County Building Permits
Lincoln County, WY - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Lincoln County, Wyoming. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Star Valley Ranch is an unincorporated planned community located southwest of Thayne in Lincoln County. Despite being one of the larger planned communities in Wyoming by lot count, it remains unincorporated. Building permits are issued by Lincoln County. However, the Star Valley Ranch Community Services District (SVRCSD) has significant authority over community standards, architectural review, and land use.
- Department
- Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Department (primary permit authority)
- Address
- 80 East 1st Ave., Afton, WY 83110 (nearest office to SVR)
- Phone
- (307) 885-3158
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Contact SVRCSD at (307) 883-2679 to review the CC&Rs and Architectural Standards for the specific lot
- Submit an Architectural Review Committee (ARC) application to SVRCSD (if required by governing documents) and obtain ARC approval before or concurrent with county permit application
- Contact Lincoln County Planning and Zoning (Afton office, (307) 885-3158) to obtain the county building permit application
- Submit county permit application with site plan, construction drawings, and applicable fee to the Afton office
- County reviews for zoning compliance under Lincoln County Land Use Regulations
- County permit is issued; post on job site
- Schedule county inspections with the Afton office; allow extra lead time given geographic distance
- Coordinate state electrical inspection separately with Wyoming Division of Labor Standards
- Final county inspection
- Confirm with SVRCSD whether final community compliance sign-off is required
Typical processing time: Dual-track process (county permit + SVRCSD architectural review). Allow extra time due to geographic distance for inspections.
Source: Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Department (primary permit authority)
General Requirements
New construction, additions, structural alterations, placement of manufactured homes
Required Documents
- County building permit application
- Site plan showing parcel boundaries, setbacks, existing and proposed improvements, well and septic locations
- Construction drawings/plans as applicable
- SVRCSD Architectural Review Committee approval documentation
- Well and septic permits if applicable (administered separately through Wyoming DEQ or state)
- Permit validity
- Typically 6-12 months; confirm with Lincoln County
- Building code
- Same as Lincoln County unincorporated. Wyoming does not have mandatory statewide residential code. Lincoln County has not adopted full IBC/IRC.
- Owner-builder
- Wyoming does not require general contractor license; owner-builders may pull their own permits. Licensed contractors required for electrical (state) and plumbing (state).
- Contractor requirements
- No general contractor license required at county level. Subcontractors for electrical and plumbing must hold appropriate state licenses.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Based on project valuation or structure size, consistent with Wyoming county practice
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Agricultural exemptions may apply to qualifying agricultural structures (typically outside immediate community core)
Important: SVRCSD CC&Rs may have more restrictive standards than county minimums and may not allow certain exemptions. Review specific lot CC&Rs carefully.
Inspections
How to Schedule
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- Scheduling deadline
- Allow extra scheduling lead time for SVR area given inspector travel distance. Advance notice of 24-48 hours or more may be required.
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Typical inspection sequence: Typical county sequence: Pre-pour foundation/footing, foundation/stem wall, framing, rough mechanical/electrical/plumbing, insulation (where required), final building inspection. Electrical inspections by state inspector only.
State electrical inspections performed separately by Wyoming State Electrical Inspector; applicants must schedule independently
Additional Resources
- Building code: Same as Lincoln County unincorporated. Wyoming does not have mandatory statewide residential code. Lincoln County has not adopted full IBC/IRC.
- Star Valley Ranch Community Services District
- Wyoming Electrical Board
- Wyoming State Plumbing Board
- Wyoming DEQ Water Quality Division
- Wyoming State Engineer's Office
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- 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 Lincoln County Planning and Zoning Department (primary permit authority) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lincoln County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Lincoln County, WY?
- New construction, additions, structural alterations, placement of manufactured homes
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Lincoln County, WY?
- Fees are calculated as: Based on project valuation or structure size, consistent with Wyoming county practice.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Lincoln County, WY?
- 1. Contact SVRCSD at (307) 883-2679 to review the CC&Rs and Architectural Standards for the specific lot 2. Submit an Architectural Review Committee (ARC) application to SVRCSD (if required by governing documents) and obtain ARC approval before or concurrent with county permit application 3. Contact Lincoln County Planning and Zoning (Afton office, (307) 885-3158) to obtain the county building permit application 4. Submit county permit application with site plan, construction drawings, and applicable fee to the Afton office 5. County reviews for zoning compliance under Lincoln County Land Use Regulations 6. County permit is issued; post on job site 7. Schedule county inspections with the Afton office; allow extra lead time given geographic distance 8. Coordinate state electrical inspection separately with Wyoming Division of Labor Standards 9. Final county inspection 10. Confirm with SVRCSD whether final community compliance sign-off is required
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Lincoln County, WY?
- Typical processing time is Dual-track process (county permit + SVRCSD architectural review). Allow extra time due to geographic distance for inspections..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Lincoln County, WY?
- The following work is generally exempt: Agricultural exemptions may apply to qualifying agricultural structures (typically outside immediate community core). Note: SVRCSD CC&Rs may have more restrictive standards than county minimums and may not allow certain exemptions. Review specific lot CC&Rs carefully.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Lincoln County, WY?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: , , . Allow extra scheduling lead time for SVR area given inspector travel distance. Advance notice of 24-48 hours or more may be required..
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