Unincorporated Teton County

A building permit is required for all new construction, additions, alterations, structural repairs, demolitions, change of occupancy, and accessory structures in unincorporated Teton County. This includes: all new single-family and multi-family residential structures, all commercial/resort/mixed-use structures, additions to existing structures of any size, structural alterations, decks/porches/covered patios attached to structures, detached garages/guest houses/barns, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), grading that disturbs more than defined acreage thresholds or within regulated areas, fences in regulated zones or over specified heights, floodplain development, demolition of structures, re-roofing and structural roof work, and moving a structure onto a lot.

• Exempt Minor repairs
• Exempt Painting
• Exempt Finish work not affecting structure or systems
• Exempt Replacement of like-for-like fixtures (non-structural)

Note: Teton County's standards are stringent. Always verify with the Building Department before proceeding without a permit. Do not rely on common 'no permit needed' assumptions from other jurisdictions.

Building code

2021 International Building Code (IBC) with local amendments, 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) with local amendments, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with local amendments, 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by Wyoming Division of Labor. Local amendments address Wyoming and Teton County-specific conditions including snow loads, frost depths, high-altitude construction (6,200 ft elevation base), and wildfire interface requirements.

Permit validity

Building permits in Teton County are valid for 12 months from date of issuance. Work must commence within 6 months of issuance. Permits may be renewed for cause prior to expiration.

Owner-builder

Owner-builder permits are available for owner-occupied single-family residences. The owner must sign an affidavit certifying that the home is for personal use and that the owner will act as general contractor. Owner-builders in Teton County are subject to the same inspection and code compliance requirements as permitted contractor work. Note: Wyoming does not require a general contractor license, so any owner or business may act as a GC; however, licensed trade contractors (electricians, plumbers) are required for trade work regardless.

Contractor requirements

No general contractor license is required in Wyoming. However, licensed trade contractors (electricians, plumbers, HVAC) must hold Wyoming state licenses. Teton County does not appear to have enacted a local GC registration requirement, but this should be confirmed at the permit counter.

Source: Teton County Planning and Building Department ↗

1. 01
   Confirm the property's zoning designation, overlay districts, and land use classification using the county GIS map or by calling the Planning counter at 307-733-3959. Determine whether the property is in a floodplain (FEMA FIRM), wildlife corridor overlay, scenic corridor overlay, or hillside overlay.
2. 02
   For new construction, additions, commercial projects, or any project in a sensitive area, schedule and attend a pre-application meeting with Planning staff before preparing drawings or submitting an application.
3. 03
   Download the relevant application form and submittal checklist from the county website or from TRAKiT. Common project checklists include: New single-family residence, Additions and alterations, Accessory structures, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Commercial / mixed-use new construction, Demolition, Grading and site development.
4. 04
   Prepare required documents. At minimum for residential new construction: completed application form, site plan drawn to scale, construction drawings signed by a Wyoming-licensed design professional, geotechnical report if required, energy compliance documentation, floodplain development permit application if applicable, wildlife corridor mitigation plan if applicable.
5. 05
   Submit the complete application package through TRAKiT or in person at the permit counter. Pay the plan check fee at time of submittal.
6. 06
   Plans are routed internally to Building, Planning/Zoning, Engineering, Environmental Health, and Fire. Reviewers may issue comment letters requesting revisions or additional information. Applicant responds through TRAKiT.
7. 07
   Once all reviewers have approved the plans, permit fees are calculated and invoiced. Applicant pays remaining fees through TRAKiT or in person.
8. 08
   Building permit is issued. Post the permit on site before beginning any work.
9. 09
   Schedule required inspections through TRAKiT or by phone at 307-733-3959 as work progresses. Do not cover any work before the required inspection.
10. 10
    Complete all inspections. Upon passing the final inspection, the county issues a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). The CO is required before a structure may be occupied.

Typical processing time: Plan review times are not published as fixed benchmarks and vary significantly by project complexity and workload. Simple accessory structures may be approved in 2-4 weeks; new single-family homes typically take 4-8+ weeks for first review; commercial projects can take considerably longer. Pre-application meetings help reduce review cycles.

Source: Teton County Planning and Building Department ↗

Online payment via TRAKiT portal (credit card); in-person payment at permit counter by check, cash, or credit card. Plan check fee is due at submittal. Remaining permit fees are due before permit issuance.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

• Online via TRAKiT portal at https://permit.tetoncountywy.gov/ (phone)
• By phone at 307-733-3959 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Inspections should be requested at least 24-48 hours in advance; 48 hours is strongly recommended during peak construction season (May through October).

Inspection hours

Building inspectors typically conduct inspections Monday - Friday during regular business hours. Confirm specific scheduling windows with the counter as inspector availability varies with workload.

Typical sequence: Typical inspection sequence for new single-family residential construction: 1) Footing inspection (before pouring concrete); 2) Foundation/stem wall inspection (after forming, before pour); 3) Underground utilities inspection (before backfilling); 4) Rough framing inspection (after all framing complete but before insulation/drywall); 5) Rough plumbing inspection (before closing walls); 6) Rough mechanical (HVAC) inspection (before closing walls/ceilings); 7) Rough electrical inspection (conducted by Wyoming Division of Labor Standards - SEPARATE from county inspections; 8) Insulation inspection (before drywall); 9) Exterior weather barrier/sheathing inspection (if required); 10) Drywall nailing/wallboard inspection (if required); 11) Pre-final inspection (punch list walkthrough); 12) Final building inspection (all work complete, mechanical systems operational); 13) Electrical final (separate by state inspector); 14) Certificate of Occupancy issued upon passing all required inspections.

All required inspections must be completed and passed before work is covered. Covering work without inspection may result in a stop-work order and requirement to uncover work at the owner's expense. Teton County enforces code stringently; inspectors are familiar with high-end construction and will identify deficiencies. During peak summer-fall construction season, inspection backlogs can develop.

Source: Teton County Planning and Building Department ↗