Off-Grid Laws › Wyoming

Off-Grid Living in Big Horn County, Wyoming

Big Horn County, Wyoming has no countywide zoning or building code in unincorporated areas, making it one of the more permissive places for off-grid living, but septic systems and wells still require permits from the county Land Planning Department and the Wyoming State Engineer's Office respectively.

Is it legal to live off-grid in Big Horn County, Wyoming?

There is no outright ban on living off-grid in Big Horn County, Wyoming - it is generally possible. Zoning and land use are generally allowed, putting a cabin, tiny home, or RV on raw land is generally allowed, and building permits are set locally and vary by area. Plan around septic/wastewater (restricted) and disconnecting from utilities (generally allowed). Because these rules are set locally, confirm the specifics with Big Horn County before you buy land or build.

Read this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Big Horn County, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
Primary-source verified Β· reviewed Aug 202620 government, statute, or municipal sources are linked below; the verdict card cites them where a match exists.

The verdict for Big Horn County

  • Zoning: Generally allowed
  • Dwellings, tiny homes: Generally allowed
  • Building permits: Varies locally
  • Septic: Restricted
  • Greywater reuse: Unclear - verify
  • Rainwater harvesting: Unclear - verify
  • Private wells: Restricted
  • Living disconnected from utilities: Generally allowed

Big Horn County at a glance

Zoning & raw-land occupancy
Generally allowedBig Horn County has no countywide zoning ordinance; the county Planning & Zoning Commission mainly handles subdivisions, floodplains, and airport zones. Municipalities within the county may have their own zoning that overrides this. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
Generally allowedNo county-specific rule restricts tiny homes, mobile homes, or RVs in unincorporated Big Horn County; the county has no building codes there. Municipal boundaries may have their own separate requirements. source
Building permits & codes
Varies locallyRural Big Horn County has no adopted building code, but a Development Permit Application is still required through the county Land Planning Department to check for floodplain or airport zone issues; electrical/fire codes fall under the Wyoming State Fire Marshal by default. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedA county-issued septic permit (via a septic application workbook) is required from Big Horn County Land Planning, built to Wyoming DEQ Water Quality Division standards. Composting toilets are not separately addressed at the county level; confirm with the office. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Big Horn County page addresses greywater specifically; this appears to inherit Wyoming's state DEQ permit-by-rule framework, but it's not confirmed at the county level. Ask the Land Planning Department directly.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo Big Horn County ordinance on rainwater harvesting was found; it appears to inherit the state's permissive baseline, but this is not confirmed at the county level.
Private wells & water rights
RestrictedAny domestic or stock well requires a permit from the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, Ground Water Division; the county Land Planning Department provides the application forms but does not issue the permit itself. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Generally allowedNo Big Horn County rule requires connecting to grid electric, gas, or municipal water/sewer; off-grid power setups appear to inherit Wyoming's permissive state stance. Utility providers may require an approved address only if you choose to seek their service. source

Who to call in Big Horn County

Offices named on official pages during research. Phone numbers appear only when the official page showed one; confirm hours and jurisdiction before you drive out.

I've been digging through Big Horn County, Wyoming's rules for anyone thinking about going off-grid out there, and the short version is: this is about as light-touch as county regulation gets in the Lower 48, with a few notable exceptions you shouldn't skip.

Zoning. Big Horn County has no countywide zoning ordinance. Under Wyoming statute (W.S. 18-5-202) the county did establish a Planning & Zoning Commission, but per the county's own Land Planning Department, its job is mostly subdivision review, floodplain review, and a couple of localized airport protection zones, not general land-use control. So on raw rural land, you're generally not fighting a zoning map. That said, if you're inside a town's municipal boundary, you're playing by that town's rules, not the county's, so check with the municipality directly.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs. I found no county rule specifically targeting tiny homes, mobile homes, or RVs in unincorporated Big Horn County. The county says plainly it has no building codes for unincorporated parcels. This inherits Wyoming's generally permissive state baseline.

Building permits. Even without a building code, the county still requires a Development Permit Application through the Land Planning Department before you start a project, mainly so staff can check whether you're in a 100-year floodplain or an airport zone. Contractors still have to follow applicable electrical and fire codes, which statewide fall under the State Fire Marshal / Council on Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety, since the county hasn't taken over that enforcement itself.

Septic. This is one area where the county is genuinely restrictive: any septic system requires a permit from Big Horn County Land Planning, using a septic workbook application, built to Wyoming DEQ Water Quality Division standards. Composting toilets aren't separately addressed by the county as far as I can find, so I'd assume state DEQ oversight applies and confirm directly.

Greywater and rainwater. No county-specific rules on either turned up in my research. Both appear to just inherit Wyoming's state-level (fairly permissive) baseline, but I'd call the Land Planning office to be sure nothing local has changed.

Wells. You'll need a permit from the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, Ground Water Division, before drilling any domestic or stock well. The county helps by providing the application forms, but the permit itself comes from the state, not the county.

Utilities. Nothing requires you to hook up to grid power, gas, or municipal water/sewer in unincorporated Big Horn County. Off-grid solar, wind, or generator setups appear to fall under Wyoming's generally permissive state stance.

Bottom line: land use is loose here, but septic and wells are where the real paperwork lives, and it's always worth a call to confirm current fees and forms since those change.

Big Horn County in numbers

Worst-month sun
3.0 peak hours/day (4.7 annual average)
Heating degree days
7,461
Precipitation / snow
15.78 in / ? in a year
Elevation
4,072 ft

Open the full site report for this spot →

30-year climate normals for the nearest ZIP and distances from the town center; a specific parcel will differ. Run the site report on an address for its own numbers.

Sources

Primary sources (statutes, agencies, municipal documents)

Secondary sources (universities, regional bodies)

Only government, statute, municipal, university, and regional-planning sources are listed. Pages used to find an issue but not to substantiate it are not cited. See how this database is researched.

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FAQ

Common questions about off-grid living in Big Horn County

Is it legal to live off-grid in Big Horn County, Wyoming?

There is no outright ban on living off-grid in Big Horn County, Wyoming - it is generally possible. Zoning and land use are generally allowed, putting a cabin, tiny home, or RV on raw land is generally allowed, and building permits are set locally and vary by area. Plan around septic/wastewater (restricted) and disconnecting from utilities (generally allowed). Because these rules are set locally, confirm the specifics with Big Horn County before you buy land or build.

Do I need a permit just to build a small off-grid cabin in unincorporated Big Horn County?

There's no county building code to meet, but you still need to file a Development Permit Application with the Land Planning Department so they can check for floodplain or airport zone issues.

Can I install a composting toilet instead of a septic system?

The county doesn't address composting toilets specifically in the sources I found, so I'd assume Wyoming DEQ oversight applies and call the Land Planning Department to confirm before you skip a septic permit.

Do I need a permit to drill my own well?

Yes, from the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, Ground Water Division, not the county. The county can hand you the application forms, but the state issues the permit.

Is off-grid solar or wind power restricted in Big Horn County?

Not that I could find. There's no county requirement to connect to grid utilities, and it appears to follow Wyoming's generally permissive stance on off-grid power.

Keep exploring

Off-grid rules in nearby Wyoming counties

Same eight-point verdict card, county by county across Wyoming.