Rock Springs building department

The City of Rock Springs Building Inspection Office is part of the Department of Public Services at City Hall, 212 D Street. It issues all permits for building, alteration, moving and repair work inside city limits, including electrical, plumbing and mechanical installations. It also reviews plans and inspects construction. The phone is (307) 352-1540 and the fax is (307) 352-1545. The city’s building page lists office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, with a lunch closure from 12:30 to 1:30. The Planning & Zoning Division shares the same address and phone number. The city’s published permit, registration and demolition forms are all returned in person to the Building Inspection Office at City Hall. None of them refers to an online permit portal.

When a permit is required

Article 7-1 of the city code requires a permit from the Building Official before anyone:

• erects any building or structure
• adds to, enlarges, alters, repairs or removes a building
• excavates a cellar or lot

When a contractor is hired, the contractor is responsible for getting the permit and must show it before work starts. Starting work without a permit can bring an investigation fee equal to the permit fee, with a minimum of $250.

Some small residential projects need a zoning permit from Planning & Zoning instead of, or in addition to, a building permit. The posted versions of the residential zoning permit checklist list a $10 or $25 fee. The checklist covers:

• one-story accessory structures under 200 sq ft
• retaining walls under 48 inches
• driveways
• fences
• uncovered decks under 30 inches tall

Each requires a scaled site plan on paper no larger than 11 x 17 inches, showing setbacks and the new work. Accessory structures also need elevations.

Sheds and accessory buildings

The city’s shed handout says a permit is required for any backyard shed or greenhouse. The handout lists these rules for accessory structures:

• They may not be in the front yard or in a recorded easement.
• They may not be taller than the house unless you get a conditional use permit.
• They may not be used as a dwelling.
• Eaves must be at least 3 feet from property lines.
• Sheds over 200 sq ft must be 6 feet from the main house and need both zoning approval and a building permit.
• If accessory buildings on a lot total more than 1,500 sq ft, a conditional use permit is required first.

The handout notes that Planning often has the original site plan for homes built after 2007.

Adopted codes and local amendments

Section 7-108.4, revised in March 2025, adopts these codes:

• the 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Existing Building Codes
• the 2023 National Electrical Code

Rock Springs’ amendments reflect its geology:

• Frost depth: footings must reach 42 inches below finished grade.
• Mine subsidence: in subsidence-prone areas, foundations must follow the University of Wyoming specifications for construction subject to mine subsidence (1988). Undesigned residential foundations must use at least that standard’s “slight subsidence” reinforcement.
• Soils: new residential construction, and commercial buildings up to 5,000 sq ft that don’t need a full soils report, need an open-hole soil inspection by a Wyoming-licensed engineer. Commercial buildings over 5,000 sq ft need a complete soils report.
• Detached outbuildings: one-story, wood-framed buildings not used for human occupancy may use a monolithic slab if they are 400 to 1,200 sq ft. Under 400 sq ft, there is no foundation requirement.
• Roofs: the design wind speed is 115 mph, Exposure C, and an ice barrier is required at the eaves.
• Membrane structures: detached factory-made membrane structures up to 250 sq ft are exempt from building permits with a zoning permit. Only one is allowed per residential lot.

Fees (City Code Section 7-110)

Rock Springs bases its fees on the 1997 Uniform Building Code fee table, as amended in Section 7-110. The amended table starts at $32.45 for work valued at $1 to $500. For valuations from $2,001 to $25,000, it is $95.31 for the first $2,000 plus $19.25 for each additional $1,000. The code also sets these flat amounts and rules:

Item	Fee
New single-family home	$1,100 flat, no plan review fee
Residential alterations, additions, detached garages	50% of the table fee, no plan review fee
Plan check (other projects)	65% of the building permit fee
Demolition permit	$35
Excavation permit	$35
Mobile home permit (in a park)	$55
Reinspection	$100 per hour
After-hours inspection	$59 per hour

Sewer connection fees may be collected along with the building permit if the property has never paid one.

Inspections and demolition

The Building Official inspects work while it is in progress. The demolition application lists (307) 352-1541 for the required sewer line termination inspection. The application requires approvals from Questar Gas, Rocky Mountain Power and the City Water Department before the permit is issued. You must also bring photos of the structure from 8 angles. Sewer lines must be capped with concrete. Demolition permits expire 45 days after issuance and can be extended once for 45 days.

Contractor registration

Contractors must register with the Building Inspection Office before starting work in the city. The posted registration application requires:

• a $125 registration fee
• a certificate of insurance naming the City of Rock Springs as holder, with at least $100,000 property damage, $100,000 bodily injury per person and $250,000 per occurrence
• the company name and phone number on all large equipment and vehicles at job sites, in letters at least 2 inches tall
• for electrical contractors, copies of their State of Wyoming electrical contractor license and master of record license

Floodplain, historic and business reviews

Much of downtown Rock Springs is in a FEMA-designated floodplain. A city Planning & Zoning guide explains that designated historic buildings can apply for a floodplain variance under a historic exemption. Otherwise, substantial improvements would trigger floodproofing or elevation. The Urban Renewal Agency runs a façade grant program for historic buildings.

New businesses go through Planning & Zoning first, for a home occupation permit, a change-of-use review or a site plan with a utility review meeting. A change of occupancy can trigger building code upgrades. Properties outside city limits are not covered by this office.