Gillette building department

The City of Gillette Building Division is part of the Development Services Department. It handles contractor licensing, residential and commercial plan review and building inspections inside Gillette city limits. The office is at City Hall, 201 E. 5th Street, 2nd Floor. Reach the Building Division at (307) 686-5260 (fax (307) 685-8897). Development Services’ main line is (307) 686-5265. Gillette’s building rules are in Chapter 5 of the Gillette City Code. The Building Division links the version revised in December 2024.

Applying through EnerGov Self Service

Gillette uses Tyler EnerGov Self Service at cityofgillettewy-energovweb.tylerhost.net. The city’s Development Services link now redirects to that address. Once you register for an account, you can:

• apply for permits and plan reviews
• apply for or renew contractor licenses
• schedule inspections
• print permits
• pay fees

The Building Division’s Forms, Applications & General Information page has the submittal documents:

• commercial plan submittal requirements
• a residential plan requirements sheet and plan checklist
• sample plot plans
• a manufactured-home private-lot checklist
• storm water pollution prevention (SWPPP) agreement forms for residential sites

The division also publishes building permit flow charts and a commercial site plan checklist.

Fees under City Code Section 5-IV-1

Gillette prices most building permits by building square footage, not by construction valuation. Plan review for one- and two-family dwellings is free.

Item	Fee
Building permit, 0 to 500 sq ft	$30
500 to 1,000 sq ft	$60
1,000 to 2,000 sq ft	$100
2,000 to 5,000 sq ft	$150
Over 5,000 sq ft	$150 plus $0.04 per sq ft
Miscellaneous residential (remodel, repair, re-siding)	$20
Deck	$20
Fence over 6 ft	$10
Retaining wall over 4 ft (engineered drawings required)	$20
Residential re-roof (permit required over 100 sq ft)	$10
Demolition	$60
Reinspection	$60

Commercial plan review is charged per round:

• 1st review: $100
• 2nd review: $200
• 3rd review: $1,125
• each later review: $1,500

Storage buildings and garages use the square-footage table. Finishing a basement needs a building permit, but the building permit fee is waived. Plumbing and mechanical finish permits are also free unless new drain lines, a water heater or a furnace are added. New circuits and outlets need a standard electrical permit with the regular fee.

Trade permit fees are small and itemized in Sections 5-IV-2 and 5-IV-3. A new residential HVAC system costs $30, covering up to two heating units. A replacement furnace or A/C unit is $15, and each water heater is $10. Repairs after a natural disaster or accident are permitted free of charge when the Building Official approves.

Starting work without a permit can bring an investigation fee of $100 or twice the permit fee, whichever is greater.

Adopted codes and local amendments

Ordinance 4052 (December 17, 2024) brought Gillette to the 2024 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire and Existing Building Codes. The city also enforces the 2023 National Electrical Code. Chapter 5 sets local design criteria:

• 30 psf minimum roof live load for roofs pitched 1:12 or steeper, and 35 psf below 1:12, with no load reductions allowed
• 115 mph ultimate design wind speed
• 42-inch frost line
• Seismic Design Category B minimum
• ice-shield underlayment required
• 4,000 psi minimum concrete strength

Notable residential amendments:

• Typical spread footings need at least two continuous #4 bars.
• Foundation walls need #4 rebar at 2 feet on center, both horizontally and vertically.
• Window wells must drain to the foundation drain system.
• Detached accessory structures of 1,000 sq ft or less and 14 ft or less in height are exempt from frost-protected footings.
• Retaining walls up to 4 ft are exempt from permits, except in public easements or right-of-way, where any height needs a permit.

Inspections

Inspections are scheduled through EnerGov Self Service. The Building Division posts a “List for Residential Inspections” checklist on its Inspections page. Approved work must stay accessible until it is signed off. For the general sequence, see the building inspection stages guide.

Contractor licensing and owner-builders

Anyone doing business in Gillette as a contractor needs a city license, and licenses must be renewed annually. Chapter 5 lists these annual fees:

License	New	Renewal
Class A General Contractor	$500	$500
Class B Building Contractor	$300	$300
Class R Residential Contractor	$150	$150
Class C Specialty Contractor	$75	$75
Class D Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC or Gas Pipefitter	$150	$50
Class F Fire Suppression	$75	$75

Each business must name a Master of Record who has passed the required test. There is a 30-day grace period after the renewal date. Working without a license is a misdemeanor, with fines up to $750 per day. To verify a license, call (307) 686-5260, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Licenses page also posts an active contractor list.

Owners may make non-structural repairs, alterations and additions to their own home or business without a contractor. A homeowner may build their own residence without a licensed contractor only once in any five-year period. Electrical work may be done only by the owner or a licensed electrical contractor.

Related offices

• City Planning Division, (307) 686-5281: administers the Zoning Ordinance, subdivision rules, annexations and site plans.
• Engineering Division: reviews development proposals and grading.
• Campbell County Fire Department: performs fire sprinkler plan checks and inspections.
• Chapter 17 of the City Code: sets water, sewer and electric tap fees. Gillette runs its own electric utility.

This office does not cover property outside city limits.