Riverton, Wyoming Building Permit Guide

Inside Riverton city limits, building permits come from the Community Development Department at City Hall, 816 N. Federal Blvd., which reviews plans and inspects the work. Fees are set by floor area under Resolution 1355: $0.42 per sq ft for a new house, attached garage or addition and $0.53 for new commercial space. Electrical permits are handled by the state.

What requires a building permit in Riverton?

The City requires a permit for most building projects, including new homes and commercial buildings, additions, alterations, accessory buildings, decks, re-roofing, siding, mechanical and plumbing replacements, demolition, moving a building, signs and manufactured homes.

Even when no building permit is needed, the City recommends calling Community Development before starting work, because zoning and other rules may still apply.

Who issues building permits in Riverton?

The Community Development Department reviews building plans, issues building permits, performs inspections, reviews plats, handles zoning, issues home occupation and child care permits and enforces city codes. Its staff are the Building Inspector, a Permit Technician and a Community Development Clerk, and Gary Michaud is the Community Development Director. The Planning Commission and the Construction Board of Appeals advise the City Council on planning, zoning and building code issues.

Land outside the city limits is in Fremont County, which has no county building code and issues no building permits; the county handles septic, floodplain and addressing permits there.

Riverton applications and contractor registration

Pick up the Application for Building Permit (or the simple permit application) online or at City Hall. The application covers new construction, additions, alterations and demolition, accessory structures, plumbing, electrical and mechanical items, and public right-of-way work such as driveways, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, which may need a separate encroachment permit. Other City forms include Mobile Home Requirements, a Mobile Home Park permit application and the Application for Contractor’s Registration.

Contractor registration: contractors working in the city register with the City under Ordinance 05-008, on paper or through the online registration; the City publishes lists of registered contractors by name and by trade.

Riverton building permit fees

Fees are set by Resolution 1355, adopted by the City Council on May 16, 2017, and still the schedule the City posts. New construction is charged per square foot of “building area”: the total floor area of every level within the exterior walls plus covered patios, attached garages, porches and decks. Fees are rounded up to the next whole dollar.

For example, a house with 1,800 sq ft of living space, a 500 sq ft attached garage and a 100 sq ft covered porch has 2,400 sq ft of building area, so the permit fee is 2,400 × $0.42 = $1,008. Water and sewer tap (plant investment) fees are separate and were revised on April 1, 2025.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work

Equipment and material jobs, labor included, are charged 1% of the contract amount, with these minimums:

Electrical: the state’s jurisdiction chart (updated September 11, 2026) lists the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, not the City, for electrical inspection and plan review in Riverton, so electrical work needs a state wiring permit ($50, through the state’s online portal). The City’s residential inspection list also includes temporary-service and rough electrical inspections, so plan for both.

Fire: the chart lists Riverton for fire inspection and fire plan review. Food processing and manufacturing businesses also need review by the state’s Consumer Health Services (307-777-7211) before construction.

Plans and codes

The application’s submittal checklist asks for three sets of construction drawings on paper at least 11 × 17 inches, or one electronic copy on CD, DVD or USB; the older Permit Requirements sheet asks for two sets. A new home submittal includes:

• Site plan to scale with property lines, north arrow, easements and dimensions
• Floor plans, building elevations and a dimensioned foundation plan
• Roof plan with the truss layout and engineered truss data
• Framing sections with wall height, eave width and roof pitch
• Plumbing, electrical and mechanical layouts
• Truss and engineering calculations sealed by a Wyoming engineer where they apply, and energy code calculations
• Planning approval that the project meets the setbacks

Commercial submittals add a code analysis cover sheet, site utility plan, energy compliance forms, accessibility and fire protection details and, where needed, a geotechnical report, with drawings sealed by a Wyoming architect or engineer. Most new commercial or industrial buildings, buildings three stories or higher and residential buildings with five or more units must be professionally designed.

Codes: Ordinance 25-003 (final reading March 18, 2025) adopted the 2024 International Building and Residential Codes with City amendments, and Chapter 15.04 of the Municipal Code also adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code. Riverton’s design criteria are a 30 psf ground snow load, 100 mph wind speed, Seismic Design Category C, a 30-inch frost depth and required ice barrier underlayment. The City deleted the residential fire sprinkler requirements, and an application must include a letter from the Director of Public Works confirming that water and sewer service is available.

How to get a building permit in Riverton

Riverton inspections

Notify Community Development at least one working day before each inspection by calling 307-856-2999, giving the permit number and inspection type. For residential new construction, additions and alterations, the inspections in order are:

• Before concrete: temporary electric service, footings, foundation walls, perimeter drain, underground plumbing and interior footings
• Before insulation and drywall: rough plumbing, rough electric, rough mechanical, gas piping and rough framing with penetration sealing, once the structure is weather tight
• Utilities: sewer and water service lines before backfill
• Final: when the building is complete and ready for occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy is required before furnishings are moved in or the building is occupied. If the inspector arrives and the work is not ready, a $52 call-back fee applies. Commercial inspections are arranged with the Building Department at the same number.

Local Riverton details

Asbestos: the City posts the Wyoming DEQ Air Quality Division’s asbestos notification instructions with its permit forms; renovation and demolition work may require that notification.

Right-of-way work: street and alley cuts, curbs, driveways and sidewalk replacement need City encroachment approval; paved street cuts are $0.69 per linear foot ($121 minimum) and sidewalk work is $35 for up to 50 linear feet.

Construction Board of Appeals: appeals of building code decisions go to this board; a hearing costs $42.

Wyoming building code

Wyoming’s state-adopted codes are the 2024 International Fire, Building, Fuel Gas, Mechanical and Existing Building Codes and the 2026 National Electrical Code, applied through the State Fire Marshal’s plan review and electrical program; cities and counties add their own building, zoning and floodplain rules. Wyoming’s state codes and review

Official Riverton permitting resources

• Riverton Community Development Department
• Riverton building permits and inspections
• Riverton permit forms and procedures
• Riverton Application for Building Permit with submittal checklists
• Riverton permit requirements sheet
• Riverton Resolution 1355, building permit and planning fees
• Riverton Ordinance 25-003, 2024 ICC code adoption
• Riverton inspection procedures
• Riverton contractor registration
• Riverton Municipal Code Chapter 15.04, building codes and fees
• Riverton Municipal Code Chapter 17.04, zoning administration
• Wyoming electrical wiring permits

Riverton building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Riverton, Wyoming?

The City’s Community Development Department at City Hall, 816 N. Federal Blvd. The Building Inspector can be reached at 307-857-7712.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Riverton?

$0.42 per square foot of building area, which includes attached garages, covered porches and decks. A house with 2,400 sq ft of building area pays $1,008.

Do I need a permit for a fence or shed in Riverton?

Not for a rear-yard fence up to 7 ft on your own lot or a one-story shed up to 120 sq ft. Fences in the right-of-way or over 7 ft need a $26 permit.

Who handles electrical permits in Riverton?

The state’s jurisdiction chart lists the Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety for electrical inspections and plan review in Riverton; its wiring permits are $50 through the state portal.

How do I schedule an inspection in Riverton?

Call 307-856-2999 at least one working day ahead with your permit number and the type of inspection.

What happens if I build without a permit?

The City charges a permit violation fee of 2 times the permit fee, with a $100 minimum.

Simplify Riverton permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Wyoming. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Riverton permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.