Cheyenne building department

The City of Cheyenne Building Permitting & Licensing Division is part of the city’s Compliance Department. It issues building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits inside Cheyenne city limits and reviews plans and inspects that work. It also enforces the adopted building and fire codes and licenses contractors. The office is at 2101 O’Neil Avenue, Suite 202, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone is (307) 637-6265. Cheyenne has adopted the 2024 ICC building codes.

Fully online through OpenGov

The city says its Building Division is “100% online” for all licenses and permits. Applications, plan uploads, fee payments and inspection requests all go through the OpenGov portal. Approved permits and certificates can be printed from your OpenGov account.

Permit records from June 12, 2025 onward can be searched in OpenGov by address or parcel ID. Records from 2007 through June 11, 2025 are in the older Citizens Access system at portal.cheyennecity.biz. The city lists October 21, 2026 as that system’s end date.

The division posts submittal handouts on its Building Handouts page:

• plan review information (2026)
• a new residential construction checklist (2026)
• residential detached structures
• interior remodel and basement finish
• a sample plot plan
• sign permits
• ramps
• small wind energy systems
• demolition requirements
• master plan and commercial checklists
• a 2024 pole barn construction guide
• an open-hole report template
• third-party verification

What needs a permit

The city’s building FAQ lists work that needs a permit:

• new buildings and additions
• decks, garages, fireplaces, pools and water heaters
• garage conversions and basement finishes
• kitchen expansions
• re-roofing
• electrical, plumbing and HVAC work

The FAQ also gives these rules for common residential projects:

Project	Rule in Cheyenne
Shed or detached garage	No permit if detached and 200 sq ft or less; over 200 sq ft needs a permit
Carport	Permit if over 200 sq ft or attached to another structure
Fence	Permit if over 6 ft; maximum 4 ft in front of the house and 6 ft behind the front building line; keep 2 ft from a public sidewalk
Flat concrete work	No building permit, but work in city right-of-way needs a right-of-way permit
Permanent signs	Building permit required, including sign remodels

All accessory buildings and carports must sit at least 10 feet behind the front building line of the house. Accessory buildings under 200 sq ft have no side or rear setback requirement. Larger structures follow the setbacks for the lot’s zone district (DD5, DD6 or DD7, for example).

Review time, fees and permit life

The FAQ says plan review takes up to 10 business days, depending on holidays and volume. Fees are based on the total value of the work, including materials and labor. The posted fee schedule, dated July 1, 2008, uses a graduated valuation table. Plan review, when required, costs 65% of the permit fee and is charged on top of it. Some figures from that schedule:

Valuation	Permit fee	Plan review	Total
$50,001 to $51,000	$650.75	$422.99	$1,073.74
$99,001 to $100,000	$993.75	$645.94	$1,639.69

Above $100,000, the permit fee is $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000. At $500,000 it is $3,233.75, plus $4.75 per additional $1,000. Above $1,000,000 it is $5,608.75 plus $3.65 per additional $1,000.

A permit becomes void if work does not start within 6 months, or if work is abandoned for 6 months after it starts. Extensions of up to 180 days each may be granted with written justification.

Inspections and certificate of occupancy

Request inspections through OpenGov at least 48 hours ahead. The FAQ says they are usually done within 48 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. Inspectors are assigned a morning or afternoon block; exact arrival times are not given. For a final inspection, all structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work must be finished and the project ready to occupy.

The city issues a Certificate of Occupancy when new construction or a change of use is completed according to the approved plans and the inspector finds no code violations.

Contractor licensing and homeowner permits

Company licenses in Cheyenne come in pairs. Each company license must be backed by an Individual Qualified Supervisor license, and both are applied for in OpenGov. Licensing is overseen by the Contractor Licensing Board under its published rules and regulations. Appeals of code decisions go to the Building Code Board of Appeals. The handouts page also has a contractor license classification and fee sheet.

Under Section 26.2.2 of the city’s licensing regulations, a permit can be issued only to one of the following:

• a licensed contractor
• the owner of a one-family dwelling who lives in it
• a homeowner building their own residence to live in

Homeowners must sign the city’s notarized “Homeowner as Contractor” affidavit. It states that the house is not being built or improved for speculation or resale for at least three years after completion, and is not intended as a rental. The owner also accepts personal responsibility for code compliance. The form asks whether you have built or renovated another residence in the past three years. See the owner-builder permits guide for general background.

Related offices

For sign permits and zoning questions, Planning & Development lists Seth Lloyd at (307) 637-6286. The city’s main line is (307) 637-6200. Development fees are posted separately from building permit fees. Properties in unincorporated Laramie County are outside this division’s jurisdiction.