A Resident's Guide to Cheyenne's Local Ordinances

Cheyenne, Wyoming may not be the biggest city in the state, but it has its own set of local rules that residents need to follow. With 89 tracked ordinances across 26 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Public Conduct

Public Urination: Cheyenne's disturbance-of-the-peace ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to urinate or defecate anywhere that is public in nature or open to public view, alongside offenses like fighting and inciting a riot..

Also covered: Public Marijuana Use (strict), Jaywalking (restrictive), Loitering Rules (restrictive). See the full public conduct guide for Cheyenne for details.

Noise Ordinances

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound: Cheyenne bans loudspeakers, sound cars, and sound trucks on streets, alleys, or public property without written permission from the police chief and a $15 noise permit..

Also covered: Barking Dogs (moderate), Decibel Limits (moderate), Vehicle Noise (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Cheyenne for details.

Parking Rules

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles: Cheyenne prohibits parking any ten-plus-wheel tractor unit, with or without a semi-trailer, on any street or alley in the city, and bans oversized vehicles over 25 feet from public roadways between Labor Day and Memorial Day..

Also covered: Abandoned Vehicles (moderate), Snow Removal Parking Rules (moderate), Street Parking Limits (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Cheyenne for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Dumping, throwing, or depositing refuse on streets, alleys, sidewalks, or private property without authorization is a misdemeanor in Cheyenne, punishable by a fine of up to $750.00 under the city's solid waste code..

Also covered: Bin Placement Rules (moderate), Dumpster Rules (restrictive), Recycling Requirements (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Cheyenne for details.

Animal Ordinances

Chickens & Livestock: Cheyenne bans keeping or slaughtering livestock, birds and nonhuman primates citywide, with narrow carve-outs for up to six female chickens and permitted weed-control goats..

Also covered: Wildlife Feeding (restrictive), Pet Limits (moderate), Mandatory Spay/Neuter (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Cheyenne for details.

Building Safety

Plumbing Permits: Cheyenne adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code by reference under City Code 15.12.010, requiring permits, plan review, and inspections for all plumbing work performed within city limits..

Also covered: Building Permits (moderate), Electrical Permits (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Cheyenne for details.

Special Events & Permits

Street Fair Rules: Vendors selling pre-packaged food or drinks at Cheyenne parades and street festivals need a temporary parade vendor permit and must wear a city clerk-issued ID badge while working the route..

Also covered: Parade Permits (moderate), Park Event Permits (moderate), Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (moderate). See the full special events & permits guide for Cheyenne for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Towing Companies: Cheyenne requires every towing and wrecker recovery operation to hold a current city clerk business license, undergo a police background check, carry DOT-level insurance, and meet rotation-list equipment and response standards under Chapter 5.78..

Also covered: Pawnbrokers (restrictive), Adult Entertainment (restrictive), Tattoo & Body Modification (restrictive). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Cheyenne for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Obstruction Rules: Cheyenne bans erecting or maintaining any obstruction on streets, alleys, or sidewalks unless the city code or another ordinance permits it..

Also covered: Encroachment Permits (moderate), Sidewalk Repair (moderate). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Cheyenne for details.

Home Business

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits: Cheyenne's zoning code lets residents run limited home occupations in districts where they're allowed, but caps staffing, signage, and site impact and requires registering the business with the city..

Also covered: Signage Rules (moderate), Home Daycare (moderate), Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Cheyenne for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Setback Rules: Cheyenne's Unified Development Code sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks for every zoning district and lot type, from 25 feet all around on agricultural lots to as little as zero feet for party-wall attached dwellings..

Also covered: Lot Coverage Limits (moderate), Structure Height Limits (moderate). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Cheyenne for details.

Data Centers & Crypto Mining

Data Center Zoning & Siting: Cheyenne's Unified Development Code names data centers as a supported use only in the Business Park (BP) zoning district, alongside large-scale industrial, manufacturing, and shipping uses near major transportation routes..

Fence Regulations

Material Restrictions: Cheyenne City Code 9.12.080 bans fences with uninsulated electric conductors exposed to human contact citywide, with a narrow exception for low-voltage goat-control fencing approved by the city..

Also covered: Height Limits (moderate), Fence Permit Requirements (moderate), Retaining Walls (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Cheyenne for details.

Right to Farm

Agricultural Zoning Protection: Cheyenne's Unified Development Code carves out a dedicated AG Agriculture District that bars scattered business, industrial, and other unrelated development from encroaching on land used for farming, ranching, and agriculture..

Accessory Structures

Shed & Carport Rules: Cheyenne's zoning code requires an existing home on the lot before a shed or other accessory building can be permitted, caps lots at two accessory buildings, and limits their combined footprint to 15% of the property..

Also covered: ADU Rules (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Cheyenne for details.

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Cheyenne requires every business building to be ratproofed and rat-free, with the city health officer empowered to order repairs, eradication, or closure..

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Vending Zones: Cheyenne food trucks and stands can vend on sidewalks with adjacent-owner consent, in city parks by permit, or on private property, but not within 100 feet of a restaurant entrance..

Also covered: Food Truck Permits (moderate), Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Cheyenne for details.

Fire Regulations

Outdoor Burning: Cheyenne prohibits burning solid waste anywhere in the city; ashes and trash must go to collection or the transfer station, with commercial incineration allowed only under city and agency approval..

Mobility & Curb Rules

Shared E-Scooter Rules: Cheyenne only allows shared dockless scooters through an operator picked in the city's formal RFP process, and bans riding any bicycle or motor-assisted scooter on sidewalks in the central business district..

Also covered: Bike Lane Rules (moderate). See the full mobility & curb rules guide for Cheyenne for details.

Environmental Rules

Stormwater Management: Cheyenne bans dumping anything but rain into the storm drain system, and the city engineer enforces it under the Urban Stormwater Quality Management ordinance..

Also covered: Flood Zones (moderate), Flood Elevation Requirements (moderate), Erosion Control (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Cheyenne for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Cheyenne bars minors under 18 from public places or businesses during set overnight curfew hours, with fines for minors, parents, and business operators..

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Sit-Lie Rules: Cheyenne outright bans sleeping on any public sidewalk, street, alleyway, or doorway entrance, with violators facing a $50 misdemeanor fine and immediate removal from the premises under the city's camping-on-public-property chapter..

Also covered: Encampment Sanitation (strict). See the full homelessness & encampment rules guide for Cheyenne for details.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Cheyenne requires a written permit from the city forester before anyone cuts, removes or destroys a tree in a street right-of-way, sidewalk strip or other city-owned property..

Also covered: Tree Trimming (moderate), Weed Ordinances (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Cheyenne for details.

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Cheyenne enforces Chapters 1 and 2 of the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code as its own Dangerous Building Code, letting the chief building official formally condemn substandard or unsafe structures..

Also covered: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Cheyenne for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Cheyenne requires a residential door-to-door solicitor to hold a city clerk-issued business license and a photo-ID badge, pass a police background check, and solicit only between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m..

Also covered: No-Knock Registry (moderate). See the full soliciting & door-to-door guide for Cheyenne for details.

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Cheyenne requires a solar access permit from the city engineer before any solar collector's solar right vests, including a $35 review fee, published newspaper notice, and a site plan identifying every potentially affected neighboring owner..

What to Do With This Information

This overview covers the big picture, but the details matter. Each ordinance page for Cheyenne includes the full text, violation penalties, and frequently asked questions. Use those pages when you need specifics.