Under Wyoming law, if a written or oral rental agreement exists, or if payment is accepted as rent, landlords and tenants have automatic rights and responsibilities under the Residential Rental Property laws, such as the right to timely rent payments and a livable dwelling.
Note: Unlike most states, any default legal obligation between a landlord and a tenant can be changed or waived by written agreement.
In Wyoming, landlords legally can’t rent property out unless it meets basic health and safety requirements. Here is a list of amenities and how they relate to Wyoming’s habitability requirements:
| Item | Has to Provide? | Has to Fix/Replace? |
|---|---|---|
| Heating/AC | Only Heating | Only Heating |
| Hot Water | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen Appliances | No | Only If Provided |
| Garbage Containers/Removal | No | No |
| Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors | Smoke Only | No |
| Mold | N/A | Yes |
| Pest Control | N/A | Yes |
If a property doesn’t provide the legally required amenities for habitable housing, a tenant can usually report the landlord to government authorities for unsafe living conditions, although Wyoming’s lack of anti-retaliation laws makes this a riskier undertaking than in many other states. Read more
Landlords must perform necessary repairs in a timely manner. In Wyoming, landlords must make repairs within a reasonable time after getting written notice from tenants. If repairs aren’t made in a timely manner, Wyoming tenants can sue for costs, or a court order to force the landlord to make repairs. They can also cancel the rental agreement, but they usually can’t withhold rent or make repairs and deduct from the rent. Read more
Landlords in Wyoming are permitted to evict tenants for the following reason:
It is illegal for a landlord to evict a tenant for discriminatory reasons.
Unlike most states, in Wyoming there’s no statute or case law prohibiting a landlord from retaliating against tenants. Tenants do not have any general protection if they do things like report housing code violations. Landlords might be able to evict, raise the rent, or take other retaliatory actions in response.
Collections & Holdings: The following laws apply to the collection and holding of security deposits:
Returns & Deductions: The following laws apply to the return of security deposits:
Notice Requirements: Wyoming is one of the few states in the US that does not specify how much notice a tenant must give a landlord before terminating a lease. Generally, these provisions will be included in the lease agreement.
Early Termination: Wyoming tenants who wish to legally break a lease early may do so for the following reasons:
If a Wyoming tenant breaks their lease early, they are still liable for the rent for the remaining lease period. Landlords are not legally required to make a reasonable effort to re-rent the unit.
Landlords cannot keep the full security deposit because a tenant broke their lease. The landlord can make deductions for damages or unpaid rent, but the rest must be returned to the tenant.
Wyoming does not have rent control and state law does not prohibit cities and towns from creating their own rent control laws.
Because Wyoming does not have rent control, landlords can raise the rent by any amount, as often as they choose, but they cannot increase the rent during the lease term unless the lease agreement allows for it. Additionally, landlords cannot increase the rent out of discrimination of federally-protected classes.
Wyoming state law does not specify how much notice landlords must give before raising the rent. Landlords and tenants can agree on a minimum notice period for a rent increase in the lease agreement.
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Protected Groups: The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, familial status, sex, or disability. These rules do not apply to some owner-occupied homes or homes operated by religious organizations.
Discriminatory Acts & Penalties: Housing discrimination cases are handled by Equal Justice Wyoming which functions as part of the state government. The following business practices and behaviors have been highlighted as potentially discriminatory when directed at a member of a protected class:
Equal Justice Wyoming does not field the cases themselves but directs tenants to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. You can file a complaint here.
In addition to having laws that address general issues like repairs and security deposits, most states, including Wyoming, grant rights and responsibilities about things like lock changes and a landlord’s right to entry. See the topics below for more information.
Wyoming landlords have the right to enter rental property for repairs, inspections, and property showings. The renter’s right to quiet enjoyment of the rental property means that the landlord must provide advance notice of an entry outside of emergency situations, although the law isn’t specific on how much. Landlords aren’t allowed to enter in an unreasonable time, place, or manner.
The following laws apply to the collection of rent and related fees:
Most disputes between landlords and tenants are handled in Small Claims Court, which is an informal process designed to be quicker and simpler than higher courts. For example, disputes regarding the return of security deposits are typically handled in Small Claims Court.
Landlords and tenants can file cases in Small Claims Court to settle minor disputes without hiring an attorney if the amount claimed is less than $6,000. Wyoming Small Claims Court is a division of Circuit Court. The process takes approximately one to two months.
Wyoming landlords are required to make the following mandatory disclosures:
Wyoming law does not regulate a tenant changing locks, so it’s allowed unless the terms of the rental agreement say otherwise. Landlords can’t unilaterally change locks on their tenants, as this is considered a form of illegal “self help” eviction.
Some cities in Wyoming have their own landlord-tenant laws in addition to the state requirements. Check your local county and municipality for additional regulations, and see the resources below for more general information.
Can a Landlord Enter Without Permission in Wyoming? Wyoming landlords can enter rental property without permission in an emergency. In other cases, although the tenant can't be unreasonable about giving permission to enter, the landlord does have to ask. Read more » Is Wyoming a “Landlord Friendly” State? Wyoming is one of the most landlord-friendly states. Landlords have broad authority to evict and few regulations on habitability and repairs. Even where there are clear legal standards, landlords can usually sign away their responsibilities by written agreement, unlike most other places. Read more » What Are a Tenant’s Rights in Wyoming? Wyoming tenants have the right to live on habitable rental property. If the landlord violates this right, tenants can sue the landlord for breach of duty. Read more » Can a Tenant Change the Locks in Wyoming? Wyoming tenants can change their own locks, if their rental agreement doesn't say otherwise. The landlord still has the right to enter for various reasons, so it's usually reasonable for tenants to provide copies of any new keys. Read more »
