Park County is one of the most consequential tourism counties in the American West. Encompassing over 53 percent of Yellowstone National Park’s land area and positioned as the Eastern Gateway to America’s first national park, the county and its county seat Cody (~10,417) receive 300,000 to 400,000 summer visitors — a ratio of roughly 35 visitors per resident that drives everything from infrastructure spending to housing affordability to rental market dynamics. Visitor spending in Park County reached $507 million in 2023, and tourism contributes between 30 and 40 percent of all county sales tax revenue, effectively subsidizing services that would otherwise fall to residents alone.
Cody, founded in 1896 by Colonel William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, wears its western heritage with genuine conviction. The Cody Nite Rodeo has operated nightly from June through August since 1937 — the longest-running nightly rodeo in the country. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five world-class museums dedicated to western art, history, firearms, natural history, and plains Indian culture, is a major year-round destination. Powell (~6,300), the county’s second city and home to Northwest College, provides an additional economic and rental market anchor in the Bighorn Basin. The county is ranked consistently among Wyoming’s best communities for quality of life, receiving recognition as Wyoming’s best town from multiple national outlets.
All residential landlord-tenant matters are governed by Wyoming Statutes §§ 1-21-1001 through 1-21-1211. Eviction actions (FED) are filed in the Fifth Judicial District Court at the Park County Courthouse in Cody. No rent control exists anywhere in Wyoming.
$507M visitor spending (2023); 300K–400K summer visitors; 30–40% of sales tax from tourism
Yellowstone Access
Eastern Gateway — 53% of park’s land in Park County; 52 miles from East Entrance
Largest Employers
Healthcare/social assistance (972), retail trade (845), education (501) — plus large tourism/hospitality sector; West Park Hospital; Park County School District; Northwest College (Powell)
True West’s #1 True Western Town (2024); Cody Nite Rodeo (nightly since 1937); Buffalo Bill Center of the West (5 museums)
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
7.5/10 — strong long-term rental demand driven by workforce shortage; excellent STR opportunity; growing market; Wyoming taxes. Healthcare/education tenant base is stable anchor.
⚖️ 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
Fifth Judicial District Court, Park County
Courthouse Address
1002 Sheridan Ave, Cody, WY 82414
Court Phone
(307) 527-8690
Mailing Address
PO Box 1960, Cody, WY 82414
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Powell Annex
109 W. 14th St, Powell, WY 82435; (307) 754-8800
Eviction Enforcement
Sheriff only (Writ of Restitution required)
Park County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Local rules that apply alongside Wyoming state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration & STR
Wyoming has no state-level landlord licensing. Long-term residential rentals do not require registration in Cody or Powell. Wyoming lodging tax applies to short-term rentals. Park County’s STR market is one of Wyoming’s most active outside of Teton County. Cody and the Wapiti Valley corridor toward Yellowstone’s East Entrance see significant vacation rental demand. STR operators should verify City of Cody zoning and any applicable county regulations before listing, as STR growth has been identified by local officials as a factor in workforce housing shortages.
Rent Control
None. Wyoming has no rent control anywhere in the state. Park County’s long-term rental market has tightened significantly as STR conversion reduces available housing stock. This creates pricing power for long-term landlords — workforce demand from hospitality, healthcare, and retail workers consistently exceeds supply. 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. Given Cody’s market conditions, 1.5 months’ rent is standard.
🌋 The Yellowstone Effect
No Wyoming county is more defined by a single natural asset than Park County. With 53% of Yellowstone National Park’s total land area within its boundaries, and the only eastern entrance to the park 52 miles west of Cody, Park County’s economy rises and falls with Yellowstone’s visitor numbers. When Yellowstone has a strong season — which has been effectively every season for the past two decades — Cody’s hotels, restaurants, outfitters, guides, museums, and retail businesses are fully staffed and generating revenue. The workers staffing all of those businesses need housing in Cody, and the supply of year-round rental housing is chronically short. For landlords, this dynamic is the central investment thesis: the community that hosts America’s oldest national park can virtually always fill well-maintained, appropriately priced rental housing.
STR vs. Long-Term: The Tension
Park County’s STR market is robust and growing, and for owners with the right property, short-term vacation rental returns can significantly exceed long-term rental income during the summer peak. However, local officials, business owners, and tourism industry representatives have explicitly identified STR conversion as a key driver of workforce housing shortages — hotels, restaurants, and guides cannot retain workers who cannot find housing. For landlords, this creates both a strategic question (STR vs. LTR) and a market opportunity: long-term rentals that keep workers housed have low vacancy and strong community appreciation. Properties near downtown Cody, West Park Hospital, or in Powell near Northwest College are particularly well-suited for long-term tenant profiles.
Powell & Northwest College
Powell (~6,300), about 25 miles north of Cody, is Park County’s second-largest community and home to Northwest College, a two-year institution offering associate degrees and transfer programs. NWC creates steady rental demand from faculty, staff, and off-campus students. Powell’s rental market is more affordable than Cody’s and offers attractive rent-to-price ratios. Landlords considering Park County investment who find Cody too competitive may find Powell an appealing alternative with a stable educational institution anchoring demand.
Wyoming FED Eviction Process
Evictions are Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) proceedings filed in the Fifth Judicial District Court (1002 Sheridan Ave, Cody). After serving appropriate notice, the landlord files a FED complaint. Upon judgment, the court issues a Writ of Restitution. Only the Park 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 Park 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
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eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
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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.
Cody (Buffalo Bill, Yellowstone East Gateway, Cody Nite Rodeo, $507M tourism) + Powell (NW College) + Wapiti Valley. WY’s #1 western tourism destination. STR market active but competing with LTR. Workforce housing shortage = strong LTR demand. Mountain Time. FED in 5th District Court. No deposit cap. 3-day notices; 30-day M-t-M. No WY income tax. Sheriff enforces.
Park County
Screen Before You Sign
Best profiles: West Park Hospital staff, Park County School District teachers, NWC faculty/staff (Powell), county/state government workers, established retail managers. Hospitality workers: verify year-round vs. seasonal — use term leases for seasonal. J-1 visa workers: not suitable for standard annual leases. Income at 3x rent. Run WY court records. LTR in Cody carries pricing power — don’t undermarket.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Park County, Wyoming
Park County is Wyoming’s premier tourism county and one of the American West’s most compelling landlord markets. The combination of genuine workforce housing shortage, a world-class tourism economy, no state income tax, strong institutional employers (hospital, school district, college), and access to one of the most famous national parks in the world creates a rental market that fundamentally favors supply-side investors. The community needs more housing. Workers who keep Cody’s hotels, restaurants, museums, and outfitting operations running need places to live year-round, and the conversion of housing stock to short-term vacation rentals has made that need more acute. For landlords who provide quality, fairly priced long-term rental housing in Cody, the demand environment is as favorable as any rural Wyoming county.
Buffalo Bill’s Legacy and Wyoming’s Western Capital
Cody has been recognized as True West Magazine’s top western town in America and consistently earns national recognition for its quality of life, outdoor access, and cultural richness. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West — five interconnected museums covering western art, firearms history, natural history, plains Indian culture, and Buffalo Bill’s own extraordinary life — is genuinely world-class, drawing scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts from across the globe. The Cody Nite Rodeo, operating nightly from June through August since 1937, is not a manufactured attraction but a genuine competitive rodeo that has run continuously for nearly ninety years. These assets give Cody cultural and experiential depth that few towns of 10,000 people possess anywhere in America, and they are a primary reason retirees, remote workers, and quality-of-life migrants choose Cody over competing Wyoming communities.
The STR Opportunity and Its Tradeoffs
For investors considering a Park County property primarily as a short-term vacation rental, the opportunity is real. The summer peak — when 300,000 to 400,000 visitors pass through Cody on their way to Yellowstone — drives strong nightly rates, and the Cody Nite Rodeo and other events create demand spikes even within the peak season. Properties in the Wapiti Valley corridor along the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway between Cody and Yellowstone’s East Entrance are particularly well-positioned for Yellowstone-adjacent STR demand. The tradeoff is the community impact: Cody’s hospitality industry is already relying on J-1 visa workers to fill summer positions because year-round workforce housing is inadequate, and STR conversion is a documented contributor to that shortage. Investors who choose long-term rental use contribute to community stability and operate in a market with chronically low vacancy.
Park 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: Fifth Judicial District Court, 1002 Sheridan Ave, Cody, WY 82414 (PO Box 1960); phone (307) 527-8690. Hours Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MT. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Park 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.
