Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 35-9-156, 35-9-159, 35-9-163 § 35-9-163
Enforcement of building codes; application of building codes to specific uses.
Operative Text
35-9-163. Enforcement of building codes; application of
building codes to specific uses.
(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.
(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.Wyoming Statute § 35-9-163 establishes two related limits on how building codes are applied in the state. First, state and local officials who enforce building standards are prohibited from interpreting or applying those codes in a manner that is stricter or more burdensome than the codes themselves actually require, unless the locality has been granted specific local enforcement authority under § 35-9-121. Second, short-term rentals of detached single-family homes, two-family dwellings, and townhomes are explicitly shielded from being classified as commercial uses for fire, building, and electrical code purposes, and are not subject to the International Building Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 35-9-163, property owners who offer short-term rentals of detached one- and two-family homes or townhomes in Wyoming can generally expect that those properties will not be treated as commercial buildings for fire, building, or electrical code inspections. Compliant operators typically ensure their properties meet the residential standards applicable to their property type rather than the more demanding commercial or International Building Code requirements. When interacting with local enforcement officials, operators familiar with § 35-9-163 are generally aware that officials are not permitted to impose standards more stringent than those the adopted codes actually require.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 35-9-163 is relevant to tenants and short-term occupants because it defines the baseline of how Wyoming building and safety codes are supposed to be applied to the dwelling they occupy. Tenants in detached single-family homes, two-family dwellings, or townhomes used as short-term rentals should be aware that the law classifies those properties under residential rather than commercial code standards. If a code-enforcement concern arises, tenants can look into whether the applicable local or state enforcement authority is operating within the limits set by § 35-9-163, and may consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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