Sublette County is Wyoming’s natural gas heartland — a vast, mountainous county in western Wyoming that sits atop two of the most productive natural gas fields in the American West. The Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field, developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, together account for approximately 45 percent of Wyoming’s total natural gas production, making Sublette County the state’s undisputed leader in gas output and a county whose finances have been transformed by energy revenues. The county government’s cash balance grew from $11 million in 2002 to nearly $150 million during the peak development years, funded by property taxes on natural gas production that dwarf most Wyoming counties’ tax bases. PureWest Energy alone — the largest natural gas producer in Wyoming — operates more than 3,400 wells across 108,000 net mineral acres in the Pinedale Field.
Pinedale (~2,052), the county seat, sits at the foot of the Wind River Range on the Green River headwaters, surrounded by some of the most spectacular wilderness terrain in the Lower 48. About 80 percent of the county’s 4,886 square miles is public land — Bridger-Teton National Forest, BLM lands, and wilderness areas. Marbleton and Big Piney (~3,500 combined), in the southern part of the county near the gas fields, serve as the working-class counterpart to Pinedale’s more amenity-oriented community. After a population decline of roughly 13 percent from 2010 to recent years due to the gas industry slowdown, Sublette County was Wyoming’s fastest-growing county in 2023, growing 2.5 percent — driven by quality-of-life in-migration from remote workers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
All residential landlord-tenant matters are governed by Wyoming Statutes §§ 1-21-1001 through 1-21-1211. Eviction actions (FED) are filed in the Ninth Judicial District Court in Pinedale. No rent control exists anywhere in Wyoming.
Marbleton/Big Piney (~3,500 combined — near gas fields), Daniel (~160)
County Population
~8,913 (declined from 10,262 in 2010 due to gas slowdown; now growing again — fastest in WY in 2023 at +2.5%/yr)
Median HH Income
~$83,597 (high for rural WY)
Natural Gas
#1 natural gas producing county in Wyoming — 45% of state total; Pinedale Anticline + Jonah Field; PureWest Energy (3,400+ operated wells)
Public Land
~80% of county — Bridger-Teton National Forest, BLM, Bridger Wilderness; Wind River Range
Major Employers
PureWest Energy (dominant); oil & gas service companies; Sublette County School District; county & state government; ranching; outdoor recreation & tourism
Growth Trend
Remote workers and quality-of-life migrants driving new in-migration post-2020
Rent Control
None
Landlord Rating
6/10 — high incomes, growing market, strong natural gas base; boom-bust commodity risk applies; Pinedale has growing amenity appeal for new in-migrants; Marbleton/Big Piney serve working energy workforce
⚖️ 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
Ninth Judicial District Court, Sublette County
Courthouse Address
21 S. Tyler Ave, Pinedale, WY 82941
Court Phone
(307) 367-4376
Mailing Address
PO Box 764, Pinedale, WY 82941
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Eviction Enforcement
Sheriff only (Writ of Restitution required)
Sublette County Local Ordinances & Landlord Rules
Local rules that apply alongside Wyoming state law
Category
Details
Rental Registration
Wyoming has no state-level landlord licensing. Pinedale, Marbleton, and Big Piney do not require blanket rental registration for long-term residential rentals. Code enforcement is complaint-driven. Wyoming lodging tax applies to short-term rentals. Pinedale’s proximity to the Wind River Range, Bridger Wilderness, and Fremont Lake creates genuine year-round STR demand for fishing, backpacking, and hunting visitors. Marbleton and Big Piney near the gas fields see primarily long-term workforce housing demand.
Rent Control
None. Wyoming has no rent control anywhere in the state. Sublette County’s median household income of ~$83,597 reflects the premium wages of the natural gas industry and supports above-average rents for Wyoming. 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 the high income profile of the gas workforce, 1.5 months’ rent is standard. Screen carefully: gas field contractors may have variable income.
⛽ Wyoming’s Natural Gas Capital
The Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field together represent one of the most productive tight-sand natural gas accumulations in the continental United States. At peak development (around 2009), more than 550 wells were drilled in a single year in Sublette County. PureWest Energy, the dominant operator with over 3,400 operated wells and production of approximately 630 MMcfe/d, is the largest private employer in the county by a significant margin. The gas workforce — production operators, well technicians, pipeline workers, engineers, geologists, safety managers, and the full supply chain of oilfield service company workers supporting them — drives Sublette County’s rental demand in Marbleton and Big Piney. The boom-bust caveat applies here more acutely than most Wyoming counties: gas prices, field depletion rates, and operator capital allocation decisions can shift employment meaningfully. Landlords serving the gas workforce should maintain conservative leverage and carry adequate cash reserves for potential softening periods.
Pinedale’s Dual Identity
Pinedale occupies a distinctive dual role in Sublette County. It is simultaneously the county seat for Wyoming’s largest natural gas county and one of Wyoming’s most appealing small mountain towns — a place with genuine amenity appeal for hikers, anglers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts. Fremont Lake, one of Wyoming’s largest natural lakes, is minutes from downtown. The Wind River Range’s Bridger Wilderness is accessible from Pinedale trailheads. The Green River Lakes, Wyoming state record fish waters, draw fishing visitors from across the region. This amenity profile is what’s driving post-2020 in-migration: Wyoming economic analysts specifically noted that teleworkers with portable salaries have been choosing Pinedale for its outdoor access and quality of life. For landlords in Pinedale, this creates a growing diversification of the tenant base beyond gas workers — remote workers, healthcare workers, school district employees, and retirees are becoming more significant.
Two-Market Dynamic
Sublette County’s rental market effectively operates as two distinct submarkets. Marbleton and Big Piney in the south serve the working energy workforce near the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah fields — demand is driven by gas production activity, wage levels, and PureWest’s field staffing decisions. Pinedale in the north is more diversified, serving government workers, school district employees, healthcare workers, and the growing wave of quality-of-life migrants and remote workers. Landlords should understand which market they are operating in and screen accordingly: Marbleton/Big Piney properties benefit from verifying employment with gas operators versus contractors, while Pinedale properties increasingly need to consider the amenity-migrant tenant profile.
Wyoming FED Eviction Process
Evictions are Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) proceedings filed in the Ninth Judicial District Court (21 S. Tyler Ave, Pinedale). After serving appropriate notice, the landlord files a FED complaint. Upon judgment, the court issues a Writ of Restitution. Only the Sublette 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 Sublette 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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Pinedale (Wind River Range, Fremont Lake, in-migrant appeal) + Marbleton/Big Piney (gas field workforce). WY’s #1 gas county (45% of state output). Fastest-growing WY county in 2023. Median HHI ~$83K. 80% public land. Mountain Time. FED in 9th District Court. No deposit cap. 3-day notices; 30-day M-t-M. No WY income tax. Sheriff enforces.
Sublette County
Screen Before You Sign
Marbleton/Big Piney: Gas operator direct employees preferred over contractors. Verify base vs. overtime income. Pinedale: SCSD staff, county government, healthcare, remote workers (verify employment permanence). Income at 3x rent. 1.5 months deposit standard given high income but commodity risk. Run WY court records. Avoid pure boom-cycle underwriting — screen for employment stability, not just current wages.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Sublette County, Wyoming
Sublette County presents a landlord with two parallel investment opportunities in a single county: a working-class energy workforce market in Marbleton and Big Piney, and a growing amenity community market in Pinedale. Understanding which you are investing in — and screening tenants accordingly — is the essential starting point for any Sublette County landlord. The county’s high median household income (~$83,597) reflects the premium wages of the natural gas industry, and the boom-bust cycle that all energy-dependent Wyoming counties experience is present here in its most concentrated form. No county in Wyoming is more exposed to the economics of a single commodity than Sublette, where 45 percent of Wyoming’s total natural gas production flows from beneath the county’s surface.
The Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field
The Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field are two of the most significant tight-sand natural gas accumulations in the American West. Discovered and aggressively developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, these fields transformed Sublette County from a ranching and outdoor recreation backwater into one of Wyoming’s wealthiest counties by property tax revenue. PureWest Energy, the dominant operator with more than 3,400 operated wells and production approaching 630 million cubic feet equivalent per day as of 2024, is effectively Wyoming’s largest natural gas company operating out of Sublette County. The workforce this production requires — from well operators and pipeline technicians to engineers, geologists, safety coordinators, and the full supply chain of oilfield service workers — represents the foundation of Marbleton and Big Piney’s rental demand.
Pinedale’s Renaissance
Pinedale’s emergence as Wyoming’s fastest-growing county in 2023 reflects a national trend that economists have been tracking since the COVID pandemic: the migration of financially independent or remotely employed workers from urban areas to high-amenity rural communities. Pinedale, with its Fremont Lake, Wind River Range access, world-class fly fishing on the New Fork and Green rivers, and the proximity to the Bridger Wilderness, checks every box for the outdoor-focused remote worker who can choose where to live. Wyoming economic analysts noted these arrivals are often younger professionals with portable salaries who could work anywhere but chose Wyoming for its lifestyle. For Pinedale landlords, this represents a genuinely new tenant profile that was not present a decade ago and adds meaningful diversity to a market that was previously almost entirely dependent on the gas industry cycle.
Sublette 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: Ninth Judicial District Court, 21 S. Tyler Ave, Pinedale, WY 82941 (PO Box 764); phone (307) 367-4376. Hours Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MT. Last updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Sublette 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.
