Task Force Reviews Draft Requiring Localities to Publish Residential permit timelines

A task force reviewing state regulatory proposals discussed a bill draft, 25LSO0207, that would create a new Wyoming statute (proposed 16-13-101) requiring local governments to adopt and publish schedules for residential building permit review and set deadlines for approval or denial of complete applications.

The legislation, presented by Talise Hansen, staff attorney, would define a “complete residential building permit application,” require local governments to describe each step of the approval process and set reasonable deadlines, and — as drafted — reduce permit fees by 10% for each business day a local government misses a final deadline unless an exception applies. The draft sets an application date threshold of July 1, 2025, for applicability and requires publication of schedules by that date.

Why it matters: Supporters said predictable timelines could help applicants plan and increase transparency; local government representatives cautioned about administrative burdens and unintended consequences of penalties.

David Hopkinson of the Legislative Service Office and Talise Hansen described the bill’s structure and timing provisions. Jeremiah Grama, representing the County Commissioners Association, offered a replacement draft and said it “attempt[s] to rewrite this legislation such that it could be workable for local governments.” Grama’s substitute removed the explicit contents list from the definition of “complete application,” narrowed which entities are covered, deleted the proposed 10% penalty and instead created administrative and judicial remedies for aggrieved applicants.

Local officials and planners said the penalty language was problematic. Nick Agopian, representing the Teton County Board of Commissioners, described Teton County’s permit-fee structure and argued that a penalty could push counties to require full upfront payment of many fees. “Eliminating the penalty component of it makes sense,” Agopian said, because some local governments charge plan-review fees that are a portion of total assessed fees.

Support and technical concerns: Bob McLaren of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities said his organization was “generally supportive of the bill” and agreeable to the replacement draft. Melissa Ruth of the Wyoming Planning Association endorsed the substitute and flagged remaining questions about definitions — for example, what constitutes a “single-family” household — and the administrative capacity of smaller towns to publish and maintain the schedules.

On timelines and enforcement, Grama argued the 10% penalty risked either being meaningless in some counties (because fees are small) or triggering higher up-front fees by local governments trying to avoid exposure. He said his draft allows an aggrieved applicant to request a hearing before the governing body and pursue judicial review and that many counties lack the staff capacity to meet tight deadlines under the penalties as originally drafted.

Next steps: The task force chair suggested reconstituting a working group to combine the County Commissioners Association substitute and additional comments and return a revised draft. No formal vote was taken; the group said it would proceed informally until a quorum could convene and planned another interim working draft ahead of a December meeting.

Ending: Task force members agreed to continue crafting the proposal with local governments and planners to clarify definitions, refine publication and effective dates, and replace the fee-reduction penalty with administrative and judicial remedies.