annual bill of $1,951.1516

Watch-outs

  • Starting covered construction without a permit can trigger an additional inspection fee.1
  • Long-term RV living, temporary camping and specific tiny-home occupancy rules remain unconfirmed; ask Public Works about the exact parcel and proposal.4
  • Only 16.2% of mapped soils avoid a severe limitation rating for conventional septic drain fields, so complete wastewater due diligence early.10

Sources

  1. Building in the County, quoted and re-checked
  2. Sheridan County Planning Department (2026 county census)
  3. Public Works, quoted and re-checked
  4. Sheridan County Public Works Department (sheridancountywy.gov)
  5. Building in the County (2026 county census)
  6. General Processes (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Public Works, quoted and re-checked
  8. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18, W.S. 18-5-201 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  11. Wyoming Statutes, Title 18 (Wyoming statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  13. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Federal land share: Bolthole Index county data
  15. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  16. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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

Sheridan County in Wyoming

68
County map
Sheridan County highlighted among the Wyoming counties · colored by Index score

How Sheridan County scores

Seclusion88100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency50100% ev.
Admin Boringness4490% ev.
Durability43100% ev.
Property Autonomy74100% ev.
Carry Cost81100% 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 →

$447kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$1,582Land / acre
18.4"Annual rain
16.9% of yrsSevere drought
7.3 / yr (+6.1)Mid-century 100°F days
17.8 daysMid-century dry spell
1.09" (+4.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.3×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,882Home insurance / yr
2.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.34%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
127People within 30 min
132,900People within 2 hr
847Radius comparison (15 mi)
12.9People / sq mi
27.3%Federal land
55%Land at 15% slope or less
16.2%Septic soil without severe limits
224,647 acWorkable land screen
25.6%Wooded land
36.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
43.2°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Sheridan County

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

Sheridan County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, reconstruction, alteration, or change of use of a structure or lot in Sheridan County's county building-permit jurisdiction.

    • A zoning and/or building permit must be obtained before the covered work.
    • Certain structures or uses are exempt from the zoning permit; the county directs applicants to contact Public Works to determine whether an exemption applies and to obtain the proper application.
    • If construction begins without a permit, an additional inspection fee will be assessed.
    • Incorporated municipalities may administer their own requirements.
    “Prior to construction, reconstruction, alteration, or change of use of a structure or lot, a zoning and/or building permit must be obtained.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Occupancy documentation issued by the Sheridan County Building Department in its county building-code jurisdiction.

    • The county page states that the Building Department provides letters of occupancy; it does not establish that a letter is required for every project.
    • The applicable project, municipality, or state fire-safety jurisdiction may impose separate certificate-of-occupancy requirements.
    “The department issues County building permits and provides letters of occupancy”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    County aggregate of local zoning within Sheridan County: Sheridan County administers county zoning and land-use rules, while the applicable local regime depends on the property location and may include separate municipal rules in incorporated places.

    • For county-administered areas, the county page identifies zoning districts, land-use questions, rezoning, variances, conditional-use permits, subdivision permits and exemptions, and manufactured-home parks as planning functions.
    • The county's building page states that certain structures/uses are exempt from the zoning permit.
    • This aggregate claim does not treat Sheridan County as the administrator of every municipal ordinance.
    “Our division is responsible for reviewing development applications for compliance with zoning and subdivision regulations, overseeing the preparation of long range planning documents, and zoning code enforcement.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic-system permitting administered by Sheridan County Public Works.

    “The department issues County building permits and provides letters of occupancy, as well as permits septic systems”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    County Planning administers the Zoning and Division of Land Rules and Regulations for unincorporated areas, with a Planning and Zoning Commission and zoning permits.

    Sheridan County Planning Department ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Wyoming rules that apply here

  • Septic permitLimited

    Installation, repair, or replacement of individual or commercial sewage disposal systems treating less than 2,000 gallons of domestic sewage per day in Wyoming DEQ permitting jurisdictions.

    • The cited DEQ page identifies DEQ jurisdiction in Campbell County for commercial systems only and in Carbon, Niobrara, Platte, and Weston Counties.
    • The permitting authority for other jurisdictions may require different forms or additional information.
    • Construction may not commence until the permitting authority issues authorization.
    • A Certificate of Completion must be submitted to DEQ when installation is complete.

    daily domestic sewage treatment capacity: < 2000 gallons per day

    “Step 1: Review the Small Wastewater Facility General Permit, which covers the installation, repair or replacement of individual or commercial sewage disposal systems that treat less than 2,000 gallons of domestic sewage per day. See “Permitting Forms and Information” tab.”
  • 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.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Subdivision activity subject to Wyoming Statutes Title 18, Article 5.

    • The requirement applies to land subject to subdivision regulation under the cited article.
    • The permit is obtained from the board of the county in which the land is located.
    • The statute cross-references W.S. 18-5-306 and, if applicable, W.S. 18-5-316.
    • Each board must enforce the article and adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement it.
    “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.”
  • 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 — Whether an owner-builder exemption from Sheridan County building-permit or inspection requirements is available.
  • Inspections — Whether every county-permitted building project in Sheridan County must receive specific building inspections.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in unincorporated Sheridan County
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in unincorporated Sheridan County
  • Setbacks — Setbacks in unincorporated Sheridan County
11 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Short-term rentals

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 Sheridan County, Wyoming

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

Sheridan County scores 68/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 127 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost.

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

Sheridan County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Sheridan County Public Works Department. 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 Sheridan County, Wyoming?

Land in Sheridan County runs about $1,582 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Sheridan County?

Sheridan County gets about 18.4" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 16.9% of years.

How remote is Sheridan County?

A representative private-land location has about 127 people within a 30-minute drive and 132,900 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 Sheridan County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Sheridan compares in Wyoming

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