Sheridan building department

The City of Sheridan Building Division handles plan review, building permits, construction inspections and contractor licensing for property inside Sheridan city limits. The office is in City Hall at 55 Grinnell Plaza and is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone is (307) 674-5941. Permit applications and contractor licensing are now handled entirely online through the city’s OpenGov Permits & Licensing portal. The older ViewPoint Cloud address now redirects there.

When Sheridan requires a permit

According to the city’s Building Permits page, a building permit is required in two cases:

• the building cost of the project is over $3,000
• a new building is over 200 square feet

The Building Division’s Q&A brochure adds several rules:

• Electrical work valued over $1,000 needs a permit.
• Every sign needs a permit, whatever it costs.
• Some electrical, mechanical and plumbing work needs a permit regardless of value.

Per the brochure, the following always require at least a simple permit:

• water heater and furnace replacements
• gas piping in existing buildings
• air conditioning units
• electrical service upgrades
• demolitions
• wood or coal stoves
• solar panels
• re-roofs
• water and sewer repairs

The brochure says fences do not need a building permit. Height still matters: 6 feet maximum in the backyard and 4 feet maximum in the front yard. Verify your property line before you build.

Simple permits vs. detailed permits

Sheridan issues two types of building permits.

• Simple permits need no plan review and are online-only. Examples include roofing, siding, and installing a fireplace or furnace in an existing building when it is not part of a larger remodel.
• Detailed permits are for any project that needs plan review. That means anything with structural work, including new homes and commercial buildings, remodels, additions and decks.

The brochure gives target review times of 10 working days for residential projects and 20 working days for commercial projects. Those times assume the city has every required item. Plans are checked for completeness first, and detailed review can still turn up missing information. No work may start until the permit is issued, except site preparation and excavation. Approved plans must be kept on the job site.

A permit expires 180 days after issuance if no work is done. Permits stay active as long as work is proceeding, and the Building Division can grant extensions.

Fees

Building permit fees are based on the value of the project. The current figures are in the city’s FY27 Master Fee Schedule, which the Building page links. Water and sewer tap permits are handled by the Utilities Department, not the Building Division.

Adopted codes and fire review

Sheridan has adopted the 2024 International Codes, including the 2024 International Residential Code, through Ordinance 2290. The Building page explains why the city keeps current. Under W.S. 35-9-121, a city must adopt the state’s building codes within six months of state adoption to keep its authority (AHJ) status. Local building rules are in Chapter 7 of the Sheridan Municipal Code.

Fire review: the city currently has no certified Fire Plans Examiner or qualified fire inspector. Because of that, fire sprinkler, fire alarm and related fire plan reviews and inspections are handled by the State of Wyoming, and those fees are paid to the state. Plan your timeline for that separate state review.

Inspections and certificate of occupancy

The Building Division’s brochure describes the inspection process:

1. Call (307) 674-5941 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., or leave a message.
2. Give the permit number, your name, a phone number, the inspection type and your preferred time of day.
3. For a same-day inspection, call before 8 a.m.

You may not legally live in a new home until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.

Contractor licensing and homeowners

Homeowners may legally work on residential property they own. Anyone working on someone else’s residential project must be licensed with the city. Only a licensed general contractor may work on commercial projects. The city issues stop-work orders when work is done without a permit or by someone without the required city license.

Since July 1, 2024, Sheridan has offered reciprocal licenses under Wyoming Enrolled Act 37. The city’s reciprocity statement sets these fees:

Reciprocal license fee	Contractors	Master and journeyman
Processing fee	$100	$25
Annual renewal	$200	$50

The statement also lists which other Wyoming jurisdictions’ licenses Sheridan accepts for each trade. They include Gillette, Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Wheatland, Jackson and Laramie, depending on the trade. Excavation contractors must still pass the city’s in-house exam.

Planning and zoning

The Planning Division reviews zoning, subdivisions, rezones and variances. It is also in City Hall, open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at (307) 675-4226. Before you apply, Planning encourages a Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting:

• Meetings are held Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. in 30-minute slots.
• Send the DRC application by noon the Thursday before.

Planning applications are also filed in OpenGov, and fees are due before review starts. First-round comments go out within 2 weeks of a complete submittal. Planning Commission meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7:00 p.m. The Board of Adjustment meets the 2nd Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Properties outside city limits are not covered by this office.