In unincorporated Teton County, Wyoming, Teton County Planning & Building Services issues building, plumbing and mechanical permits under the 2024 IBC and IRC, and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS issues electrical permits. Applications are filed in the county’s SmartGov portal, and new homes, new commercial buildings and small miscellaneous projects need a submission week booked in advance. The 2026 building permit fee is based on ICC building valuation data, with plan review adding 65%.
What requires a permit in Teton County?
The county’s Building Codes Resolution, effective July 1, 2025, covers all unincorporated land and includes a table of common projects. These need a county permit:
Permit required
- New homes and commercial buildings, and moving or setting factory-built and manufactured homes
- Additions and alterations, including garages and shops
- Decks and entry porches; the county FAQ sets the deck threshold at 30 inches above finished grade
- Roof replacement
- Adding an exterior window or door (repairing an existing window, or repairing or replacing an existing door, needs no permit)
- Retaining walls over 4 ft (engineered)
- Fences over 6 ft
- Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces
- Demolition of any structure
- Plumbing and mechanical work; electrical work through Jackson Hole Fire/EMS
No building permit
- One private agricultural building per parcel over 2 acres, with an eave height up to 10 ft and a roof area up to 600 sq ft, used only for agriculture (Planning still reviews it; trade and septic permits still apply)
- One-story detached sheds and playhouses with no power or water, under 200 sq ft
- Decks and patios no more than 30 inches above grade with nothing built above the floor
- Fences under 6 ft or for agriculture
- Siding repair or replacement, floor coverings, painting and other finish work
- Non-structural flatwork such as driveways and walkways
Exempt work still has to meet the Land Development Regulations, and Planning reviews the location of sheds, decks and new impervious surfaces. A septic system needs a county small wastewater permit, and a new access onto a county road needs a county access permit.
Who handles permitting in Teton County?
Teton County Planning & Building Services runs both the Planning Division, which checks every building permit against the Land Development Regulations, and the Building Division, which reviews plans and inspects construction. Every Teton County column in the State Fire Marshal’s jurisdiction chart is marked local, so building and electrical plan review and inspections in the county are done locally rather than by the state.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Every town in the county: the Census lists one incorporated place, the Town of Jackson (2025 population 10,720). Its Planning & Building Department issues building permits inside town limits and inspects only there. Communities such as Wilson, Teton Village and Alta are unincorporated, so their building permits come from the county.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Planning & Building Services | Teton County Administration Building, 2nd floor, 200 S Willow Street, Jackson (P.O. Box 1727, Jackson, WY 83001-1727); 307-733-3959 |
| Building Division and Permit Technician | 307-733-7030; permittech@tetoncountywy.gov |
| Building Official | buildingofficial@tetoncountywy.gov; 307-733-3959 |
| Inspection request line | 307-732-5745 |
| Electrical and fire | Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, 40 East Pearl Avenue, Jackson; 307-733-4732 |
| Septic and grading | Teton County Engineering, 307-733-3317 |
Teton County permit types and the SmartGov portal
All building permit applications go through the county’s SmartGov portal; there are no in-person take-in appointments. For a new home, a new commercial building or a miscellaneous permit under 500 sq ft, first reserve a submission week on the county’s bookings page. Additions and remodels filed as miscellaneous permits also need a take-in appointment.
Re-roof, plumbing, mechanical and demolition permits skip the booking. They are applied for in the portal with a warranty deed, plus a Letter of Authorization when the applicant is not the owner, and are typically issued within 48 hours if complete. Wait for the Permit Technician’s email before paying anything.
The Building Forms page holds the Residential, Commercial and Miscellaneous checklists, the Letter of Authorization, the Letter of Transmittal for corrections or revisions, the Certificate of Placement, the Natural Resources desktop checklist and the Exterior Lighting Summary.
Teton County permit fees
Building fees come from the Teton County Schedule of Fees effective January 1, 2026. For new construction, the fee is the ICC Building Valuation Data cost per square foot times the floor area, times a multiplier that rises with size; remodels are valued at 75% of new construction. Plan review (65% of the building permit fee) and the Planning review fee are paid when you apply, and the rest when the permit is issued.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| First 2,500 sq ft | Valuation × 0.006 |
| Next 2,500 sq ft (2,501–5,000) | Valuation × 0.009 |
| Floor area over 5,000 sq ft | Valuation × 0.012 |
| Minimum building or miscellaneous permit | $305 |
| Plan review | 65% of the building permit fee, on top of it |
| Planning review | $125, plus $60 per 1,000 sq ft over 5,000 sq ft |
| Re-inspection | $60 per hour |
| Inspection outside business hours | $90 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Revisions to permitted plans | $305 plus $120 per hour of extra review |
| Demolition | $60 |
| Mobile or manufactured home | $430 per unit |
| Renewing an expired permit | $250 |
Energy Mitigation Program: new homes and additions with more than 2,500 sq ft of conditioned space pay $4 per sq ft above 2,500 sq ft, or $10,000 plus $8 per sq ft above 5,000 sq ft, and on-site energy systems can earn credits against it. Items the county treats as non-essential carry fees that are never refunded, such as $10 per sq ft for heated driveways, patios, pools and spas, and $5,000 for a decorative wood-burning device beyond a single fireplace.
Engineering fees under the county’s FY2026 Public Works resolution (effective July 21, 2025, the latest posted) include $300 for a new residential septic permit plus $115 for each bedroom after the first, and $460 or $800 for a single-home grading permit at statement or plan level. Up to 80% of a plan review or permit fee may be refunded on a written request within 180 days if no work or review has been done. Card payments at the office carry a 2.55% fee, and the county never takes wire transfers.
Trade permits in Teton County
Plumbing and mechanical: county permits under the 2024 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes, at $60 per permit plus item fees such as $10 per plumbing fixture and $20 for a furnace up to 100,000 Btu/h. Manufactured home permits include plumbing and mechanical inspections.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical: the Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Electrical Division issues permits in the county SmartGov portal under the 2026 National Electrical Code, adopted by county resolution 2026-017. A permit is needed for new circuits, a new or replaced service or panel, hot tubs and pools, heat trace, solar, battery storage and generators, and any job over 20 man-hours; swapping devices or fixtures is exempt. The fee follows the bid for the electrical work, starting at $40 for jobs up to $500, and starting without a permit doubles it. Commercial, industrial and solar or battery jobs need electrical plan review at $150 per hour.
Fire: sprinkler and alarm permits come from Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. Structures of 5,000 sq ft or more must be sprinklered, and so must every commercial building with an R occupancy. All of Teton County is in the wildland-urban interface, so plans must carry the WUI review, and wood shakes and shingles have not been allowed on any project since January 1, 2025.
Septic: small wastewater facility permits come from Teton County Engineering through the Sep.OS portal. New systems cannot be installed from November 15 to April 15, except repairs for occupied homes, and tanks must be precast concrete with two compartments unless site access rules that out.
What to submit
The Residential New Construction checklist calls for a complete plan set in PDF, with every sheet numbered and labelled with the owner, designer and date:
- A Natural Resources Assessment (desktop checklist, environmental review or analysis) and the WUI review letter
- Architectural plans: cover sheet with codes, floor plans, egress windows, smoke and CO alarms, sections and all elevations
- A site plan showing easements, utilities, setbacks from property lines and water, driveway and parking, slopes of 5% or more, wells and septic systems, landscaping, snow storage and fencing
- An exterior lighting plan with fixture sheets
- Structural plans and calculations stamped by a Wyoming engineer, with special inspection notes
- Mechanical plans (design-build is not accepted), plumbing and electrical details
- A REScheck certificate meeting Zone 7 insulation, with windows limited to 30% of above-grade wall area and solar-powered landscape lighting
Commercial plans must be sealed by the design professionals, with code and egress analysis and structural drawings stamped by a Wyoming structural engineer. The county says review times depend on the project, and any revision restarts the review clock.
Rather not deal with the Teton County building department?
Get a free quote →How to apply: 6-step Teton County process
Use the county GIS map; inside Jackson town limits, apply to the Town instead.
Talk to the Planner of the Day about zoning and the Natural Resources Assessment, and get the WUI review from Jackson Hole Fire/EMS.
Reserve a week on the bookings page for a new home, new commercial building or miscellaneous project; trade permits skip this step.
Create a portal account and upload the checklist items, then pay the plan review and Planning review fees.
Upload corrections or revisions with a Letter of Transmittal; each revision restarts the review time.
Pay the remaining fees when the permit is issued, then add the septic, grading, access and electrical permits the project needs.
Teton County inspections
Request building inspections in the SmartGov portal under My Inspections, or leave a message on the inspection line at 307-732-5745. Requests in by 4:00 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day, with a choice of morning or afternoon; inspections in Alta happen only on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Do not book same-day inspections or cancel online: call the Permit Technician at 307-733-7030 instead.
Electrical and sprinkler inspections are booked with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, not through the county portal, by 3:30 p.m. for the next business day. Septic inspections go through Engineering (307-733-3317). A permit stays active only if it gets an inspection at least every 180 days. For new construction someone does not have to attend, but for remodels and additions a person must be present.
If winter stops grading or landscaping, the county may issue the Certificate of Occupancy against a surety of 125% of the cost of the unfinished site work, at the Planning Director’s or County Engineer’s discretion.
Local Teton County details
Design loads: the county’s criteria set a 34-inch frost depth, 105 mph wind speed, Seismic Design Category D and a winter design temperature of −30°F; ground snow load comes from the ASCE Hazard Tool for each site.
Groundwater and floods: buildings on land with seasonal high groundwater need designed moisture protection or a slab on grade, and buildings in a FEMA special flood hazard area must meet flood-resistant construction rules.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Waterbody freeze: on September 3, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners stopped accepting new grading permits for new or altered manmade ponds and water features until December 2, 2026, unless extended; permits already issued or under review are not affected.
Sewer connections: where a house connects to the Town of Jackson or Wilson Sewer District system, proof of the sewer connection payment goes to the county, and the connection inspection costs $60.
Payment scam: the county warns of emails with fake permit invoices; real payment requests come through its Forte Engage system or the SmartGov portal.
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 Teton County permit resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Teton County Building Division
- Teton County SmartGov permit portal
- Teton County building forms and checklists
- Residential New Construction checklist
- Teton County Schedule of Fees (effective January 1, 2026)
- County Building Codes Resolution (effective July 1, 2025)
- Teton County code resolutions
- Teton County inspections
- Jackson Hole Fire/EMS electrical permits
- Teton County small wastewater (septic) permit portal
- Teton County FY2026 Public Works fee resolution
- Wyoming State Fire Marshal plan review
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Teton County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Teton County, Wyoming?
Teton County Planning & Building Services for all unincorporated land, including Wilson, Teton Village and Alta. Inside Jackson town limits, the Town of Jackson issues them.
How much does a building permit cost in Teton County?
The fee is the ICC valuation of the floor area times 0.006 for the first 2,500 sq ft, 0.009 for the next 2,500 and 0.012 above that, with a $305 minimum. Plan review adds 65%, and the Planning review fee starts at $125.
Do I need a permit for a shed, deck or fence?
Not for a one-story shed under 200 sq ft with no power or water, a deck no more than 30 inches above grade, or a fence under 6 ft. Planning still reviews where sheds and decks go.
Do I need to book an appointment to apply?
Yes for new homes, new commercial buildings and miscellaneous permits: reserve a submission week first. Re-roof, plumbing, mechanical and demolition permits are filed without one.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Book in SmartGov or call 307-732-5745 by 4:00 p.m. for the next business day. Electrical inspections go to Jackson Hole Fire/EMS.
Who issues septic permits in Teton County?
Teton County Engineering, through the Sep.OS portal. A new residential permit is $300 plus $115 per bedroom after the first, and new systems cannot go in between November 15 and April 15.
Simplify Teton County 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.
Ready to break ground in Teton County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Teton County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Wyoming permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Teton County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.