Wyoming building code

Codes in force in Wyoming

Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

State plan review (and the state codes) applies to state/local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 sq ft, multistory public buildings, child care centers for more than 10 children, public assembly places and fuel dispensing facilities³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

State plan review (and the state codes) applies to state/local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 sq ft, multistory public buildings, child care centers for more than 10 children, public assembly places and fuel dispensing facilities³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

State plan review (and the state codes) applies to state/local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 sq ft, multistory public buildings, child care centers for more than 10 children, public assembly places and fuel dispensing facilities³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

State plan review (and the state codes) applies to state/local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 sq ft, multistory public buildings, child care centers for more than 10 children, public assembly places and fuel dispensing facilities³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

State plan review (and the state codes) applies to state/local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 sq ft, multistory public buildings, child care centers for more than 10 children, public assembly places and fuel dispensing facilities³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere³

Applies to

All electrical installations in or on buildings, mobile homes and premises; state enforcement except in localities with delegated electrical enforcement³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Adopted locally³

Applies to

Only as referenced from IBC/IFC/IMC/IFGC chapters 1-10¹

How Wyoming adopts building codes

W.S. §§ 35-9-106, 35-9-108, 35-9-119 to 35-9-121, 35-9-163; Council on Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety in Buildings Rules ch. 1

• Council adopts minimum fire standards not exceeding the IFC, IBC, IMC, IEBC and IFGC. Establish minimum fire standards not exceeding the standards prescribed by the International Fire Code, the International Building Code, the International Mechanical Code, the International Existing Building Code and the International Fuel Gas Code for…³
• (i) The International Building Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council.¹
• Effective June 28, 2024. The State of Wyoming, on June 28, 2024 adopted the 2024 International Codes.²
• Effective June 28, 2024. All new plan review submissions from June 28, 2024 must be compliant with the adopted state codes and referenced standards: 2024 International Fire Code, 2024 International Building Code, 2024 International Fuel & Gas Code, 2024 International Mechanical Code, 2024 International Existing Building Code and the 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code.⁴
• IRC incorporated only as referenced in chapters 1-10 of the IBC, IFC, IMC and IFGC. (vi) Provisions of the International Residential Code, the International Property Management Code, the International Plumbing Code, and the International Energy Conservations Code, as they are referenced in chapters 1 – 10 of the International Building Code, the International Fire Code, the International Mechanical Code, and the International Fuel Gas Code.¹
• Incorporation by reference excludes later amendments/editions. These incorporations by reference do not include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated codes.¹
• State plan review (and the state codes) applies to state/local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 sq ft, multistory public buildings, child care centers for more than 10 children, public assembly places and fuel dispensing facilities. …prior to beginning any new construction, the remodeling of existing buildings or the installation of aboveground flammable or combustible fuel storage tanks, the owner or the owner's designated representative shall submit plans to the state fire marshal for review of the proposed project for compliance with applicable fire and electrical safety standards for…³
• State fire marshal delegates complete enforcement authority to municipalities and counties that apply. (a) The state fire marshal shall delegate complete authority to municipalities and counties which apply to enforce and interpret local or state fire, building, existing building standards or electrical safety standards which meet the requirements of this section.³
• Local jurisdictions taking over enforcement must adopt standards equivalent to or more stringent than the state standards. Before a municipality or county without local enforcement authority is initially granted local enforcement authority for fire, building, existing building standards or electrical standards the state fire marshal shall determine that the local governing body has adopted minimum standards by ordinance or resolution that are equivalent to or more stringent than those applicable standards adopted by the department…³
• 6 months. If a municipality or county that has been granted local enforcement authority under this subsection fails to adopt, within six (6) months following the adoption of new standards by the department, or maintain standards by ordinance or resolution that at least meet the statewide standards, enforcement authority shall immediately revert to the…³
• Local code prevails where more stringent (sole plan review authority entities). If local code provisions are more stringent than adopted state codes, the local code prevails.³
• NEC minimum requirements apply to electrical installations statewide. (a) The installation of electric equipment in or on buildings, mobile homes and premises shall be made subject to the applicable minimum requirements of the National Electrical Code.³
• 2026 National Electrical Code…²
• Officials may not interpret or enforce adopted codes more stringently than the codes require (except in local-enforcement jurisdictions). (a) Except as provided in this article for any county or municipality requesting and granted local enforcement authority pursuant to W.S. 35-9-121, no state or local official authorized to enforce the provisions of this article shall interpret or enforce any building codes or standards adopted by the state or local governmental entity in a way that is more stringent or burdensome than required by the standards or codes.³
• Cities and towns may regulate construction, alteration and repair of buildings within zoning districts. (b) The governing body may divide the city or town into districts of such number, shape and area as it deems necessary, and within those districts it may regulate and restrict the [...] erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or use of buildings, structures or land.⁵

Applies to

State plan review (and the state codes) applies to state/local government buildings, public buildings over 5,000 sq ft, multistory public buildings, child care centers for more than 10 children, public assembly places and fuel dispensing facilities³

Can local rules be stricter?

Local jurisdictions taking over enforcement must adopt standards equivalent to or more stringent than the state standards³

What local governments may change

W.S. § 35-9-163; § 35-9-121

• Officials may not interpret or enforce adopted codes more stringently than the codes require (except in local-enforcement jurisdictions). (a) Except as provided in this article for any county or municipality requesting and granted local enforcement authority pursuant to W.S. 35-9-121, no state or local official authorized to enforce the provisions of this article shall interpret or enforce any building codes or standards adopted by the state or local governmental entity in a way that is more stringent or burdensome than required by the standards or codes.³
• Short-term rental of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes is not a commercial use under fire, building and electrical standards and is not subject to the IBC. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, short term rental of detached one (1) and two (2) family dwellings and townhomes shall not be regulated as a commercial use for purposes of fire, building and electrical standards and shall not be subject to regulation under the International Building Code.³
• Local jurisdictions taking over enforcement must adopt standards equivalent to or more stringent than the state standards. Before a municipality or county without local enforcement authority is initially granted local enforcement authority for fire, building, existing building standards or electrical standards the state fire marshal shall determine that the local governing body has adopted minimum standards by ordinance or resolution that are equivalent to or more stringent than those applicable standards adopted by the department…³
• Local code prevails where more stringent (sole plan review authority entities). If local code provisions are more stringent than adopted state codes, the local code prevails.³

For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see Wyoming building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.