Tiny houses are a sustainable solution to affordable housing, making them a highly sought-after option in most states in the U.S. Wyoming is one such state that supports the idea of tiny houses and designs tiny house regulations to support their development. 

Wyoming is perfect, especially if you want to live in a state with great landscapes, magnificent views, and an affordable lifestyle. 

Wyoming has a growing demand for tiny houses, so each county, city, and town has now developed tiny home regulations and codes for their development. The building codes and other requirements vary from one county or city to the next. 

In this article, we’ll cover the aspects of tiny homes in Wyoming, which counties or cities support their construction, the communities that support the idea of tiny living, expenses you need to factor in before building one, and more. 

Are tiny houses legal in Wyoming?

The state of Wyoming supports the idea of tiny living, given a few exceptions such as minimum size requirements, total area for living room, etc. Each city, town, and county has its own rules and regulations. Overall, tiny houses are legal in Wyoming. 

Since every town, county, and city has its own rules and regulations, you should check in with the area's local government before you decide on further requirements like the size of your tiny home. 

The tiny houses on foundations are called efficiency dwelling units. Each county or city has differing requirements for these dwelling units. The state also has differing rules and regulations for tiny houses on wheels.

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What kind of tiny houses are permitted in Wyoming?

Wyoming welcomes all kinds of tiny homes. However, different cities and counties have rules on what kind of tiny houses are permitted.

Since the rules vary from one county to another, you must check with the local government on the tiny house laws and how they differ.

Are tiny houses on wheels permitted in Wyoming?

A tiny house on wheels is also called a THOW. In Wyoming, each city or county has its own rules on what this type of tiny house is called and where it can be placed. 

Tiny houses on wheels in some cities fall under the definition of a trailer, meaning it can only be placed in a zoning district for a Manufactured home mobile park. 

In other counties or cities, tiny houses on wheels are known as RVs, which cannot be used as dwelling units.

For instance, the city of Casper has specific requirements for tiny houses on wheels. They are:

• The tiny houses on wheels are called trailers in Casper and can only be certified to be called so through a HUD-certified inspector who checks the THOW and its accordance with HUD codes. 
• Thus, a building permit is not required for these mobile homes. 
• Mobile homes must be placed in the R-6 zoning district as they are too small to meet the zoning requirements for a manufactured mobile home (at least 24' x 36').

The city of Evanston in Wyoming has different rules for mobile homes. They include: 

• Single mobile home units are permitted in private, individual lots in the city's MR-E, A-E, and MR-R districts.  
• No mobile home unit shall be on a private or mobile home park lot.
• No mobile home park can be constructed until a building permit is obtained from the local building department. 
• Single mobile home units on private lots must comply with the zoning district provisions in which they are located.   
• No mobile home or travel unit should be located closer than eight feet to a roadway or twenty feet to a public right-of-way.

Are tiny houses on foundations permitted in Wyoming?

Wyoming does not have rules consistently regulated across the state for tiny houses on foundations. Every county and city has rules and regulations for these houses, making them permissible in all cities and counties across Wyoming. 

Wyoming uses the International Residential Code (IRC) to determine the permission for tiny houses on foundations in Wyoming. Tiny houses on foundations are also considered accessory dwelling units (ADUs). 

The city of Casper, for instance, complies with the IRC code that states that each residential dwelling unit should have:

• A living room and one bedroom with 220 square feet of floor area. If the living room is separate from the bedroom, the living room should cover at least 120 square feet.
• The ceiling height should be at least 7 feet.
• In case of more than two occupants, an additional 100 square feet has to be allocated for each occupant. 
• Closets should be separate. 
• Rooms should have a minimum of 7 feet of wall dimension with an area of no less than 70 square feet. 
• Cooking appliances, refrigeration facilities, and a kitchen sink with clear working space of not less than 30 inches in the front. 
• A bathroom (separate) that has a lavatory, shower or bathtub, and a water closet 

The tiny houses should be built with adequate space for street parking, abide by the zoning districts of the local city or county council, and acquire a building permit before construction commences. 

The tiny house should comply with the IRC Code and must be on a permanent foundation. 

What requirements must a tiny house meet to comply with Wyoming's building codes?

Wyoming is one of the states that does not have uniform building codes for tiny houses. The building codes differ in each county, city, or town, so checking in with the local building department for specific building codes is important. 

The city or county may have regulations, such as the number of exits, minimum square footage, the space between a lot line and a structure, or other rules that impact where you want to build a tiny home. 

Every city, county, and town in Wyoming has its own legislature on how to build a tiny home. However, some general building codes include:

• Building codes dictate how you have to build your tiny house. 
• The minimum ceiling height is 6 feet 8 inches, while it is 6 feet 4 inches for bathrooms. 
• There are no general rules, but the windows do have to meet the standard requirement for emergency exit points. 
• One separate bathroom should be there in your tiny house. 
• Any ladder or stairs are a must to help reach loft areas. 

Some counties or cities, however, do not have general zoning or building codes. For instance, Fremont County has no such building codes for tiny homes.  

Rules for permanent structures

Wyoming has several cities and counties within its state. Each state has its rules and procedures for permanent structures, so it's essential to research when building a permanent tiny home. 

For instance, Pine Haven is a town in Wyoming that has the following rules for permanent structures:

• Different zoning districts for residential areas, including single-family residential districts (R-1 and R-2), multiple-family residential districts (BC-1), and more. 
• For single-family residential districts (R1), some requirements include the minimum lot size being 9,000 square feet and the height of the structure being 35 feet
• Multiple-family residential districts (MF-1) include a minimum lot size of 3,630 square feet per living unit and the maximum height of structures 35 feet.

Rules for temporary tiny houses

Temporary tiny houses, or RVs or mobile homes, have different rules in each city, county, and town in Wyoming. 

In some states, they are classified as RVs, whereas in some, they are classified as mobile homes, each with differing rules. 

In Pine Haven, temporary tiny homes are primarily designated in Mobile home residential districts (MH-1). The rules that tiny house owners looking to build a tiny house here should be aware of include:

• The mobile homes have to be located in planned mobile home parks; you cannot place a temporary tiny house somewhere else when a district is designated for them. 
• Farm animals cannot be kept in mobile homes.
• The dwelling requires a certificate of occupancy, but this varies from state to state. 
• All mobile homes and relevant structures should be securely fastened to the ground, at least on all four corners.
• The fastening and skirting should be completed in 60 days after you get the mobile home installed on the ground. 

Rules for transitional structures

While you might not find tiny houses that support transitional living in Wyoming, many programs offer transitional housing, and they are not usually tiny houses. 

What Wyoming counties allow tiny houses? 

Wyoming has very lenient rules on tiny homes across the state, making it a highly tiny house-friendly state. Each county and city is responsible for devising its own rules, and most counties and cities in Wyoming support the idea of tiny houses, including Cody, Casper, Fremont County, and more. 

Some cities are more robust than others. For instance, the city of Cody has more rigorous rules and legal issues that you might face if you want to live in a mobile home or tiny house. 

You can only build a tiny home in the designated zoning districts here. 

Some cities or counties like Converse, Goshen, and Johnson have no zoning rules. So living in these cities or counties isn't a hassle.

However, you need to know that tiny homes in these areas fall under two major categories:

• Modular home: A modular home is like a residential dwelling constructed of pre-made parts manufactured at a facility. These parts are then permanently fixed and supported by a foundation. This type of home is considered equivalent to a sitebuilt home. 
• Manufactured homes: These homes differ from modular homes as they are built in a plant and transported in one or more portions on a permanent chassis. 

Can you permanently live in a tiny house in Wyoming?

Tiny homes are a state-wide accepted concept in Wyoming due to their affordability and benefits. You can live permanently in a tiny house as long as your tiny house aligns with the city's or county's rules and regulations. 

You can still live in a tiny house without rules or proper regulations in certain cities or counties. 

However, the permanent tiny house may be subject to specific building codes and might have to be built away from zoning districts if they don't accommodate tiny homes in those districts.

How tiny can a house be in Wyoming?

Wyoming is one of those states in the U.S. that has different square footage for each county and city. The local ordinances need to be checked. For instance, for a tiny house, Casper has a minimum requirement of 220 square feet of floor area for both the living room and bedroom. 

Other cities and counties have differing requirements regarding the minimum area to be covered. 

Where can I build a tiny house in Wyoming? 

Almost all counties, cities, and towns in Wyoming support tiny houses regardless of whether they have zoning regulations. The regulations are very relaxed in places without zoning, but following building codes is essential. 

You can build your tiny house in Wyoming in your backyard, in a tiny house community, or build it in designated zoning areas for tiny houses (if any), as long as the tiny house abides by the local building codes and rules. 

Some great cities and counties in Wyoming that support tiny houses include Casper, Cheyenne, Laramie, Rock Springs, Jackson, Sheridan, and more. 

Do I have to pay property taxes for my tiny house?

If you own real estate in Wyoming, you have to pay property taxes on that property. The taxes are applied to that property and anything supporting the property, such as a fence or shed. 

Property taxes are calculated for tiny homes according to their district. The tax is applied to the assessed value of the property in Wyoming. 

The assessed and market values are very different terms in Wyoming. Since Wyoming has a reduced level of assessment, the taxes are applied to the entire market value of the property. 

Tiny homes on foundations are also mostly considered residential property. The level of assessment in Wyoming for residential property is 9.5%, which means instead of being taxed on 100% of the property's value, you'll be taxed on 9.5% of the property's value.

However, the rate may change depending on the county and city. 

Mobile homes, on the other hand, are taxed differently. For instance, Uinta County collects tax on 70% of the sales price of the transportable home. 

Can I build and put a tiny house in my backyard in Wyoming?

You can build a tiny house in your backyard in Wyoming. You must abide by your county or city's rules and regulations and contact the local building department to learn more about how you can build the tiny house. 

The building codes will dictate how high the tiny house can be, the number of emergency exits it has to have, the number of windows, room sizes, minimum area, and much more. 

You may also be liable to property taxes after building the tiny home in your backyard. 

The regulations vary by city and county. For example, tiny homes on foundations are defined as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and need a minimum requirement of no less than 220 square feet for a living room and one bedroom. 

However, this size requirement differs for every city and county. 

Where can I park a tiny house on wheels in Wyoming?

The local government regularly rewrites regulations to ensure that mobile homes, also called tiny homes on wheels, have proper parking spaces.

The tiny home is built on a trailer with wheels and a supporting framework. These are called mobile homes as they do not fall under the definition of a proper home in Wyoming. 

For instance, in Cody, these homes have designated mobile home lots that allow tiny home dwellers to park. 

As we've mentioned, each county or city has its own rules. Take Cody as an example again. It has some requirements for mobile home lots that tiny homeowners should keep in check:

• The parking spaces should have design criteria based on two parking spaces for each mobile home lot, provided the parking may be in tandem. 
• The mobile home stands should have adequate support for the placement and tie-down of the mobile home.
• Each mobile home lot should have an outdoor living area and a service area. The minimum area is set to be 300 square feet. 
• The accessory structures should be directed by the local management of the mobile home development and align with the local standards. 

How much does it cost to build a Tiny House in Wyoming?

The cost for tiny homes differs according to each county or city. The average price ranges from $223 to $500 per square foot. This pricing is based on the tiny home model, including the site work and the tiny house builder you choose to work with.

The tiny house movement is rising in Wyoming, so you can get a good idea of the market if you want to build a tiny home. 

The pricing will also differ in each county or city. Some areas with a higher minimum requirement for area will cost more and vice versa. 

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Are there tiny house communities in Wyoming?

Wyoming is very open to tiny homes but does not have as many tiny home communities as you might think. Still, there's a substantial community growing that supports tiny homes. There are also several tiny housebuilders in the state.

An example is a tiny house community growing in West Casper, Wyoming. The community started with just one house and now welcomes others in the surrounding area to promote tiny living. 

Takeaway: Learn the critical tiny house rules in Wyoming before moving into one

Wyoming is welcoming of tiny homes and settlements. For every county or city, there are different regulations and codes that you need to be aware of. 

Thus, contacting the local building department can guide you on the tiny house regulations and codes so you won't have to face problems after starting the project. 

TinyHouse.com offers comprehensive guides and listings that help you increase your knowledge of tiny houses in different states, such as Wyoming. 

If you want more information on tiny homes, go through our guides and plan your tiny home in no time. 

Learn more innovative ideas on how you can build your tiny house: When Tiny Becomes Big: Ideas and Innovation for Bigger Tiny Houses