Public Conduct in Cheyenne, WY: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Cheyenne or are thinking about moving there, public conduct are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Cheyenne has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of public conduct, and some of them might surprise you.

Public Alcohol Use

Cheyenne prohibits open alcohol containers on public streets, sidewalks, and parks under Title 5 beverage code and Title 9 public peace provisions, with exceptions during permitted special events like Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Key details: Code source: Cheyenne Code Title 5, 9. Frontier Days exception: Permitted event zones. Penalty type: Municipal misdemeanor. State preemption: None on open container.

Carrying open alcohol on streets, sidewalks, or in parks outside permitted event zones triggers municipal misdemeanor citations, fines, and possible additional charges if intoxication or disorderly conduct is involved.

Aggressive Panhandling

Cheyenne Title 9 public peace ordinances prohibit aggressive solicitation involving threats, blocking pedestrians, panhandling near ATMs, or persistent following, while protecting passive sign-holding solicitation as protected speech.

Key details: Code source: Cheyenne Code Title 9. ATM buffer: Restricted zone. Passive sign-holding: Protected speech. Shelter referral: Comea Shelter.

Aggressive solicitation involving threats, blocking, ATM-area panhandling, or persistent following after refusal triggers municipal citations, possible arrest, and trespass enforcement.

Skateboarding Rules

Cheyenne restricts skateboarding, rollerblading, and similar wheeled recreation in the downtown business district and at public buildings, with Cheyenne Skate Park at Lions Park providing a designated facility for riders.

Key details: Code source: Cheyenne Code Title 10. Designated facility: Lions Park Skate Park. Restricted zones: Downtown business district. Property damage: Restitution required.

Skateboarding in restricted downtown zones, on public building plazas, or causing property damage from grinding triggers warnings, citations, and possible equipment confiscation for repeat offenders.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Wyoming has no statewide indoor smoking ban, leaving Cheyenne with limited smoking restrictions primarily covering city facilities, parks, and entrances to public buildings, while bars and many restaurants permit smoking inside.

Key details: State indoor ban: None statewide. City facilities: Smoke-free. F.E. Warren AFB: Federal smoking limits. Bar smoking: Generally permitted.

Smoking inside city facilities, near playgrounds, or in marked smoke-free zones triggers warnings or municipal fines, while private property owners may also enforce trespass for repeat violators.

The rules around outdoor smoking restrictions in Cheyenne lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Public Marijuana Use

Wyoming has not legalized recreational or medical marijuana, making any possession or use illegal statewide under Wyo. Stat. Title 35 ch. 7, with Cheyenne enforcing both state law and local public conduct rules through CPD.

Key details: Recreational status: Illegal statewide. Medical status: Narrow CBD only. Misdemeanor threshold: Under 3 ounces. Felony threshold: 3 ounces or more.

Possessing or using marijuana publicly, including out-of-state legal purchases brought into Wyoming, triggers misdemeanor charges, possible jail time, fines, and felony charges for larger quantities.

This is one of the stricter rules in Cheyenne's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Cheyenne's public conduct rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Cheyenne is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Cheyenne can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.