Niobrara County holds a distinction that defines its character: it is the least populous county in Wyoming, which is itself the least populous state in the United States. With approximately 2,275 residents spread across 2,626 square miles of eastern Wyoming high plains — an area more than twice the size of Rhode Island with roughly 1/500th of that state’s population — Niobrara County is about as remote and rural as the American West gets. Its county seat, Lusk (~1,482), is described on its own town website as being “the county seat of the least populated county in the least populated state in the US” — a distinction worn with dry Wyoming pride.
The county’s economy is anchored by cattle ranching (the primary industry since settlement), the Niobrara County School District, the Wyoming Women’s Center (a state correctional facility and significant employer), Union Pacific Railroad (which operates a mainline through the county), and local government. The county has been experiencing a slow population decline, losing roughly 8.7% of its population since 2010. Lusk sits at the intersection of US Highways 18, 20, and 85, giving it regional service-center status for ranchers and travelers crossing northeastern Wyoming. Its homeownership rate of 50.8% — lower than most Wyoming towns — means the rental market, while small, accounts for a meaningful share of the housing stock.
All residential landlord-tenant matters are governed by Wyoming Statutes §§ 1-21-1001 through 1-21-1211. Eviction actions (FED) are filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court in Lusk. No rent control exists anywhere in Wyoming.
Lusk (~1,482 — “least populous county seat in the least populous state”)
County Population
~2,275 (least populous county in Wyoming; declining ~−1%/yr)
Median HH Income
~$48,987
Median Home Value
~$213,000 (Lusk, 2024 — very affordable)
Homeownership Rate
50.8% (relatively high renter share for Wyoming)
Major Employers
Niobrara County School District, Wyoming Women’s Center (state correctional facility), Union Pacific Railroad, county & state government, cattle ranching sector
Primary Industry
Cattle ranching (dominant since settlement); oil & gas (historic, declining); UP Railroad
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
3/10 — Wyoming’s smallest county by population; declining trend; very low acquisition costs; stable if targeting institutional tenants (prison staff, school district, railroad); very limited market overall
⚖️ 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
Eighth Judicial District Court, Niobrara County
Courthouse Address
424 S. Elm St, 2nd Floor, Lusk, WY 82225
Court Phone
(307) 334-2736
Mailing Address
PO Box 1318, Lusk, WY 82225
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Eviction Enforcement
Sheriff only (Writ of Restitution required)
Niobrara County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Local rules that apply alongside Wyoming state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
Wyoming has no state-level landlord licensing. Lusk does not require blanket rental registration for long-term residential rentals. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. Wyoming lodging tax applies to short-term rentals. STR demand in Lusk is minimal; the county’s tourism draw is limited to the annual “Legend of Rawhide” pageant and pass-through highway traffic on US-18/20/85.
Rent Control
None. Wyoming has no rent control anywhere in the state. Lusk rents are among the lowest in Wyoming, reflecting the county’s affordability profile and modest incomes. Month-to-month rent increases require one full rental period’s written notice.
Security Deposit
No statutory cap in Wyoming. Must disclose if any portion is nonrefundable. Return within 30 days of termination/eviction OR 15 days after receiving forwarding address (whichever later); extended 30 days if damages. No interest required. Utility deposit: return within 10 days. Standard 1 month’s rent practice in this market.
Wyoming Women’s Center
The Wyoming Women’s Center, the state’s primary correctional facility for women, is located in Lusk and is one of the county’s most significant employers. Its staff — correctional officers, case managers, healthcare workers, administrative personnel, maintenance, and food service workers — hold state government positions with civil service protections and benefits. For Lusk landlords, Wyoming Women’s Center employees are among the most stable and reliable tenants available in the county, representing institutional employment not tied to commodity prices or seasonal patterns. This is the single most important tenant segment to target in Niobrara County.
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific mainline runs through Niobrara County, and railroad employees and contractors represent another stable employment segment in Lusk. UP employment tends to be well-compensated and stable, and railroad workers typically have significant job tenure. For landlords, UP employees are a reliable tenant segment, though the actual number of UP-employed residents in Lusk is modest given the level of automation in modern rail operations.
Relatively High Rental Ratio
Lusk’s homeownership rate of 50.8% is lower than most Wyoming towns, meaning nearly half of occupied housing units are rentals. This relatively high renter share (for Wyoming) suggests that rental housing is a genuine part of Lusk’s housing market, serving workers at the Women’s Center, school district employees, railroad workers, and agricultural laborers who may not be in a position to purchase in a declining-population market. For landlords who acquire property at Lusk’s very low price points (median home value ~$213,000), the rent-to-price ratios can be more favorable than in larger Wyoming markets.
Wyoming FED Eviction Process
Evictions are Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) proceedings filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court (424 S. Elm St, 2nd Floor, Lusk). After serving appropriate notice, the landlord files a FED complaint. Upon judgment, the court issues a Writ of Restitution. Only the Niobrara County Sheriff’s Office may enforce the eviction. No self-help eviction, lockout, or utility shutoff permitted. Domestic violence is an affirmative defense to eviction.
Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1001–1016 and 1-21-1201–1211 — applicable in Niobrara 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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⚠️ 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.
Lusk — Wyoming’s least populous county seat. Wyoming Women’s Center (state employer). Union Pacific Railroad. Cattle ranching. US-18/20/85 crossroads. Lowest median home value of any WY county seat (~$213K). 50.8% homeownership = meaningful renter pool. Annual “Legend of Rawhide” pageant. Declining pop trend. Mountain Time. FED in 8th District Court. No deposit cap. 3-day notices; 30-day M-t-M. No WY income tax. Sheriff enforces.
Niobrara County
Screen Before You Sign
Best profiles: Wyoming Women’s Center staff (top priority — state employment, civil service, stable), NCSD teachers/staff, UP Railroad workers, county government. Ranching workers: distinguish year-round from seasonal — use term leases for seasonal. Very small pool — references essential. Income at 3x rent. Run WY court records. Given population decline, prioritize tenants with established ties to Lusk.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Niobrara County, Wyoming
Niobrara County is Wyoming in its most distilled form: vast, remote, deeply rooted in ranching and frontier history, and shaped by the economics of sparse population and open land. The county’s story stretches back to the Cheyenne-Deadwood stage route — the armored coach line that carried gold, freight, and mail between Cheyenne and the Black Hills gold fields from 1876 to 1887 — and to the cattle operations that Frank S. Lusk and others established on the rolling high plains in the 1880s. Cattle ranching has remained the primary industry ever since, with the addition of Union Pacific Railroad employment, state government (primarily the Wyoming Women’s Center), and public education as the county’s other economic pillars.
The Case for Niobrara County Investment
Investing in rental property in the least populous county of the least populous state is not a strategy for everyone. The tenant pool is genuinely tiny, vacancy periods can be long, and the population trend is downward. But for an investor who already has a connection to the Lusk area — a ranching family with relatives in town, a Wyoming state employee, a railroad worker considering a property near the UP line — Niobrara County offers acquisition prices that are almost impossible to find elsewhere in the American West. At a median home value of approximately $213,000, the entry cost for a rental property in Lusk is a fraction of what comparable properties cost in Sheridan, Cody, or Jackson. For an investor with patience and realistic expectations, a well-maintained property rented to Wyoming Women’s Center staff, school district employees, or railroad workers can generate stable income on a very low cost basis.
Frontier History and the Legend of Rawhide
Lusk is not without cultural assets. The Stagecoach Museum preserves the county’s Cheyenne-Deadwood heritage, and the annual “Legend of Rawhide” outdoor pageant — performed since 1946 and dramatizing a frontier encounter near Rawhide Buttes — draws visitors from across the region each summer. The Niobrara River, which rises near Lusk, lends its name to the county and provides some modest recreational access. For landlords, these are community assets worth understanding rather than major economic drivers — Lusk is primarily a ranching and government-services community, and its rental market reflects that character.
Niobrara County landlord-tenant matters are governed by Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1001–1016 and 1-21-1201–1211. 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: 30-Day Written Notice. Security deposit: no statutory cap; 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. No rent control. No just-cause eviction. No self-help eviction; no lockout; no utility shutoff. Sheriff-only enforcement. Domestic violence is affirmative defense to eviction. No WY income tax. Court: Eighth Judicial District Court, 424 S. Elm St 2nd Floor, Lusk, WY 82225 (PO Box 1318); phone (307) 334-2736. Hours Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MT. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Niobrara 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.
