County Building Permits
Johnson County, WY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, Wyoming. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Covers all unincorporated areas of Johnson County. Does not cover the City of Buffalo or the Town of Kaycee.
- Department
- Johnson County Planning Department
- Address
- Office Annex A -- Suite A, 26 N DeSmet Avenue, Buffalo, WY 82834
- Phone
- (307) 684-1907
- jwaller@johnsoncowy.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact the Planning Department at (307) 684-1907 to discuss your project scope and applicable requirements
- Determine whether subdivision review, floodplain development permit, or septic system permit is required
- For subdivisions: Review Johnson County Subdivision Regulations (Resolution #715), submit application with required documents, Planning Commission reviews, Board of County Commissioners approves/denies
- For floodplain development: Determine if property is in a FEMA-mapped SFHA using FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov), submit Floodplain Development Permit application if in SFHA
- For septic systems: Confirm current Small Wastewater Treatment Facility Regulations, submit application and pay applicable fees
- Obtain permit before beginning work
General Requirements
No county-level building permit is required for construction in the unincorporated area of Johnson County. However, floodplain development permits are required for construction in FEMA-mapped SFHA areas, small wastewater (septic) permits are required for new or modified on-site sewage systems, and subdivision review is required before platting or dividing land. State-level WSFM commercial code requirements apply to qualifying commercial/public buildings.
- Building code
- None. Johnson County has not adopted a building code for unincorporated areas.
- Owner-builder
- Not applicable -- no county building permit requirement
- Contractor requirements
- Not applicable at the county level. Wyoming has no statewide general contractor license requirement. If hiring contractors, verify their state electrical license (if doing electrical work) and any applicable Buffalo or Kaycee contractor licensing if the project site is within those jurisdictions.
Fees
- Payment note
- In-person payment at Planning Department office
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Johnson County Planning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
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Typical inspection sequence: No county building inspections for construction in unincorporated areas (no building permit requirement). Floodplain inspections may be required to verify NFIP compliance. Septic/small wastewater inspections are handled by the Planning Department. State Fire Marshal conducts inspections for commercial/qualifying projects where WSFM holds enforcement authority.
Additional Resources
- Building code: None. Johnson County has not adopted a building code for unincorporated areas.
- Johnson County Planning & Zoning Documents
- Johnson County Boards - Planning Commission
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- Wyoming State Forestry Division
- Wyoming State Fire Marshal - DFPES
- Wyoming DEQ - Stormwater Permitting
- 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 Johnson County Planning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Johnson County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, WY?
- No county-level building permit is required for construction in the unincorporated area of Johnson County. However, floodplain development permits are required for construction in FEMA-mapped SFHA areas, small wastewater (septic) permits are required for new or modified on-site sewage systems, and subdivision review is required before platting or dividing land. State-level WSFM commercial code requirements apply to qualifying commercial/public buildings.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Johnson County, WY?
- 1. Contact the Planning Department at (307) 684-1907 to discuss your project scope and applicable requirements 2. Determine whether subdivision review, floodplain development permit, or septic system permit is required 3. For subdivisions: Review Johnson County Subdivision Regulations (Resolution #715), submit application with required documents, Planning Commission reviews, Board of County Commissioners approves/denies 4. For floodplain development: Determine if property is in a FEMA-mapped SFHA using FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov), submit Floodplain Development Permit application if in SFHA 5. For septic systems: Confirm current Small Wastewater Treatment Facility Regulations, submit application and pay applicable fees 6. Obtain permit before beginning work
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Johnson County, WY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: .
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