Wyoming landlord guide — Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital & largest city, F.E. Warren Air Force Base (nuclear ICBM mission), State of Wyoming government, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Frontier Days & Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1001–1211
🏛️ County Seat: Cheyenne 👥 Population: ~100,000 🕐 Time Zone: Mountain Time
Laramie County is Wyoming’s most populous county and the home of Cheyenne, the state capital — the largest city in Wyoming with approximately 66,000 residents and a metro area population of roughly 100,000. Cheyenne’s character is defined by the intersection of two powerful institutional forces: state government and the military. As the seat of Wyoming’s government, Cheyenne houses the state capitol, virtually all major state agencies and departments, and the enormous workforce of state employees whose presence gives the local economy a stability and counter-cyclicality that commodity-dependent Wyoming communities lack. F.E. Warren Air Force Base, one of the oldest continuously active military installations in the United States and home of the 90th Missile Wing’s Minuteman III ICBM nuclear deterrent force, contributes approximately 9,700 military personnel, DoD civilians, and their dependents to the Cheyenne area. These two pillars — government and military — combine to give Cheyenne’s rental market a demand base that is largely insulated from the boom-bust cycles that affect Wyoming’s energy-dependent counties.
Beyond government and military, Cheyenne’s economy includes Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (the regional hospital and one of the city’s largest private employers), Laramie County School District #1, distribution and logistics operations (Lowe’s Regional Distribution Center is a major employer), and a growing manufacturing base (Magpul Industries, Sierra Bullets, VAE Nortrak). Cheyenne is also known as the home of Frontier Days — “The Daddy of ‘Em All” rodeo — held annually in late July, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and creates one of Wyoming’s most dramatic short-term rental demand spikes.
All residential landlord-tenant matters in Laramie County are governed by Wyoming Statutes §§ 1-21-1001 through 1-21-1211. Eviction actions (called Forcible Entry and Detainer / FED in Wyoming) are filed in the First Judicial District Court in Cheyenne. No rent control exists anywhere in Wyoming. No just-cause eviction requirement applies.
F.E. Warren AFB (~9,700 military/civilian/dependents), State of Wyoming government, Laramie County School District #1, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Lowe’s Regional Distribution Center, Magpul Industries, Sierra Bullets
Median HH Income
~$78,800 (Cheyenne)
No Income Tax
Wyoming has no state income tax
Rent Control
None
SCRA
Critical — F.E. Warren AFB military market
Landlord Rating
7.5/10 — strong government/military stability, no income tax advantage, growing professional class; Frontier Days creates short-term rental spike in July
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance (Wyoming)
Nonpayment Notice
3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit
Lease Violation (curable)
3-Day Notice to Cure or Quit
Illegal Activity / Non-curable
3-Day Unconditional Notice to Quit
Month-to-Month Termination
30-Day Written Notice (1 full rental period)
Court Action
Forcible Entry & Detainer (FED) — District Court
Court
First Judicial District Court, Laramie County
Courthouse Address
309 W 20th St, Rm 3205, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Court Phone
(307) 633-4270
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Eviction Enforcement
Sheriff only (Writ of Restitution required)
Avg Timeline
3–6 weeks (from notice to sheriff enforcement)
Laramie County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
City and county rules that apply alongside Wyoming state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
Wyoming has no state-level landlord licensing or rental registration requirement. The City of Cheyenne does not require a blanket rental registration for standard long-term residential rentals. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. Short-term rental operators in Cheyenne must comply with applicable zoning regulations and Wyoming lodging tax (currently 5% state + up to 2% local) on gross rental revenue. Frontier Days short-term rental activity is significant — verify city short-term rental zoning eligibility and secure all required local licenses before listing.
Rent Control
None. Wyoming has no rent control or stabilization law anywhere in the state, and no home-rule authority for municipalities to enact it. Month-to-month rent increases require one full rental period’s written notice (30 days for monthly tenancies). Cheyenne rents have increased with population growth and the no-income-tax migration from higher-tax states, but remain below comparable western cities.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap in Wyoming — landlords may charge what the market will bear, so long as it is reasonable. The lease must disclose if any portion is nonrefundable (both in the lease and in written notice at the time the deposit is collected). Return within 30 days of termination/eviction OR within 15 days of receiving tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is later. If damages exist beyond normal wear and tear, return period extended by additional 30 days (up to 60 days total). No interest required. Utility deposits: must be returned within 10 days of tenant proving utilities paid in full.
F.E. Warren AFB & SCRA Compliance
F.E. Warren Air Force Base, home of the 90th Missile Wing and its Minuteman III ICBM nuclear deterrent mission, is one of the most consequential military installations in the United States. The base contributes approximately 9,700 military personnel, DoD civilians, and their dependents to the Cheyenne rental market. All active-duty servicemembers are protected by the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): (1) Early lease termination: servicemembers may terminate a lease with 30 days’ written notice upon receiving PCS orders or deployment orders for 90+ days. (2) Protections against eviction during active duty in certain circumstances. (3) Rent/deposit protections during deployment. Landlords renting to Warren personnel should use a military lease addendum, verify branch/rank/unit, and maintain a copy of any PCS or deployment orders received. Warren personnel include Air Force officers and enlisted at all ranks; DoD civilian contractors; and civilian government workers — each with different income, stability, and SCRA applicability profiles.
Late Fees
No statutory cap in Wyoming. Must be specified in the lease. Rent is late the day after the due date unless the lease specifies a grace period, which must then be honored. Given Cheyenne’s heavily government and military employment base, payment delinquency rates are relatively low — but clear lease terms remain essential.
Frontier Days & Short-Term Rental
Cheyenne Frontier Days, held annually in the last week of July, is billed as the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration. It draws over 200,000 visitors in a ten-day period to a city of 66,000, creating massive short-term accommodation demand and premium nightly rates. Landlords with properties in or near Cheyenne can capture significant short-term rental revenue during Frontier Days. Verify city zoning eligibility, obtain any required short-term rental permits, and comply with Wyoming lodging tax obligations. Frontier Days short-term rental properties typically command 5–10x normal nightly rates during the event.
Wyoming FED Eviction Process
Wyoming calls its eviction proceeding a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) action (Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1001–1016). Process: (1) Serve appropriate notice (3-day for nonpayment/violation; 30-day for no-cause M-t-M termination). (2) If tenant does not comply, file FED complaint in District Court. (3) Court issues summons; tenant has opportunity to respond and attend hearing. (4) Upon judgment, court issues Writ of Restitution. (5) The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office is the only authority permitted to enforce the eviction — landlords cannot remove tenants themselves. No self-help eviction, lockout, or utility shutoff is permitted. Domestic violence is an affirmative defense to eviction.
No Income Tax
Wyoming has no state income tax and no corporate income tax. This is a significant attraction for landlords managing out-of-state portfolios and for professionals and business owners relocating to Cheyenne — a migration trend that has been accelerating from California, Colorado, and other higher-tax states, supporting rental demand growth in the capital.
Landlord Entry
Wyoming statutes do not specify a minimum advance notice period for landlord entry (unlike many states’ 24-hour rules). “Reasonable notice” is the standard. Best practice is to specify in the lease that the landlord will provide 24 hours’ advance notice for non-emergency entry, and to honor that provision consistently. Emergency entry is permitted without notice.
Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1001–1016 (Forcible Entry & Detainer) and 1-21-1201–1211 (Residential Rental Property) — notice requirements and landlord rights applicable in Laramie County
⚡ Quick Overview
3
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
3 (all violations)
Days Notice (Violation)
14-30
Avg Total Days
$$70
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Notice Period3 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent within 3-day notice period to stop eviction
Days to Hearing3-10 (summons sets return day for hearing; typically within days of filing) days
Days to Writ0-30 days after judgment (court determines; Writ of Restitution issued) days
Total Estimated Timeline14-30 days
Total Estimated Cost$150-350
⚠️ Watch Out
3-day notice for nonpayment. No statutory grace period. Very landlord-friendly state with fast process. Notice must be in writing and left with tenant in person or at usual place of abode. After 3 days, landlord files FED complaint with circuit court ($70 filing fee). Summons sets return day (hearing date). If landlord wins: court issues Writ of Restitution giving tenant 0-30 days to vacate (court discretion - better chance of more time if tenant attends trial). If tenant doesn't attend = likely immediate writ. After writ: only sheriff can physically remove. Landlord can remove property and leave it outside after sheriff executes writ. No statutory cap on security deposits. Lease must state if any deposit portion is nonrefundable. Safe Homes Act: DV victims can break lease with 30 days notice + protection order.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Circuit Court - Forcible Entry and Detainer (WS § 1-21-1001 to 1-21-1016). Pay the filing fee (~$$70).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Wyoming eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Wyoming attorney or local legal aid organization.
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tenant screening in Wyoming —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Wyoming's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Cheyenne (WY state capital, F.E. Warren AFB nuclear ICBM base ~9,700 personnel, State of Wyoming government, CRMC, Frontier Days rodeo July). No WY state income tax. SCRA military market. Mountain Time. FED eviction in District Court — Sheriff enforces. 3-day notice for nonpayment/violation; 30-day for M-t-M. No deposit cap; 30-day return window.
Laramie County
Screen Before You Sign
Top stable profiles: State of Wyoming employees (civil service, exceptional stability), F.E. Warren military officers and senior NCOs (verify rank, PCS timing, use military addendum), Cheyenne Regional Medical Center clinical staff, LCSD#1 teachers/staff, Lowe’s DC workers. For Warren tenants: SCRA addendum is non-negotiable; verify anticipated PCS date. Run Wyoming court records. Income at 3x rent. No WY income tax means take-home pay is higher than equivalent gross in neighboring states — factor that into income verification.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Laramie County, Wyoming
Cheyenne occupies a unique position in the Rocky Mountain West — a state capital whose economy is dominated not by energy extraction (as in most of Wyoming) but by government employment and military presence. This makes Cheyenne significantly more stable than Wyoming’s oil, gas, and coal towns, and it gives the Cheyenne rental market characteristics that more closely resemble a federal government employment center than a frontier resource economy. For landlords, this is the most important fact about Laramie County: the two largest employers are the federal government (F.E. Warren AFB) and the state government of Wyoming, and both of those employer categories provide exceptional employment stability.
F.E. Warren AFB: The Military Market
F.E. Warren Air Force Base sits on the western edge of Cheyenne and has been continuously active since 1867, making it one of the oldest military installations in the United States. Today it is home to the 90th Missile Wing, which operates and maintains the Minuteman III ICBM nuclear deterrent force across a three-state missile field. The base contributes approximately 9,700 military personnel, DoD civilians, and their dependents to the Cheyenne area, making it one of the single largest discrete contributors to local rental demand. Military tenants at Warren span a wide income and rank range: junior enlisted airmen at the lower end of the pay scale through senior officers and master sergeants whose incomes are substantial and guaranteed. The critical management consideration for Warren tenants is SCRA compliance: active-duty servicemembers may terminate leases early upon receiving PCS or deployment orders with 30 days’ written notice — a federal statutory right that cannot be waived by lease contract. Landlords who understand SCRA, use proper military lease addenda, and treat Warren personnel professionally become the preferred housing providers on base word-of-mouth networks, which are among the most effective marketing channels available in any military market.
State Government: The Stability Anchor
As Wyoming’s capital, Cheyenne houses the full apparatus of state government — the legislature, the Governor’s office, the state Supreme Court, and virtually all major state agencies. State government employment in Wyoming provides civil service protections, defined benefit retirement, and healthcare benefits that make it among the most stable employment available in the state. State employees are the backbone of the Cheyenne professional rental market for non-military properties — reliable income, long tenure, low default risk, and the kind of employment stability that makes multi-year lease relationships feasible and common.
The No-Income-Tax Migration Effect
Wyoming’s absence of a state income tax has become an increasingly powerful draw for relocating professionals and remote workers, particularly from Colorado (where the state income tax rate is 4.4%) and California (where top rates exceed 13%). Cheyenne, positioned just north of the Colorado state line with easy I-25 access to Fort Collins and Denver, has benefited from this migration as professionals who can work remotely choose Wyoming residency for tax purposes while maintaining access to the Front Range metro area. This migration has supported demand for higher-quality rental properties in Cheyenne — professional-class tenants seeking 3-bedroom homes or quality townhomes rather than entry-level apartments. Landlords with well-maintained, professional-grade properties are well-positioned to capture this segment.
Wyoming FED Eviction: Key Procedural Points
Wyoming’s eviction action is called a Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) proceeding. After serving the appropriate notice (3-day for nonpayment, 3-day to cure for violations, 30-day for no-cause month-to-month termination), the landlord files a FED complaint in the First Judicial District Court at 309 W 20th St in Cheyenne. The court issues a summons, a hearing is set, and if judgment goes to the landlord, the court issues a Writ of Restitution. Critically, only the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office may enforce the eviction — landlords who attempt self-help removal, change locks, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out expose themselves to liability. The average FED timeline from notice to sheriff enforcement in Wyoming runs 3–6 weeks in an uncontested case.
Laramie County landlord-tenant matters are governed by Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1001–1016 (Forcible Entry & Detainer) and 1-21-1201–1211 (Residential Rental Property). Nonpayment: 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit. Lease violation (curable): 3-Day Notice to Cure or Quit. Illegal activity / non-curable: 3-Day Unconditional Notice to Quit. Month-to-month termination (no cause): 30-Day Written Notice (1 full rental period). Security deposit: no statutory cap; must disclose if any portion nonrefundable; return within 30 days of termination/eviction or 15 days after receiving forwarding address (whichever later); extended 30 days if damages. Utility deposit: return within 10 days of proof utilities paid. Late fees: no statutory cap; must be in lease. No landlord entry notice requirement by statute (reasonable notice standard; specify 24 hours in lease). No rent control. No just-cause eviction. No self-help eviction; no lockout; no utility shutoff. SCRA applies to F.E. Warren AFB servicemembers. Domestic violence is affirmative defense to eviction. Court: First Judicial District Court, 309 W 20th St, Cheyenne, WY 82001; phone (307) 633-4270. Hours Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MT. No WY income tax. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Laramie County, Wyoming and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current requirements with a licensed Wyoming attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: May 2026.
