Off-Grid Living in Fremont County, Wyoming

Fremont County, Wyoming is about as permissive as it gets for off-grid living in the Lower 48, but I want to be precise about what that permissiveness actually covers, because it's narrower than "anything goes."

Zoning and building codes: Fremont County has no countywide zoning ordinance and no county building code, per the county's Planning Department. That means outside of FEMA floodplain zones (around Lander, Riverton, Dubois, and Hudson) and the Wind River Reservation (which has its own zoning administered by the Intertribal Business Council), the county doesn't dictate land use or require building permits or inspections for most residential construction. The county doesn't issue Certificates of Occupancy at all. It does recommend, but not require, following state-adopted building and electrical codes, and it recommends hiring qualified contractors. If you're building anything commercial or public, a State Fire Marshal plan review kicks in under state law. Keep in mind the incorporated towns, Lander, Riverton, Dubois, and Hudson, all run their own separate zoning and building codes, so this permissiveness stops at town limits.

Dwellings, tiny homes, RVs: I didn't find a county rule banning tiny homes or a single RV on private land. The one specific requirement I found is that RV parks, mobile home parks, and similar multi-unit setups need a site plan for electrical safety and fire access. Individual placement on your own land looks unregulated at the county level, but check with the town if you're near or inside one.

Septic: This is the one area where Fremont County definitely regulates you, and it's handled by Planning, not a health department. Any new septic system, replacement, or repair needs a Small Wastewater Permit from the county, which holds delegated authority from Wyoming DEQ for systems under 2,000 gallons/day. You can self-install under county guidance, though they strongly recommend a licensed contractor since the system has to be inspected before approval. Larger systems (2,000+ gal/day) fall to the state DEQ instead.

Greywater and rainwater: I couldn't find county-specific rules for either. Wyoming has no state law against collecting rainwater, so that inherits the state's generally permissive baseline. Greywater is murkier, since there's no county page addressing it separately from septic, so I'd call the Small Wastewater Specialist before setting up a greywater system.

Wells: The county has no independent well permitting authority. Any well, personal or commercial, goes through the Wyoming State Engineer's Office at the state level.

Off-grid utilities: No county mandate to connect to grid power or water. Solar and wind installations are flagged in the county's building code guidance as needing some review, but the details are thin, so confirm directly with Planning before installing.

Bottom line: land use and building are wide open at the county level, but septic and wells are real permitting requirements you can't skip.