County Building Permits
Converse County, WY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Converse County, Wyoming. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Covers all unincorporated areas of Converse County, including the unincorporated communities of Orin and Careyhurst. The City of Douglas and Town of Glenrock have their own permit authorities.
- Department
- Converse County Planning and Zoning Department
- Address
- 107 N. 5th Street, Suite 106, Douglas, WY 82633
- Phone
- (307) 358-2244
Online Permit Portal
Platform: No online permit portal • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact Converse County Planning and Zoning at (307) 358-2244 to confirm whether a permit is required and whether the parcel is in a formal zoning district
- Obtain the parcel's legal description and confirm zoning status
- Determine whether the parcel is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area using FEMA Flood Map Service Center at https://msc.fema.gov/
- For oil/gas/CBM operations, identify applicable WOGCC and WDEQ requirements and initiate those applications concurrently
- Obtain and complete the county permit application form from the Planning and Zoning office
- Prepare a site plan showing parcel boundaries, dimensions, legal description, proposed structure location with setback dimensions, existing structures, utility connections, and access
- For projects near streams, rivers, or wetlands, determine whether USACE Section 404 and WDEQ Section 401 permits are required
- For projects with cultural resource sensitivity, contact Wyoming SHPO before ground disturbance
- Submit the completed application package in person at the Planning and Zoning office
- Pay applicable permit fees at time of submission
- Staff review for zoning compliance, applicable code requirements, and floodplain compliance
- Permit issued upon approval; post permit at job site
- Schedule required inspections with county during construction
- Final county inspection and sign-off; final Wyoming State Electrical inspection (separate track)
Typical processing time: Not published; contact (307) 358-2244. Processing time may vary based on project complexity and whether zoning, floodplain, or energy-sector review is required.
General Requirements
A building or zoning permit is required for new construction, additions, and significant alterations in areas subject to county zoning. Unzoned parcels may have fewer requirements, but confirm with Planning and Zoning.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Site plan (applicant-prepared acceptable in most cases)
- Property legal description
- Construction documents as applicable
- Contractor and subcontractor information
- Owner-builder
- Wyoming does not require a general contractor license statewide; owner-builders may self-permit residential construction but should confirm any local requirements with the county.
- Contractor requirements
- No state general contractor license required in Wyoming. Electrical work is governed by the Wyoming State Electrical Code enforced by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Labor Standards Division -- a state-issued electrical license is required for electrical work.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Not confirmed from public sources; Wyoming counties commonly use valuation-based fee schedules derived from a percentage of construction value.
- Penalty (no permit)
- Unpermitted work discovered during inspection may result in stop-work order and after-the-fact permit penalty in addition to standard permit fees
- Payment note
- Fees likely paid in person at Planning and Zoning office; check, cash, or money order typical for small Wyoming county offices; online payment not confirmed
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Agricultural structures (barns, grain bins, equipment storage sheds, hay storage structures, livestock facilities) on qualifying agricultural parcels are exempt from building permit requirements
- Floodplain development: Development within FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) requires a Floodplain Development Permit and is not waived by agricultural exemption
Important: Confirm all exemptions directly with county -- no published written exemption schedule confirmed online. Agricultural exemptions require confirmation that parcel qualifies as agricultural land.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- ()
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Time windows
- County inspector availability may be limited for remote or rural parcels; confirm travel time and scheduling lead time with office.
Typical inspection sequence: Generally includes foundation/footing (prior to concrete pour), framing rough-in (prior to insulation), mechanical/plumbing rough-in, insulation (prior to drywall), final inspection. Confirm required inspection list with county at time of permit issuance.
Wyoming State Electrical inspectors (Department of Workforce Services, Labor Standards Division) handle all electrical inspections statewide and are entirely separate from county building inspections. These require separate scheduling. Do not assume county inspector will sign off on electrical work.
Additional Resources
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- License lookup guide: Wyoming Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Wyoming Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Wyoming hub: Wyoming Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Converse County Planning and Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Converse County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Converse County, WY?
- A building or zoning permit is required for new construction, additions, and significant alterations in areas subject to county zoning. Unzoned parcels may have fewer requirements, but confirm with Planning and Zoning.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Converse County, WY?
- Fees are calculated as: Not confirmed from public sources; Wyoming counties commonly use valuation-based fee schedules derived from a percentage of construction value..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Converse County, WY?
- 1. Contact Converse County Planning and Zoning at (307) 358-2244 to confirm whether a permit is required and whether the parcel is in a formal zoning district 2. Obtain the parcel's legal description and confirm zoning status 3. Determine whether the parcel is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area using FEMA Flood Map Service Center at https://msc.fema.gov/ 4. For oil/gas/CBM operations, identify applicable WOGCC and WDEQ requirements and initiate those applications concurrently 5. Obtain and complete the county permit application form from the Planning and Zoning office 6. Prepare a site plan showing parcel boundaries, dimensions, legal description, proposed structure location with setback dimensions, existing structures, utility connections, and access 7. For projects near streams, rivers, or wetlands, determine whether USACE Section 404 and WDEQ Section 401 permits are required 8. For projects with cultural resource sensitivity, contact Wyoming SHPO before ground disturbance 9. Submit the completed application package in person at the Planning and Zoning office 10. Pay applicable permit fees at time of submission 11. Staff review for zoning compliance, applicable code requirements, and floodplain compliance 12. Permit issued upon approval; post permit at job site 13. Schedule required inspections with county during construction 14. Final county inspection and sign-off; final Wyoming State Electrical inspection (separate track)
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Converse County, WY?
- Typical processing time is Not published; contact (307) 358-2244. Processing time may vary based on project complexity and whether zoning, floodplain, or energy-sector review is required..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Converse County, WY?
- The following work is generally exempt: Agricultural structures (barns, grain bins, equipment storage sheds, hay storage structures, livestock facilities) on qualifying agricultural parcels are exempt from building permit requirements; Floodplain development: Development within FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) requires a Floodplain Development Permit and is not waived by agricultural exemption. Note: Confirm all exemptions directly with county -- no published written exemption schedule confirmed online. Agricultural exemptions require confirmation that parcel qualifies as agricultural land.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Converse County, WY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: .
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