Casper building department

The City of Casper Building Inspection Division is part of the Community Development Department. It issues permits, reviews plans and inspects construction inside Casper city limits, and it licenses contractors. The division is at Casper City Hall, 200 N. David Street, Room 205. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The main line is (307) 235-8254, and the email is [email protected]. Property in unincorporated Natrona County is outside the division’s jurisdiction.

When a permit is required

Casper requires a permit before you build a new building or addition, or remodel, alter or repair an existing structure. The city recommends contacting Community Development before starting any project.

Casper’s Permit Information page lists the following thresholds:

Work	What Casper requires
One-story, unheated detached shed or playhouse under 120 sq ft (measured at the maximum exterior wall dimension)	Free Fence/Shed permit; no building permit
Accessory building 120 sq ft or larger	Building permit
Fence 6 ft or lower	Free Fence/Shed permit
Fence over 6 ft, or wall over 4 ft	Building permit
Retaining wall not over 4 ft	No building permit
Landings, walkways and driveways not more than 30 in. above grade	No building permit
Painting, papering, flooring, trim and similar finish work	No building permit

The 120 sq ft shed threshold is lower than in many Wyoming cities. Even a small shed or a low fence needs the free Fence/Shed permit. For general background on sheds, see the shed permit guide.

Applying and plan review

The division recommends submitting all permits and inspection requests through its Citizen Self-Service (CSS) Portal, where you can track the status of permits and inspections. The city’s application guide covers the EnerGov-based process:

1. Register for an account.
2. Choose the permit type.
3. Enter the exact project address. The guide warns that address formatting matters when you search for a location.
4. Describe the work and its valuation, and list the owner and contractor.
5. Upload drawings and attachments.

Before a permit is issued, staff review the building and site drawings and supporting documents for code compliance. Supporting documents include structural calculations, engineering reports, specifications and the city’s completed Building Guides. Fees follow the city’s fee schedule and are based on the value of the work, including materials and labor. An issued permit is good for 180 days.

Adopted codes and design criteria

Casper has adopted the 2024 International Codes with local amendments. They are the Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Mechanical and Existing Building Codes. The city also enforces the 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). The amendments are in Title 15 of the Casper Municipal Code. Copies of the codes are at the Natrona County Public Library and at Community Development, which can copy short sections on request.

The city’s engineering and climatic criteria:

• 30 psf ground and roof snow load for all structures
• frost line 3 feet to the top of the footing
• climate zone 6B
• Seismic Design Category B
• severe weathering

Inspections

You can request inspections by phone or fax, or through the CSS Portal. Call (307) 235-8254 to ask which inspections your project needs. The division’s inspection page lists these types:

• Building: footing, caisson or monolithic slab; foundation wall; framing; insulation; drywall
• Electrical: temporary power; rough-in after framing and before trim-out; service for replacements and permanent power
• Mechanical: rough-in after framing; final once all mechanical work is complete

The division also publishes monthly building reports listing permit activity.

Who can pull permits and contractor licensing

Permits can be issued to:

• a Casper-licensed contractor
• a homeowner working on their primary residence
• a commercial building owner or lessee

Casper’s general and subcontractor license classes depend on experience:

• Class I: any structure; at least 8 years of residential and commercial experience.
• Class IIA: residential and commercial buildings up to 12,000 sq ft of building footprint; 6 years of experience.
• Class IIB: residential buildings up to four-unit apartments; 6 years of residential experience.
• Class III: repairs, remodels or alterations of up to 25% of a single-family home’s square footage; 4 years of experience.
• Class IV: maintenance work; 2 years of building, plumbing, mechanical or electrical experience.

Plumbing, mechanical, electrical and reciprocal licenses are handled separately on the city’s Contractor Licensing pages.