General Provisions

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, ch. 1
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-101 Definitions.

(a) As used in W.S. 15-1-101 through 15-11-302: (i) "Any city or town" means any incorporated municipality; (ii) "Councilman or councilmen" means the individuals elected to comprise the governing body of any city or town; (iii) "Emergency ordinance" means an ordinance operating for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare, in which the emergency is defined; (iv) "First class city" means any incorporated municipality having a population of four thousand (4,000) or more which has been declared a first class city or which has taken the necessary steps to be and has been proclaimed a first class city; (v) "Franchise" means the grant of authority to any person or firm by the governing body of any city or town to carry on the operation of a public utility; (vi) "Governing body" means the council or commission constituting the elected legislative body of any city or town including the mayor who is the presiding officer; (vii) "Local improvement" means any improvement made within any city or town, the cost of which may be assessed against the property specially benefited thereby; (viii) "Mayor" means the person elected, either by popular vote or by vote of the governing body, to exercise the powers of the office and to be presiding officer of the governing body; (ix) "Ordinance" means a legislative enactment of general effect validly adopted by the governing body of any city or town; (x) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or other business entity, or the executor, administrator, trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof; (xi) "Public improvement" means an improvement made within any city or town for which general bonded obligation may be incurred; (xii) "Qualified elector" means any person possessing the requisite qualifications to vote in any election conducted within a city or town for the selection of mayors or councilmen; (xiii) "Qualified member" means any member of a governing body who was elected or appointed thereto in accordance with all applicable provisions of law; (xiv) "Town" means any incorporated municipality, not a first class city; (xv) "This act", unless otherwise specified, means W.S. 15-1-101 through 15-11-302.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-102 Prior incorporations and elections legalized.

All incorporations and proceedings to incorporate cities and towns and all elections held in cities and towns, whether pursuant to the laws of the territory of Wyoming, or the state of Wyoming, are legalized, notwithstanding any irregularity that may have occurred.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-103 General powers of governing bodies.

(a) The governing bodies of all cities and towns may: (i) Sue and be sued; (ii) Have and use a common seal; (iii) Purchase and hold real and personal property for their use including real estate sold for taxes; (iv) Sell, convey and lease any estate owned and make any orders respecting it deemed to be in their best interest; (v) Perform all acts in relation to the property and concerns of the city or town necessary to the exercise of its corporate powers; (vi) Receive bequests, gifts and donations of all kinds of property in fee simple, or in trust for public, charitable or other purposes and do all things necessary to carry out their intended purpose; (vii) Control the finances of the corporation, including providing by ordinance for: (A) The preparation, maintenance and retention of required records and accounts; (B) Any required reports to the director of the state department of audit's office; and (C) If deemed necessary the preparation of independent audits of the financial condition of the city or town, which shall be conducted by a certified public accountant or a public accountant who has been in the practice of public accounting for a period of five (5) years as a principal. (viii) Appropriate money by ordinance only and pay all necessary expenses, including supplies, salaries of employees and debts; (ix) Levy and collect special assessments against persons or property to the extent allowed by the constitution and the law; (x) Borrow money on the credit of the corporation for corporate purposes as allowed by the constitution and the laws and issue warrants and bonds therefor in such amounts and forms and on such conditions as they determine; (xi) Take all necessary action to plan, construct or otherwise improve, modify, repair, maintain and regulate the use of streets, including the regulation of any structures thereunder, alleys, any bridges, parks, public grounds, cemeteries and sidewalks; (xii) In the manner provided in W.S. 15-7-301 through 15-7-305 vacate from public use any property acquired or held for park purposes, if: (A) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2. (B) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2. (C) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2. (D) The city or town has held title to the property for more than ten (10) years and no substantial use has been made thereof for park purposes; or (E) The property will be used for public school or public educational purposes after the vacation. (xiii) License, tax and regulate any business whatsoever conducted or trafficked in within the limits of the city or town for the purpose of raising revenue, and any license taxes imposed shall be uniform in respect to the class of business upon which imposed; (xiv) Regulate or prohibit the running at large within the city limits of any animals, impose a license fee for the keeping or harboring of dogs and establish and provide for the operation of a pound; (xv) Regulate, license, tax or prohibit saloons and shooting galleries or places; (xvi) Suppress or prohibit: (A) All gambling games or devices except antique gambling devices as defined in W.S. 6-7-101(a)(x) and authorize the destruction thereof; (B) Houses of prostitution and other disorderly houses and punish the keeper thereof and persons resorting thereto; and (C) Other disorderly and vicious practices or conduct. (xvii) Restrain and punish vagrants, mendicants and prostitutes; (xviii) Regulate, prevent or suppress riots, disturbances, disorderly assemblies or parades, or any other conduct which disturbs or jeopardizes the public health, safety, peace or morality, in any public or private place; (xix) Declare and abate nuisances and impose fines upon parties who create, continue or permit nuisances to exist; (xx) Compel the attendance of witnesses for the investigation of matters before it and the presiding officer may administer the requisite oaths; (xxi) Purchase, lease or rent land within or without the corporate limits for the deposit of refuse matter, govern the use of the land and make reasonable rules and requirements for hauling refuse; (xxii) Establish and regulate parks, zoological gardens and recreation areas within the city limits and upon land owned, leased or controlled outside of the city limits provided: (A) The municipal court of the city or town has jurisdiction to punish any violator of the ordinances of the city or town governing those areas; (B) The state game and fish commission is authorized to furnish to any city or town any game or animals requested, and the city or town shall pay the necessary expenses. (xxiii) Provide for the organization, support and equipping of a fire department and: (A) Prescribe rules, regulations and penalties for governing the department; (B) Establish regulations for the prevention of and extinguishing of fires; (C) Make cooperative agreements or execute contracts for fire protection in accordance with W.S. 15-1-121. (xxiv) Prevent the dangerous construction and condition of chimneys, fireplaces and any other heating appliance or apparatus used in and about dwellings, factories and other buildings, and cause any such dangerous condition or appliance to be removed or replaced in a safe condition, regulate and prevent the carrying on of manufacturing likely to cause fires and prevent the deposit of ashes in unsafe places; (xxv) Prescribe the thickness, strength and manner of constructing any buildings and the construction of fire escapes therein, and provide for their inspection; (xxvi) Provide for the repair, removal or destruction of any dangerous building or enclosure; (xxvii) Define fire limits and prescribe limits within which no building may be constructed except of brick, stone, or other incombustible material, without permission and cause the destruction or removal of any building constructed or repaired in violation of any ordinance; (xxviii) Regulate or prevent the storage, use and transportation of any combustible or explosive material within the corporate limits or within a given distance thereof; (xxix) Appoint a board of health and prescribe its powers and duties and: (A) Establish quarantine ordinances; (B) Own and regulate convalescent homes, rest homes and hospitals; (C) Contract for treatment and preventive services for the mentally ill, substance abuser and developmentally disabled as provided in W.S. 35-1-611 through 35-1-628. (xxx) Divide the city or town into suitable districts for establishing a system of drainage including surface water drainage, sanitary sewers and water mains and: (A) Provide and regulate the construction, repair and use of sewers and drains; (B) Provide penalties for violations of regulations; (C) Assess against the property concerned any penalty or costs and expenses in compliance with regulations. (xxxi) Take any action to establish, alter and regulate as deemed necessary the channels of streams, water courses and any other public water sources or supplies within the city; (xxxii) Establish, maintain and in a manner the governing body determines provide for the housing of public libraries and reading rooms and in connection therewith or separately public museums and: (A) Purchase books and other appropriate material; (B) Purchase and receive as gifts or on loan any books, pictures, articles or artifacts relating to the history, resources and development of the United States and its parts and lands; (C) Place a museum temporarily in charge of donors; and (D) Receive donations and bequests for the museum, in trust or otherwise, and make contracts and regulations for the care, protection and government thereof. (xxxiii) Grant franchises for such terms as the governing body deems proper to any utility company, and, for communication companies, in accordance with W.S. 15-1-131, provided no franchise may be entered into with any person in which that person is given an exclusive right for any purpose whatsoever and: (A) Grant to any franchisee utility company the privilege to install and maintain necessary installations under or over any streets, alleys or avenues; (B) Contract for a specified time period with any franchisee electric light or gas company for the necessary energy and service for the lighting of streets, public buildings or other requirements of the city or town; (C) Upon renewal or initial grant or renewal after condemnation of a franchise, may provide in the franchise that the franchisee shall furnish a gas distribution system through which any supplier, including the franchisee, may sell and distribute natural gas as provided by subsection (b) of this section, to any person served by the distribution system, provided that before any city or town implements this subparagraph, the question of whether or not to do so shall be submitted to and approved by a majority of the electors of the city or town voting on the question at a one-time election called for that purpose. (xxxiv) Establish and regulate a police department, pass ordinances relating to the department and adopt job descriptions for all department personnel; (xxxv) Exercise the power of eminent domain and take property for public use within and without the city limits for any necessary or authorized public purpose as defined by W.S. 1-26-801(c); (xxxvi) Require all buildings to be numbered by the owners, lessees, occupants or agents and in case of failure to comply with such requirements, cause the numbering to be done and assess the costs against the property or premises numbered; (xxxvii) In addition to the appointed officers and employees provided by law, establish other positions as are necessary for the efficient operation of the city or town and: (A) Prescribe duties and rules of all appointees; (B) Determine working conditions or pay scales and supplementary benefits, as long as those provisions are not in conflict with existing statutes; (C) During an emergency or special conditions warranting, make additional temporary appointments; (D) Specify by ordinance that if any person is removed from office for incompetency, neglect of duty or otherwise for cause, the charges against that person shall be specified and the person removed shall be provided an opportunity for a hearing on the charges under procedures established in the ordinance; (E) Make the cause of removal a matter of record. (xxxviii) Cause compilations, codifications and comprehensive revisions to be made of all ordinances in force and provide for their distribution, sale and exchange; (xxxix) Lease lands owned or possessed outside the corporate limits which contain caves, caverns, or other natural formations to any person for the development and use of the natural formations on terms and conditions approved by the governing body; (xl) With written permission of the landowner or governmental agency involved, reclaim for beneficial use substandard lands by filling excavations and other depressions with refuse from the cities and towns, provided the deposit of refuse and the reclamation of the lands shall be done in a manner approved by the landowner, adjoining landowners and in accordance with any applicable laws or ordinances; (xli) Adopt ordinances, resolutions and regulations, including regulations not in conflict with this act and necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the city or town, necessary to give effect to the powers conferred by this act and, except as provided by paragraph (xlvi) of this subsection, enforce all ordinances by imposing fines not exceeding seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both. The governing body of a city or town may by ordinance impose a term of probation for battery which may exceed the maximum term of imprisonment established for the offense provided the term of probation, together with any extension thereof, shall in no case exceed one (1) year; (xlii) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, take any action necessary to acquire any needed or useful property, or to construct, maintain, repair or replace any lawful improvement, development, project or other activity of any kind, or to participate, join or cooperate with other governments or political subdivisions, or departments or agencies thereof, for which funds may be borrowed from, granted or made available in whole or in part, on a matching basis or otherwise, by the United States of America or the state of Wyoming, or any subdivision, department or agency of either; (xliii) License and regulate pawnbrokers and junk or secondhand dealers and provide for the examination of premises and business property of such persons pursuant to law for the purpose of discovering stolen property; (xliv) Take into custody abandoned, or junk motor vehicles and parts or remains thereof which are nuisances and are on public property or on public streets, alleys and ways and: (A) Remove and store the vehicles or parts at the expense of the owner; (B) Permit redemption of the vehicles or parts; (C) If not redeemed after giving public notice sell the vehicles or parts without warranty; (D) Pay expenses from the sale; and (E) After lapse of a reasonable length of time, deposit unclaimed proceeds from the sale of vehicles or parts into the general fund of the municipality. (xlv) Contract with nonprofit corporations, hospitals and clinics to provide human services for persons within its jurisdiction; (xlvi) Adopt ordinances establishing pretreatment standards and requirements for municipal waste water collection systems and provide for enforcement of the standards and requirements through: (A) Injunctive relief; and (B) The assessment against industrial users of civil or criminal penalties for violations of, or noncompliance with, the pretreatment standards and requirements, provided the civil penalty shall not be less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) a day for each day of violation. The proceeds of any civil penalty imposed by a district court under any ordinance adopted pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the general fund of the city or town. (xlvii) By ordinance, prohibit or authorize and regulate the operation of golf carts as defined under W.S. 31-5-102(a)(lxi) on public streets and roadways within the corporate boundaries of the city or town; (xlviii) Repealed By Laws 1999, ch. 22, § 2. (xlix) Unless specifically prohibited by statute, accept negotiable paper in payment of any tax, assessment, license, permit, fee, fine or other money owing to the city or town or collectible by the city or town on behalf of the state or other unit of government, or in payment of any bail deposit or other trust deposit. As used in this paragraph, negotiable paper means money orders, paper arising from the use of a lender credit card as defined in W.S. 40-14-140(a)(ix), checks and drafts, including, without limitation, sales drafts and checks and drafts signed by a holder of a lender credit card issued by a bank maintaining a revolving loan account as defined in W.S. 40-14-308, for lender credit card holders. The acceptance of negotiable paper by the governing body under this subsection shall be in accordance with and subject to the same terms and conditions provided by W.S. 18-3-505. Any fees assessed for processing a credit card payment may be borne by the governing body of the city or town or person tendering payment. Any fees assessed for processing a credit card payment collected on behalf of the state shall be borne by the governing body of the city or town or person tendering payment and not by the state; (l) Appoint special municipal officers, who are not certified as peace officers, to issue citations to individuals for the limited purpose of enforcing ordinances, resolutions and regulations in the areas of animal control, parking and municipal code enforcement. Special municipal officers are not law enforcement officers: (A) For purposes of employee benefits provided in title 9 of Wyoming statutes; (B) Are not peace officers for purposes of title 6 or title 7 of Wyoming statutes; (C) Are not peace officers for purposes of W.S. 1-39-112; (D) Shall not be required to carry a firearm; (E) Shall not have the power of arrest; (F) Shall not be issued a peace officer's badge; and (G) Shall not represent themselves to be peace officers. (b) Any franchise granted pursuant to subparagraph (a)(xxxiii)(C) of this section is subject to the following: (i) The franchise agreement shall specify who is responsible for deliverability; (ii) The distribution system shall continue to be a public utility whose charges are regulated by the public service commission. The charges shall reflect the reasonable nongas costs subject to management audit as the public service commission deems necessary plus a reasonable return on investment; (iii) Any city or town or its authorized representative shall act as an agent for any person served by the system in negotiating terms and conditions for the supply of natural gas to that person, and the franchisee distribution system shall accept for delivery to any person served by the system, natural gas from any supplier; (iv) The public service commission shall designate a place or places in the vicinity of the distribution system for the acceptance of natural gas not supplied by franchisee; (v) The public service commission shall adopt and enforce minimum quality standards for all gas delivered to the distribution system. These standards shall reflect the practices of the operators of the distribution system unless good cause is shown for different standards. The standards shall be designed to facilitate the commingling of gas from different suppliers; (vi) As soon as there are at least two (2) suppliers offering natural gas to all customers served by the franchisee and as soon as the additional supplier or suppliers are capable of delivering gas in at least one-third (1/3) of the volume required by the entire distribution system provided that the public service commission finds that the suppliers own or control, and have committed to guaranteed delivery, reserves of natural gas sufficient to supply ten (10) years of demand at that level, then all persons supplying gas shall have the authority to set their own prices. The proposed supplier has the burden of proving adequate reserves and deliverability. The Wyoming oil and gas commission shall report to the public service commission on the adequacy and deliverability when a utility gas supply is proposed to be displaced under this act; (vii) Subject to the availability of pipeline capacity and the requirements of federal law and regulations the public service commission may, after notice and hearing if necessary, designate any point in the state on a gas pipeline operated for the purpose of delivering gas to the distribution system or its parent or subsidiary company as a point for receipt of gas to the system and regulate the charges for shipping gas from that point to the system. If a pipeline has insufficient capacity the public service commission consistent with W.S. 30-5-125 may require it to accept gas that has a lower price to the consumer in preference to higher price gas. The public service commission may impose any conditions or requirements pursuant to this subsection that are necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare, to ensure the efficient operation of the natural gas distribution and supply system and to ensure the lowest possible price to retail customers, including but not limited to proper assignment of costs of connecting suppliers to the system; (viii) When a city renews or grants a franchise for the supply of natural gas under subparagraph (a)(xxxiii)(C) of this section, the public service commission may require that the distribution of gas in surrounding unincorporated areas also be made subject to the terms of the same franchise; (ix) If a distribution system has only one (1) supplier of natural gas all prices charged in that franchise are subject to W.S. 37-2-121 and 37-2-122; (x) All suppliers of gas to the distribution system shall annually report to the public service commission the annual consumption of natural gas by their customers of record at the date of the report and their natural gas reserves. If their natural gas reserves are less than a five (5) year supply, the public service commission may forbid any supplier from serving new customers until the reserves are equal to a five (5) year supply for all customers; (xi) Any supplier entering the system under this subsection is liable for injuries, damages or other losses to the extent to which the injuries, damages or other losses are proximately caused by the supplier's operations within the system and are due to failure of the supplier to exercise that standard of care which a reasonable, prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances to avoid an undue risk of harm or are due to the supplier's failure to deliver contracted amounts of natural gas. (c) Any provision in a gas purchase contract which contains or creates an indefinite escalator clause, otherwise known as a "favored nation treaty" provision, is contrary to the public policy of the state and is void and unenforceable if: (i) The contract is to sell gas to the holders of a municipality franchise which supplies retail customers in the state; (ii) The contract provides for the sale in the state of gas produced within the state; (iii) The contract gas price is in excess of the general market price which would otherwise exist in the absence of the indefinite escalator clause; and (iv) The higher price resulting from the application of the escalator clause is not required by any enforceable provision of statutes or regulations enacted or adopted pursuant to the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 or other appropriate statutes and regulations of the United States. (d) Before the governing body of a city or town enters into an agreement to borrow money from the United States of America or from the state of Wyoming, or from any subdivision, agency or department of either, to fund a public improvement project to be repaid solely from revenues generated by the enterprise with which the financed project is associated, the proposal to enter into the loan agreement shall be submitted to and approved by the electors of the city or town in the same manner and pursuant to the same procedures as provided for bond issues under the Political Subdivision Bond Election Law, if the total amount to be borrowed for the project exceeds the greater of: (i) Five million dollars ($5,000,000.00); or (ii) An amount calculated by multiplying the number of individuals to be served by the proposed public improvement project times one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200.00).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-104 Authority to carry liability insurance.

(a) Any city or town may carry liability insurance in an amount the governing body deems necessary. The insurance shall be: (i) On standard policy forms approved by the state insurance commissioner; (ii) With companies authorized to do business in Wyoming; (iii) Paid out of the general fund of the city or town.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-105 Governing bodies; meetings; quorum; executive sessions.

Public meetings of the governing body shall be held in accordance with W.S. 16-4-401 through 16-4-408. Special meetings may also be called by a majority of the qualified members of the governing body. A majority of all the qualified members of the governing body constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, but any number may adjourn a meeting to compel the attendance of and punish absent members. If the nature of the business so requires, the governing body by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present, may go into executive session and exclude the public therefrom.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-106 Conduct and journal of governing body's proceedings.

The governing body shall determine the rules for the conduct of its proceedings, and shall keep a journal thereof which is a public record. The manner in which each member of the governing body votes on any matter upon which a vote is taken shall be entered in the journal.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-107 Vacancies in offices; grounds; how filled.

(a) A vacancy exists in the office of mayor or councilman if during the term for which elected any mayor or councilman: (i) Except as provided in W.S. 22-23-103, fails the residency requirements as defined by local ordinance for the city, town or ward; (ii) Is convicted of a felony; (iii) Fails to attend four (4) or more consecutive regularly scheduled meetings of the council without an excused absence as determined by a majority of the council according to procedures adopted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section; or (iv) Meets any other condition specified in W.S. 22-18-101. (b) The governing body, by ordinance, shall specify the procedure for determining whether a vacancy exists. (c) If a vacancy is determined to exist, the governing body shall appoint an eligible person to the office who shall serve until his successor is elected at the next general municipal election and qualified. If the entire council is vacant, the district judge for the district in which the city or town is located shall appoint a person to fill each vacancy and serve until the next general municipal election at which time a successor shall be elected to fill the unexpired portion of each term. (d) A vacancy in the office of mayor shall be filled only from the governing body. (e) Vacancies in appointive offices shall be filled in the manner provided for initial appointments.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-108 Powers and duties of mayor; appointment of mayor pro tem.

(a) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the mayor shall: (i) Preside at all meetings of the governing body, and in his absence a councilman shall be appointed to act as mayor pro tem; (ii) Have superintending control of all officers and affairs of the city or town; (iii) Take care that the ordinances and laws are complied with; (iv) Administer oaths; (v) Sign commissions and appointments and all bonds, contracts and other obligations required to be signed in the name of the city or town; and (vi) Have one (1) vote on all matters coming before the governing body upon which a vote is taken, except a vote: (A) To override a veto; (B) To confirm an appointment other than a vote to break a tie vote of the governing body; and (C) Pursuant to a hearing for removal or discharge as provided in W.S. 15-2-102(b)(iv)(C) or 15-3-204(b)(iv)(C). (b) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-109 When clerk may administer oaths.

(a) The clerk of any city or town may administer oaths to persons for any city or town purpose for which an oath is required or authorized by law. (b) In adding his jurat to any oath he administers, the clerk shall attach the official seal of the city or town to the jurat.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-110 Minutes of meetings and titles of ordinances passed to be published; exception; contents; publication of salary information of specified officials and employees.

(a) The governing body of any city or town shall designate a legal newspaper and publish once therein the minutes of all regular and special meetings of the governing body and the titles of all ordinances passed. If a newspaper is not published in the city or town the proceedings or ordinances shall be posted for at least ten (10) days in the city or town clerk's office and in such other places as the governing body determines. The clerk of each city or town shall within twelve (12) days after adjournment of every meeting, furnish the newspaper a copy of the proceedings of the meeting. Except for salaries and wages published under subsection (b) of this section, the copy shall include any bill presented to the governing body stating the amount of the bill, the amount allowed, the purpose of the bill and the claimant. Claims for part-time employees may be summarized by department without listing each part-time employee. The newspaper shall publish the copy of proceedings within nine (9) days after receipt. (b) A city or town required to publish minutes under subsection (a) of this section shall separately publish: (i) Within sixty (60) days after the end of each fiscal year, the name, position, base annual salary of and amount of overtime pay paid to each full-time employee and each elected official. A brief statement shall accompany the salary publication specifying that all salaries are listed as base annual salaries or actual wages, not including any benefits such as health insurance costs, life insurance benefits and pension plans. The statement shall also indicate that any overtime the employee earned and was paid by the city or town is included; (ii) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 86, § 2. (c) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 86, § 2. (d) Subsection (b) of this section shall not apply to undercover personnel working in the law enforcement field.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-111 Appropriations for advertisement of resources authorized; exception.

(a) The governing body of any city or town may make appropriations from the city or town general fund for: (i) Advertising the resources of the city or town; (ii) Furthering its industrial development; or (iii) Encouraging exhibits at fairs, expositions and conventions. (b) No appropriation may be for the express aid of any private citizen, firm or corporation.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-112 Manner of disposing of municipal property; when advertising and bids not necessary.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section and W.S. 15-1-113(a), before the sale of any property of any city or town valued at five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more, an advertisement of the intended sale, describing the property and the terms of the sale, shall be published at least once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the community, announcing a public auction or calling for sealed bids for purchase of the property. The property shall be sold to the highest responsible bidder, unless the governing body of the city or town rejects all bids. The responsibility of the bidders shall be determined by the governing body of the city or town. (b) Any city or town, upon terms the governing body thereof determines, without advertising the sale or calling for bids, and after a public hearing, notice of which shall include the appraised value of all real properties involved and notice of proposed terms of any contract with an independent agency pursuant to paragraph (iii) of this subsection and is published at least once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the city or town is located, may: (i) Sell any property to: (A) The state of Wyoming for the use of any agency or instrumentality thereof; (B) Any agency or instrumentality of the state or federal government authorized to hold property in its own name; (C) Any political subdivision of the state; (D) Any person acquiring the property for a use which the governing body determines will benefit the economic development of the municipality. (ii) Trade any real property the city or town owns for any other real property; (iii) Contract with an independent agent to sell individual parcels of land for development as reasonable cost housing alternatives for prospective homeowners, provided the parcels have not been previously developed beyond the installation of basic utilities and a foundation.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-113 Contracts for public improvements.

(a) All contracts for any type of public improvement, excluding contracts for professional services or where the primary purpose is emergency work or maintenance, for any city or town or joint powers board wherein at least one (1) member is a municipality shall be advertised for bid or for response if a request for proposal or qualification for construction manager agent, construction manager at risk or design-builder is used, if the estimated cost, including all related costs, exceeds a bid threshold of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00), except that a contract for the purchase or lease of a new automobile or truck shall be advertised regardless of cost and if there is an automobile or truck for trade-in, it shall be included as a part of the advertisement and bid. The requirements of W.S. 15-1-112(a) do not apply to any city or town trading in an automobile or truck on the purchase of a new automobile or truck. (b) The advertisement shall be published on two (2) different occasions, at least seven (7) days apart, in a newspaper having general circulation in the city or town, or if a joint powers board in any city or town which is a member of the board. The published notice shall state the place, date and time when the bids or proposals will be received and bids will be publicly opened and the place where interested persons may obtain complete specifications of work to be performed. (c) If the contract is let for bid, the contract shall be let to the lowest bidder who shall be determined qualified and responsible in the sole discretion of the governing body. The governing body may use alternate design and construction delivery methods as defined under W.S. 16-6-701 if deemed appropriate. The governing body may reject all bids or responses submitted if it finds that none of them would serve the public interest. For contracts in excess of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), cities, towns and joint powers boards may prequalify contractors who wish to submit bids or responses based on such criteria as the project type and experience, expertise, professional qualifications, past performance, staff proposed, schedule proposed, financial strength, qualification of supervisors proposed to be used, technical solutions proposed or references. (d) Every contract shall be executed by the mayor or in his absence or disability, by the president or other presiding officer of the governing body and by the clerk or designee of the governing body. The successful bidder or respondent shall furnish to the city, town or joint powers board a bond or other form of guarantee in accordance with W.S. 16-6-112. A successful bidder shall not be required to furnish a bond or other form of guarantee if the contract is for the purchase or lease of a new automobile or truck that costs less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). (e) Before advertising for a bid for any work on the construction of any public improvements and except as provided under W.S. 16-6-707 for alternate design and construction delivery methods, detailed plans and specifications shall be prepared, together with an estimate of the probable cost and a form of the proposed contract. A city, town or joint powers board may withhold a percentage of the calculated value of any work completed as retainage in accordance with W.S. 16-6-702(b). No progress payment may be made until the city or town engineer or designated local official has furnished the estimate, together with a certificate that the amount of work estimated to have been done conforms in all material respects with the requirements of the contract. A joint powers board may designate an official of any member city or town to perform the functions required by this subsection. (f) In advertising for any bid, the forms of guarantee required under this section and approved by the city, town or joint powers board shall be specified. In addition, bidders shall be required to accompany each bid with a bid bond or if the bid is one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) or less, any other form of bid guarantee approved by the city, town or joint powers board, equal to at least five percent (5%) of the total bid amount, with sufficient surety and payable to the city, town or joint powers board. Bidders shall not be required to accompany a bid with a bid bond or other form of bid guarantee if the bid is for the purchase or lease of a new automobile or truck that costs less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). The bid guarantee shall be forfeited as liquidated damages if the bidder, upon the letting of the contract to him, fails to enter into the contract within thirty (30) days after it is presented to him for that purpose or fails to proceed with the performance of the contract. The bid guarantee shall be retained by the city, town or joint powers board until proper bond or other form of security satisfactory to the city, town or joint powers board to secure performance of the contract has been filed and approved. The right to reject any bid is reserved in all bid advertisements. All bids shall be numbered consecutively before they are opened and no further bids may be received after the advertised time of opening bids and any bid is publicly opened. The city, town or joint powers board shall give all persons who desire an opportunity to inspect all bids when they are opened. No bid may be considered unless accompanied by a bid guarantee in the required amount. (g) No contract for which a bond or other form of financial guarantee approved by the city, town or joint powers board is required or for the purchase or lease of a new automobile or truck that is subject to the advertising requirements of subsection (a) of this section may be assigned or transferred in any manner except by operation of law or consent of the governing body endorsed on the contract. Assignment by any other means renders the contract null and void as to any further performance by the contractor or the assignee, without any act on the part of the city, town or joint powers board. The city, town or joint powers board may at once proceed to relet the contract or may at its discretion proceed to complete the contract as agent at the expense of the contractor and his sureties. (h) The city, town or joint powers board shall issue payments to contractors in accordance with W.S. 16-6-116(a). (j) Any officer or employee of the city, town or joint powers board who aids any bidder or respondent in securing a contract to furnish labor, material or supplies at a higher or lower price than that proposed by any other bidder or respondent, or who favors one bidder or respondent over another by giving or withholding information, or who willfully misleads any bidder or respondent in regard to the character of the material or supplies called for, or who knowingly certifies to a greater amount or different kind of material or supplies than has been actually received, is guilty of malfeasance, which renders his office vacant. (k) If an officer or employee is charged under subsection (j) of this section: (i) The officer or employee: (A) Is entitled to a hearing before the governing body; (B) Shall be served a copy of the charge at least ten (10) working days before the hearing; (C) May present a defense in person or by counsel; and (D) May have the finding of the governing body appealed to the district court. (ii) The governing body of the city, town or joint powers board shall hold a hearing on its own motion or when the charge is signed by at least ten (10) qualified electors of the city or town, or in the case of a joint powers board ten (10) qualified electors of any member city or town and: (A) May compel attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of papers; (B) Shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law; and (C) Shall render a conclusive decision upon a majority vote of the governing body. (m) Any officer or employee of the city, town or joint powers board found guilty of malfeasance with regard to a contract shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). (n) If any person to whom a contract has been awarded has colluded with any person to prevent any other competing bids being made, or has entered into an agreement by which he has made a higher or lower bid than some other person for the purpose of dividing the contract or profits therefrom between two (2) or more bidders, the contract is null and void, and the mayor or manager or joint powers board shall advertise for new bids or upon approval of the governing body provide for the work to be done under the mayor's, manager's or board's own supervision and control. (o) Any contract made in violation of the provisions of this section is void, and any money paid on account of the contract by the city, town or joint powers board may be recovered without restitution of the property or benefits received or retained. (p) Every contract of the kind specified in this section shall contain a provision expressly referring to this section and making it a part of the contract. (q) A public improvement shall not be divided into smaller units for the sole purpose of avoiding the advertising requirement of this section. (r) For purposes of this section "related costs" includes, but are not limited to, labor, labor burden, materials, transportation, storage, equipment, associated overhead and associated depreciation. (s) As used in this section, a contract for public improvement shall not include an arrangement in which a municipality can accomplish an energy or water efficiency project without upfront capital costs or capital appropriations by compensating an energy or water efficiency contractor over time from guaranteed savings in energy or water costs that result from the project. (t) If a city, town or joint powers board is unsuccessful in acquiring a bid as provided by this section, the city, town or joint powers board may proceed to acquire a vehicle or equipment for which the bid was sought through a solicitation process, provided that the cost of vehicle or equipment to be obtained under this subsection shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-114 Ordinances; required for legislation; exceptions; how proved.

(a) All municipal legislation shall be by ordinance, unless provided otherwise by law, except that licenses may be granted by resolution. (b) All ordinances may be proved by the certificate of the clerk, under the seal of the city or town, and when printed or published in book or pamphlet form, and purporting to be published by authority of the city or town, shall be read and received in all courts and places without further proof.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-115 Ordinances; form and style; presumption; manner of enactment; vote required.

(a) All ordinances shall be in writing and passed pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the governing body. No ordinance, except one making appropriations or one for the codification or general revision of ordinances, may contain more than one (1) subject which shall be expressed clearly in the title. Ordinances making appropriations and ordinances relating to codification or general revision of ordinances shall be limited to those subjects. The style of all ordinances shall be: "Be it ordained by the governing body of the city (town) of ....". (b) Every ordinance relating to the codification or general revision of ordinances which has been passed and adopted prior to the effective date of this section, and is otherwise in conformance with this section, is deemed to meet the requirement that an ordinance shall not contain more than one (1) subject which shall be expressed clearly in the title. (c) Every ordinance shall be publicly read on three (3) different days. Public reading may be by title only. At least ten (10) days shall elapse between the introduction and final passage of every ordinance. For an emergency ordinance, the requirements of this section may be suspended by the affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the qualified members of the governing body. No franchise may be granted by emergency ordinance. (d) Passage of an ordinance requires the affirmative vote of the majority of the qualified members of the governing body. Passage of an emergency ordinance requires the affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the qualified members of the governing body.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-116 Ordinances; publication required; exception; attestation; recodification or revision.

(a) Every ordinance before becoming effective shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, which maintains a physical office at which advertisements are accepted and which is open to the public during regularly set business hours within the boundaries of the city or town. The newspaper shall publish the ordinance within nine (9) days from the date of receipt. If there is no such newspaper, the ordinance shall be posted for at least ten (10) days in the city clerk's office and in such other places as the governing body determines. Emergency ordinances are effective upon proclamation of the mayor, and as soon thereafter as is practicable they shall be published and posted in the manner required of other ordinances. (b) Every ordinance, within a reasonable time after passage, shall be signed by the mayor, attested by the clerk and recorded in a book kept for that purpose. The attestation of the clerk shall show that the ordinance was duly published and posted. (c) A recodification or revision of ordinances shall be published by title only together with a brief summary of the recodification or revision, in the manner provided in subsection (a) of this section for newspaper publication, provided that a copy of the recodification or revision shall be available to the public at all reasonable hours in the office of the city or town clerk. (d) Ordinances adopted by the governing bodies of all incorporated cities and towns prior to the effective date of this act, which were posted for at least ten (10) days in the city clerk's office and in such other places as the governing body determined, are deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-117 Ordinances; amendment and repeal.

Amendments and repeals of ordinances, or sections thereof, shall be by ordinance. An amending ordinance shall set forth the entire ordinance or section as amended. No vote of the governing body may be reconsidered or rescinded at any meeting unless there are as many members present as there were when the vote was originally taken.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-118 Effect of governmental change on ordinances.

If any city or town acquires a new classification or changes its form of government, all ordinances, bylaws and resolutions shall continue in force until amended or repealed, except insofar as they may be inconsistent with the provisions of the law governing the new class or form of government.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-119 Adoption of state traffic laws and other provisions by reference authorized; procedure; effect.

(a) Any city or town may adopt by reference all or part of The Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (W.S. 31-5-101 through 31-5-1701) and any national fire prevention, building, plumbing and electrical codes, and the Wyoming public works standard specifications published by the Wyoming public works council. (b) If any acts, codes or standard specifications are adopted by reference, the ordinance shall state whether all of an act, code or standard specifications is adopted or describe the parts or sections adopted by specific reference to sections. (c) It is not necessary for the city or town to publish the act, code or standard specifications adopted by reference, but the ordinance shall state that a copy of the act, code or standard specifications is on file in the office of the clerk of the city or town. The clerk shall keep on file in his office a copy thereof for examination. (d) If any act, code or standard specifications, or part thereof, is adopted by reference, it constitutes an adoption of the act, code or standard specifications as then enacted. Any subsequent additions or amendments to the code adopted by reference are not effective until adopted by ordinance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-120 Effect of governmental change on territorial limits.

If any city or town changes its form of government, the territorial limits and all rights, powers and property under the former organization shall remain the same under the new organization. No existing right or liability, or suit or prosecution may be affected by a change in the form of government unless otherwise provided by law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-121 Fire protection agreements authorized; limitation; liability.

(a) Every city, town and county may enter into negotiations with each other or with the board of directors of a fire district for the purpose of: (i) Establishing a mutual aid agreement for fire protection; or (ii) Executing a contract in which the city, town or county agrees unilaterally to provide fire protection for another city, town or fire district upon conditions and for consideration as may be agreed upon by the contracting parties. (b) At no time under any agreement or contract executed pursuant to this section shall any city, town, county or fire district entirely deplete its fire defenses in providing assistance unless specifically authorized to do so by its governing body. (c) No city or town is liable for damages to persons or property resulting from the operation or presence of fire fighting equipment outside the corporate limits pursuant to an agreement or contract under this section. (d) Entry into an agreement or contract pursuant to this section does not create a new or reorganized taxing entity as provided in W.S. 39-13-104(m).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-122 Special charters repealed; rights preserved.

All special charters in effect on July 1, 1965 are repealed. However, any property right or vested interest that may have accrued by virtue of its charter is preserved to the city or town.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-123 Prospective operation; existing transactions saved.

(a) This act applies to transactions entered into and events occurring after July 1, 1965, but may not be construed to affect any substantive or vested right. (b) Transactions validly entered into before July 1, 1965, and the rights, duties and interests flowing therefrom remain valid thereafter and may be terminated, consummated or enforced as required or permitted by any statute or other law repealed by this act as though the repeal had not occurred, or at the option of the governing body, under this act as if commenced hereunder.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-124 Employee bonds.

The governing body of any city or town shall require the treasurer and may require any other official or employee to post bonds for the performance of their duties. The bonds shall be from a surety company licensed to do business in this state, in an amount as the governing body determines, payable to the city or town, and shall be filed with the city or town clerk. The city or town shall pay the bond costs and any filing costs.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-125 Presentation and payment of claims; when warrant draws interest; exception.

(a) All claims and demands against any city or town shall be presented to the governing body by itemized invoice or other document from the vendor with a full account of the quantity and total cost for each item or for the services rendered. No payment shall be approved by the governing body unless the claim is certified under penalty of perjury by the vendor or by an authorized person employed by the city or town receiving the items or for whom the services were rendered. No claim or demand may be audited or allowed unless presented and certified as provided in this section, and no suit may be instituted against a city or town for any claim unless it has been first presented to the governing body and a reasonable time given to act upon the claim. (b) Upon the allowance of any claim or demand by the governing body, the treasurer shall make payment for the correct amount. The treasurer may make payment by issuing a check or warrant or by using an electronic payment method or fund transfer system. Any check or warrant shall be signed by the mayor and countersigned by the treasurer or any other person the governing body designates to countersign checks or warrants in the treasurer's absence. If there is not sufficient money in the treasury to pay the warrant, the treasurer shall endorse on the warrant the date and a statement that it has been presented for payment but has not been paid for want of funds. Thereafter, the warrant shall draw interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per year. (c) This section does not apply to claims under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-126 Collecting city or town monies; settlement date.

Every officer and employee collecting or receiving monies belonging to the city or town shall settle with the treasurer on or before the last day of each month, or as directed by the governing body, and immediately pay all money into the treasury for the benefit of the funds to which the monies belong. If the last day of the month falls on Sunday, or a legal holiday, the payment shall be made on the next preceding business day.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-127 Prohibitions; interest in contracts; exception; extra pay; compensation to nonofficers; exception.

(a) No qualified member of the governing body of any city or town or any member of that qualified member's immediate family may receive any monetary or other economic benefit from any contract to which the city or town or anyone for its benefit is a party. The obligation on the part of the city or town is void in any contract in which a monetary or other economic benefit will be received by a qualified member of the governing body or his family who does not comply with subsection (b) of this section. Any money paid on the contract may be recovered by the city or town from any persons by an action brought in the name of the city or town. (b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to any qualified member of a governing body or any member of that qualified member's immediate family who may receive any monetary or other economic benefit from any contract made by the governing body if the qualified member complies with the following: (i) The qualified member: (A) Shall not participate in the consideration or discussion relating to the contract; (B) Shall not attempt to influence the other members of the governing body in any way relating to the contract; (C) Shall reveal the nature and extent of any monetary or other economic benefit he or any member of his immediate family may receive to the other members of the governing body prior to consideration of the contract; (D) Shall not vote on the matter of granting the contract; (E) Shall absent himself during the consideration, discussion and vote on the contract; and (F) Shall not act, directly or indirectly, for the governing body in inspection, operation, administration or securing performance under the contract in which he or any member of his immediate family may receive any monetary or other economic benefit. (c) The governing body, by ordinance, shall prescribe requirements governing conflicts of interest by any employee and any member of his immediate family and procedures by which any employee and any member of his immediate family may be exempt from those requirements. (d) No qualified member of the governing body, officer or employee may receive any pay or perquisites from the city other than his salary for any work coming within the scope of his duties as provided by ordinance and the law. The governing body shall not pay or appropriate any money or other valuable thing to any person not a qualified member of the governing body, officer or employee for the performance of any act, service or duty which is within the proper scope of the duties of any qualified member of the governing body, officer or employee of the city or town, unless specially appropriated and ordered by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all members elected to the governing body.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-128 Officers and employees; prohibitions; gratuities; exceptions; violations; results therefrom.

(a) No officer or employee of any city or town shall: (i) Solicit or receive any pay, commission, money or thing of value, or derive any benefit, profit or advantage, directly or indirectly, from or by reason of any improvement, alteration or repair required by authority of the city or town, or any contract to which it is a party, except his lawful compensation as an officer or employee and except as otherwise provided in W.S. 15-1-127(b) and (c); (ii) Solicit, accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any public service corporation, or the owner of any public utility or franchise of the city, any pass, frank, free ticket, free service or any other favor upon terms more favorable than those granted the public generally, except that councilmen who are regularly employed by any public service corporation or owner of a public utility or franchise may receive free service or favor as is given to all other similar employees. (b) Any officer or employee who violates this section shall be subject to removal from his position or other disciplinary action after hearing.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-129 Contracts to house prisoners.

The governing body of any city or town may contract with the sheriff of any county in Wyoming to house prisoners charged or sentenced for municipal ordinance violations in the county jail.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-130 Prohibitions; amateur radio antenna regulation.

No city or town shall enact or enforce an ordinance or regulation that fails to conform to the limited preemption entitled "Amateur Radio Preemption, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)" issued by the federal communications commission. Ordinances or regulations may be adopted by a city or town with respect to amateur radio antennas which shall conform to the limited federal preemption entitled "Amateur Radio Preemption, 101 FCC 2d 952 (1985)" which states local regulations that involve placement, screening or height of antennas based on health, safety or aesthetic considerations shall be crafted to reasonably accommodate amateur communications. No ordinance or regulation adopted by a city or town under this section shall establish a maximum height for an amateur radio antenna of less than seventy (70) feet above ground.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-131 Communications companies franchise agreements authorized; limitations; procedure; exceptions.

(a) The governing body of a city or town may enter into a franchise agreement with a communications company, as defined by W.S. 1-26-813(b), for access to its public rights-of-way if the governing body deems the franchise agreement to be proper and the agreement meets the requirements of this section. (b) All franchise agreements entered into by a governing body with a communications company under this section or with a cable company pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 541 et seq. shall: (i) Be fair and reasonable; (ii) Be competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory; (iii) Comply with all requirements of applicable federal and state laws and ordinance; (iv) Not unreasonably impair or inhibit the deployment of communications services; (v) To the extent practical encourage the deployment of communications services to serve consumers. (c) Franchise fees assessed under a franchise agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall: (i) Be passed through to customers unless otherwise agreed; (ii) Not be assessed on revenues from internet access service. (d) A communications company assessed a franchise fee on local exchange services by a governing body may not be assessed any additional franchise fees by that governing body, including an assessment on any other communications services. (e) A communications company proposing to enter into a franchise agreement shall provide to the governing body of the city or town a request for negotiations. Negotiations between the governing body and a proposed franchisee shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days unless agreed to by the parties in writing. A request made under this subsection shall include, at a minimum, the date of the request for negotiations, the proposed date for the start of negotiations, the date by which negotiations shall terminate and the contact information for the proposed franchisee. (f) Any holder of a cable franchise pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 541 et seq. shall be exempt from subsections (a), (c) and (e) of this section. Subject to federal law and the provisions of this subsection, a governing body may assess a franchise fee on gross revenues as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for the provision of cable service over a cable system operated by a holder of a cable franchise pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 541 et seq. As used in this subsection, "gross revenues" shall not include any taxes, fees or assessments collected by a holder of a cable franchise from subscribers that are passed through to a government agency, including the user fee assessed by the federal communications commission, franchise fees, sales taxes and utility taxes. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit or alter any decision by a governing body to not impose the franchise fee authorized by this section or any decision by a governing body to enter into an agreement with a holder of a cable franchise to impose a franchise fee on only a portion of the gross revenues from the provision of cable service subject to franchise fees under federal law and the provisions of this subsection.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-132 City and town prohibitions on utility connections.

No city or town shall enact or implement any ordinance or policy that prohibits, or has the effect of prohibiting, the connection or reconnection of an electric, natural gas, propane or other energy utility service provided by a public utility, municipality or cooperative utility.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-201 Territories which may incorporate.

(a) Any territory, including multiple territories within one (1) mile of each other and which are connected to a common culinary water system, not included in any incorporated city or town and not ineligible for incorporation under the provisions of W.S. 15-1-411, having a total resident population of not less than two hundred (200) persons and containing within its boundaries an area with a density of at least seventy (70) persons per square mile, may be incorporated as a town in the manner provided in this article. When territories connected to a common culinary water system are incorporated under this act, the pipelines connecting the territories shall be included in the town limits. (b) For purposes of this article: (i) "Census" means the census conducted pursuant to W.S. 15-1-202(a); (ii) "Population" means the population as determined by the census conducted pursuant to W.S. 15-1-202(a).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-202 Survey, map and census; contents; affidavits.

(a) Any person intending to apply for the incorporation of a town shall: (i) Have prepared an accurate survey and map of the territory intended to be embraced within its limits, which shall be made by a land surveyor registered under the laws of Wyoming and shall show the courses and distances of the boundaries of the territory, the quantity of land embraced and be accompanied by the affidavit of the surveyor. In preparing an accurate survey and map of the territory intended to be embraced within the town limits, a land surveyor registered under the laws of Wyoming may reference or adopt courses and distances of the boundaries of the territory from subdivision plats made by a land surveyor registered under the laws of Wyoming, platted in accordance with the provisions of W.S. 34-12-101 through 34-12-104; (ii) Not more than forty (40) days prior to the time of presenting the application to the board of county commissioners, cause an accurate census to be taken of the resident population of the territory which shall show the name of every head of a family residing within the territory on the day the census was taken, the number of persons then belonging to every family and be accompanied by the affidavit of the census taker.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-203 Survey, map and census; examination; filing; notice.

The survey, map and census, when completed and verified, shall be left at some convenient place within the territory for not less than twenty (20) days for examination by anyone having an interest in the application. A copy of the survey, map and census shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the territory is situated. A notice which sets forth the boundaries of the territory, the time of making application and the place where the survey, map and census may be examined shall be posted in three (3) public places in the territory.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-204 Application; contents.

(a) The application for incorporation shall be by petition subscribed by the applicant and not less than a majority of the electors residing within the territory proposed to be incorporated. The petition shall: (i) Set forth the boundaries and quantity of land according to the survey, the resident population according to the census and the name proposed for the city or town; (ii) Have attached thereto the affidavits of not less than three (3) of the electors verifying the facts alleged; (iii) Be presented to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the territory is located at the time stated in the notice of application, or as soon as possible thereafter; (iv) Be accompanied by a copy of the notice required to be posted and by an affidavit showing compliance with the posting requirements.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-205 Application; hearing; appointment of election inspectors; duties thereof; style of ballots.

(a) The board of county commissioners shall hear all parties interested in the application who appear and ask to be heard. If the board, after hearing, is satisfied that all the requirements of this article have been complied with and that the territory contains the required population, it shall make an order appointing three (3) inspectors. (b) The inspectors shall: (i) Call an election of all qualified electors residing within the territory to be held at some convenient place within its limits. The board of county commissioners shall determine the election date, which may be a date authorized under W.S. 22-21-103 or another date which is not less than thirty (30) days after the entry of the order under subsection (a) of this section; (ii) Provide for a notice of the election which shall: (A) Be published at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in some newspaper published within the territory, and posted in five (5) places within the territory, with the posting and publication occurring not less than three (3) weeks prior to the election; (B) If there is no newspaper published within the territory, be posted not less than three (3) weeks prior to the election in eight (8) public places therein; (C) Specify the place and time of the election; and (D) Contain a description of the limits of the proposed city or town. (iii) Act as judges and clerks of the election and shall qualify as required by law for judges and clerks at city and town elections; (iv) Report the result of the ballot to the board of county commissioners by filing it with the county clerk. (c) The ballots used at the election shall state "for incorporation" or "against incorporation".

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-206 Notice of election results; filing thereof; completion date.

(a) If a majority of the ballots cast at the election are in favor of incorporation, the county clerk, immediately after the report has been filed in his office, shall publish the result in a newspaper published within the county, or if there is none, the clerk shall post the result in five (5) public places within the limits of the proposed city or town. A copy of the notice with proof of its publication or posting shall be filed in the office of the county clerk with the other documents relating to the incorporation. (b) The incorporation is complete when all requirements have been complied with and officers for the city or town have been elected and qualified.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-207 Procedure where territory to be incorporated lies within two or more counties.

(a) If the territory to be incorporated lies within two (2) or more counties, the residents thereof may incorporate by following the procedure specified in this article, except that applications, notices, petitions, records and certificates shall be made to or by all counties within whose boundaries the territory to be incorporated lies. (b) If the territory to be incorporated lies within two (2) or more counties, the board of county commissioners of each county shall appoint one (1) or more of the election inspectors, or the boards of county commissioners meeting together shall appoint the election inspectors.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-401 Definitions.

(a) As used in this article: (i) "Business day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday as established by the annexing municipality; (ii) "Landowner" means the owner of real property in the territory proposed to be annexed who in the last calendar year was liable for a property tax thereon or was exempt by law from the payment of taxes on the property. Anyone having a right to purchase land under a written contract is the owner of that land for annexation purposes. For purposes of W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-404 and 15-1-405 "landowner" shall include persons owning property which, as a result of the proposed annexation would then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the corporate limits of a city which has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii); (iii) "Petition" means a legibly written document.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-402 Annexing territories; findings required; when contiguity not deemed affected; annexation report.

(a) Before any territory is eligible for annexation, the governing body of any city or town at a hearing as provided in W.S. 15-1-405 shall find that: (i) An annexation of the area is for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the persons residing in the area and in the city or town; (ii) The urban development of the area sought to be annexed would constitute a natural, geographical, economical and social part of the annexing city or town; (iii) The area sought to be annexed is a logical and feasible addition to the annexing city or town and the extension of basic and other services customarily available to residents of the city or town shall, within reason, be available to the area proposed to be annexed; (iv) The area sought to be annexed is contiguous with or adjacent to the annexing city or town, or the area meets the requirements of W.S. 15-1-407; (v) If the city or town does not own or operate its own electric utility, its governing body is prepared to issue one (1) or more franchises as necessary to serve the annexed area pursuant to W.S. 15-1-410; and (vi) The annexing city or town, not less than twenty (20) business days prior to the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a), has sent by certified mail to all landowners and affected public utilities within the territory and by first class mail to any persons owning property that is adjacent to or within three hundred (300) feet of the territory proposed to be annexed, regardless of whether the property is inside or outside the corporate limits of the annexing city or town and regardless of whether the city or town is exercising authority under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii), a summary of the proposed annexation report as required under subsection (c) of this section and notice of the time, date and location of the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a). (b) Contiguity will not be adversely affected by the existence of a platted street or alley, a public or private right-of-way, a public or private transportation right-of-way, a lake, stream, reservoir or other natural or artificial waterway located between the annexing city or town and the land sought to be annexed. (c) An annexing municipality shall prepare a proposed annexation report as specified in this subsection. The report shall, at a minimum, contain: (i) A map of the area proposed to be annexed showing identifiable landmarks and boundaries and the area which will, as a result of the annexation then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the new corporate limits of the city, if it has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii); (ii) The total estimated cost of infrastructure improvements required of all landowners by the annexing municipality related to the annexation; (iii) A list of basic and other services customarily available to residents of the city or town and a timetable when those services will reasonably be available to the area proposed to be annexed; (iv) A projected annual fee or service cost for services described in paragraph (iii) of this subsection; (v) The current and projected property tax mill levies imposed by the municipality; and (vi) The cost of infrastructure improvements required within the existing boundaries of the municipality to accommodate the proposed annexation. (d) For annexations initiated under W.S. 15-1-403, the city or town may collect the cost of preparing the proposed annexation report from the petitioning landowners. (e) Before any territory is eligible for annexation the governing body shall prepare for each landowner and affected public utility so requesting in writing, the estimated cost of infrastructure improvements required of the landowner and affected public utility related to the annexation. The request shall be made to the clerk of the annexing municipality not less than ten (10) days prior to the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a). The estimate shall be provided to the landowner and affected public utility prior to the hearing.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-403 Annexing territories; initiation of proceedings; by landowners' petition; validity of signatures; determinations.

(a) The proceedings for annexation of eligible territory may be initiated by a written petition filed with the clerk of the city or town to which annexation of the territory is proposed, after compliance with the following conditions and procedures: (i) The petition is signed and dated by a majority of the landowners owning a majority of the area sought to be annexed, excluding public streets and alleys and tax exempt property; (ii) The petition contains the following detailed information: (A) A legal description of the area sought to be annexed; (B) A request that the described territory be annexed; (C) A statement that each signer is an owner of land and a description of his land within the area proposed to be annexed; and (D) A map of the area. (b) No signature on the petition is valid if it is dated more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date of filing the petition with the clerk. No person signing a petition for annexation may withdraw his signature from the petition after it has been filed with the clerk. (c) The clerk shall within ten (10) days from the date the petition is filed, determine if the petition substantially complies with this article. (d) If the petition complies, the clerk shall certify compliance, and the procedure outlined in W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-405 and 15-1-406 shall then be followed. If it does not comply the petitioner shall be notified that no further action will be taken on the petition until compliance is made.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-404 Annexing territories; initiation of proceedings; by governing bodies; determination.

(a) The governing body of any city or town may initiate proceedings to annex territory by the following procedure: (i) Reasonable evidence shall be procured by the governing body indicating that a specific area meets the conditions and limitations of W.S. 15-1-402; (ii) The governing body shall: (A) Cause to be prepared a legal description, a listing of the current mailing address of each landowner as shown in the records of the county assessor and a map showing identifiable landmarks and boundaries of the area considered for annexation and the area which will, as a result of the annexation then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the new corporate limits of the city, if it has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii); (B) Determine if the area considered for annexation complies with W.S. 15-1-402; (C) Prepare a proposed annexation report as required by W.S. 15-1-402(c); (D) Prepare for each landowner or public utility so requesting in writing, the foreseeable changes to zoning, animal control and other health and safety requirements requiring immediate compliance by the landowner or public utility at the time of annexation. The request shall be made to the clerk of the annexing municipality not less than ten (10) days prior to the public hearing required under W.S. 15-1-405(a). The foreseeable changes shall be provided to the landowner or public utility prior to the hearing. (b) If the area complies with W.S. 15-1-402, the governing body shall adopt a resolution certifying compliance, and the procedure outlined in W.S. 15-1-405 and 15-1-406 shall then be followed. If the area does not comply, no further action shall be taken on the proposed annexation.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-405 Annexing territories; public hearing required; notice thereof.

(a) In any annexation proceeding the governing body shall establish a date, time and place for a public hearing to determine if the proposed annexation complies with W.S. 15-1-402. The hearing shall be held not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the petition has been certified to be complete. (b) The clerk shall give notice of the public hearing by publishing a notice at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the territory sought to be annexed. The first notice shall be given at least fifteen (15) business days prior to the date of the public hearing. The notice shall contain a location map which includes identifiable landmarks and boundaries of the area sought to be annexed and the area which will, as a result of the annexation then be brought within one-half (1/2) mile of the new corporate limits of the city, if it has exercised the authority granted under W.S. 15-3-202(b)(ii). The notice shall include a summary of the proposed annexation report prepared pursuant to W.S. 15-1-402(c). Upon written request to the clerk of the annexing municipality, the clerk shall provide a legal description of the area and the names of the persons owning property within the area.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-406 Annexing territories; annexation ordinance; objections; exception; prohibition.

(a) If after the hearing the governing body finds that the conditions required by W.S. 15-1-402 exist and that the required procedures have been met, it shall by ordinance annex the territory. Upon completion of annexation procedures, the clerk of the annexing municipality shall file with the county clerk a map of the area to be annexed and a copy of the ordinance approved by the governing body of the annexing municipality. (b) If more than fifty percent (50%) of the landowners, or if a landowner or landowners owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the area to be annexed file written objections with the clerk of the annexing municipality within twenty (20) business days after the hearing under W.S. 15-1-405(a) no further action under W.S. 15-1-404 may be taken on any area within the proposed annexation within two (2) years. (c) If seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the perimeter of the area to be annexed is contiguous to the corporate limits of the annexing city or town, the provisions of subsection (b) of this section do not apply. (d) No annexation under W.S. 15-1-404 shall create an area which is situated entirely within the boundaries of the city or town but is not annexed.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-407 Annexing territories; when notice and public hearing not necessary; statement required.

If the city is the sole owner of any territory whether or not contiguous that it desires to annex, the governing body, by ordinance, may annex the territory to the city or town without notice or public hearing as provided in W.S. 15-1-405 and without preparing the annexation report or providing the estimates required by W.S. 15-1-402(c) and (e) and 15-1-404(a)(ii)(C) and (D). All ordinances annexing territory without notice and public hearing shall contain a statement that the territory is solely owned by the petitioning city or town.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-408 Annexing territories; effective dates.

The annexation of any territory is effective upon publication of the ordinance, unless another date is specified in the ordinance. The effective date of the annexation ordinance shall not be less than twenty (20) business days after the public hearing required by W.S. 15-1-405(a). For purposes of real and personal property taxation, the annexation is not effective until January 1 next following the effective date of the ordinance. If an appeal is filed and perfected by a person other than a utility, the effective date is January 1 next following the court's final decision of the matter. If an appeal of the franchise decision is filed and perfected by a utility, the annexation is effective upon the publication of the ordinance unless another date is specified in the ordinance, but the appealing utility shall be permitted to continue its present service in the annexed area until the court's final decision of the matter.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-409 Annexing territories; appeal; determination; time for review; exclusiveness of appeal remedy.

(a) If any landowner in the territory proposed to be annexed or any owner of real property in the annexing city or town, or utility is aggrieved by the acts of the governing body, he may appeal to the district court for a review of the acts or findings thereof. (b) If the court determines that the action taken was capricious or arbitrary, or if it appears from the evidence that the landowner's right in his property is being unwarrantedly invaded or that the governing body abused its discretion, the court shall declare the annexing ordinance void. If the court determines the action of the governing body was proper and valid, it shall sustain the ordinance. (c) All proceedings to review the findings and the decisions of the governing body or actions to determine the validity of the annexation ordinance pursuant to the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act shall be brought within sixty (60) days of the effective date of the annexation ordinance, and if not brought within that time are forever barred.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-410 Annexing territories; extension of laws and rights; extension of public utility service.

(a) The territory and inhabitants of any annexed area are subject to all the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city or town to which they are annexed and are entitled to all the rights, privileges and franchises or other services afforded the inhabitants thereof. The services shall be provided in accordance with the timetable provided pursuant to W.S. 15-1-402(c)(iii). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no law, ordinance, rule or regulation of a municipality annexing property under W.S. 15-1-404 shall restrict the continuous use of the property by a current or subsequent owner of an interest in the property, if the use was existing at any time within the year prior to the date of annexation and was lawful at the time the property was annexed. For purposes of this subsection, a use which has been discontinued for any one (1) year period after the date of annexation shall not be considered continuous and shall not thereafter be reestablished unless in conformance with current law, ordinance, rule or regulation. (b) The governing body of the annexing municipality shall, within thirty (30) days after the date of the annexation, give written notice of the annexation to all public electric utilities presently providing service within the annexed area and, except in the case of an annexing municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, any area adjacent to the annexed area. Except in the case of an annexing municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, any of those public utilities required to be notified may, within sixty (60) days after the date of annexation, petition the governing body of the annexing city or town for a franchise to serve additional portions within the annexed area or the entire annexed area. Except in the case of a municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, any petitioning utility which does not currently hold a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the annexed area shall petition the public service commission for a certificate to include the annexed area, and if two (2) or more public electric utilities have been granted or are seeking a certificate of public convenience and necessity to serve the annexed area, the public service commission shall determine, following a hearing, which utility or utilities should be certificated in the public interest to provide service to the annexed area. No recipient of a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall serve any portion of the annexed area without the consent of the governing body of the annexing city or town and provided that the entire annexed area is served under one (1) or more certificates of public convenience and necessity. (c) Except in the case of an annexing municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility, the governing body of the annexing municipality shall hold an appropriate public hearing and, upon determining that one (1) or more petitioning public utilities can meet the terms and conditions of a franchise, issue franchises to one (1) or more utilities to serve portions of or the entire annexed area. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing contained in this section shall limit the right of a municipality which owns or operates its own electric utility to extend its electric service into any area annexed by the municipality, and nothing contained in this section shall subject any such municipality to the jurisdiction of the public service commission.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-411 Incorporation of territory within potential urban area.

All territory within one (1) mile of an incorporated city or town, as it now exists or may hereafter be established, is potentially an urban area. No territory within a potential urban area may be incorporated as a city or town unless the governing body of the city or town causing the potential urbanized area to exist, by resolution, approves the proposed incorporation.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-412 When written consent of landowners required for annexation; exception.

No tract of land or any part thereof, whether consisting of one (1) parcel or two (2) or more contiguous parcels owned by one (1) landowner or owned jointly by two (2) or more landowners as cotenants, which comprises forty (40) acres or more and which together with the buildings or improvements situated thereon has an assessed valuation in excess of forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) as of the current assessment for property tax purposes, may be annexed without the written consent of the landowner or landowners, unless the tract of land is situated entirely within the boundaries of the annexing city or town.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-413 Survey of boundaries; when and how to be made; presumption once recorded.

(a) If the boundaries of any city or town are uncertain or incapable of ascertainment, the governing body, by ordinance, may provide for a survey thereof. If the survey is made, the boundaries shall be marked by substantial monuments, and the person making the survey shall report to the governing body describing the boundaries by metes and bounds. The description as nearly as possible shall refer, if upon surveyed lands, to the corners or lines of the United States surveys. The person making the survey shall also file with the city or town clerk the field notes of his survey. The city or town clerk shall then file a copy of the report and a copy of the field notes certified by the mayor and clerk with the county clerk for the county in which the city or town is located. (b) Any survey made and recorded as provided in subsection (a) of this section is presumptive of the boundaries of the city or town, and any copy thereof certified by the county clerk shall be received in evidence in any court of this state. (c) The city or town clerk shall file a copy of an official map or legal description designating the geographical boundaries of the city or town or the changes to its geographical boundaries with the department of revenue, the county assessor and the county clerk in the county or counties within which the city or town is located in accordance with the department's rules adopted pursuant to W.S. 39-11-102(c)(xxiv) regarding tax districts, with any special district affected by the boundary change and as follows: (i) Within ten (10) days after the effective date of formation; and (ii) Within thirty (30) days if a city or town has changes to its geographical boundaries by annexation or de-annexation.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-414 Survey of boundaries; oath required; filing thereof.

(a) Any person making the survey who is not an officer of the city or town, before entering upon the work, shall subscribe an oath to: (i) Faithfully, diligently and to the best of his ability make the survey; (ii) Make field notes and report accurately the results of the survey and the description of the boundaries. (b) The oath shall be filed with the city or town clerk and a copy thereof shall be attached to the certificate filed with the county clerk.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-415 Additions to cities or towns by subdividing landowners; plat requirements; filing and effect thereof; controlling layout of streets.

(a) The owner of any land within or contiguous to any city or town may subdivide the land into lots, blocks, streets, avenues and alleys and other grounds under the name of .... addition to the city (town) of .... An accurate map or plat shall be made designating the subdivided land and particularly describing the lots, blocks, streets, avenues and alleys and other grounds of the addition. The lots must be designated by numbers, and the streets, avenues and other grounds by name or numbers. (b) The plat shall: (i) Be acknowledged before some officer authorized to acknowledge deeds; (ii) Have appended a survey made by a land surveyor registered under the laws of this state with a certificate that he has accurately surveyed the addition, and that the parts thereof are accurately staked off and marked with an appropriate metal monument including magnetic iron, inscribed at least with the registration number of the land surveyor to provide source identification, at all lot corners and survey control points of the addition. (c) When the map or plat is made out, acknowledged, certified and approved by the governing body, it shall be filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk. When filed it is equivalent to a deed in fee simple to the city or town from the owner, of all streets, avenues, alleys, public squares, parks and commons and of that portion of the land set apart for public and city use, or dedicated to charitable, religious or educational purposes. All additions thus laid out are a part of the city or town for all purposes, and the inhabitants of the addition are entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city or town. (d) The governing body, by ordinance, may compel the owner of any addition to lay out streets, avenues and alleys to correspond in width and direction and be continuations of the streets, ways and alleys in the city or town or other additions thereto. No addition is valid unless the terms and conditions of the ordinance are complied with and the plat submitted and approved by the governing body. (e) With respect to any water rights appurtenant to lands to be subdivided in accordance with this section and prior to certification and approval of the map or plat the governing body shall require the owner to submit to the governing body the following: (i) The intended disposition of the water rights, by: (A) Written documentation from the state engineer or the state board of control that the owner submitted to the state engineer or the state board of control all documents necessary to voluntarily abandon the water rights, cancel any unadjudicated permits or eliminate applicable lands from any unadjudicated permits. The owner shall notify any purchasers of this action; (B) Written documentation from the state board of control that the owner submitted to the state board of control all documents necessary to change the use or place of use to provide for beneficial use of the water rights outside the subdivision, which may include a transfer to the city or town for use within its municipal water service boundaries; (C) A plan, accompanied by written documentation from the state engineer approving the plan, for the distribution of the water rights appurtenant to the land to be subdivided. The plan shall specify the distribution of the water to the lots within the subdivision and shall include written documentation from the state board of control that the owner submitted to the state board of control all documents necessary to change the use, place of use or point of diversion or means of conveyance in accordance with W.S. 41-3-103, 41-3-104 or 41-3-114; or (D) Written documentation from the state board of control that it has accepted an authorization to detach water rights appurtenant to the lands to be subdivided in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state board of control. (ii) If the subdivision is located within lands served by or crossed by a ditch, irrigation works or other water conveyance system, evidence that the owner submitted the subdivision map or plat to the public entity, company, association or appropriators responsible for the ditch, irrigations works or other water conveyance system for review and recommendations at least sixty (60) days prior to the submittal of the map or plat to the governing body. Upon receipt of the subdivision map or plat, the public entity, company, association or appropriators shall notify the owner if and how the subdivision will create a significant additional burden or risk of liability; (iii) Evidence that the owner will specifically state on all offers and solicitations relative to the subdivision the owner's intent to comply with this paragraph and that the owner does not warrant to a purchaser that the purchaser shall have any rights to the natural flow of any stream within or adjacent to the proposed subdivision. The owner shall further state that Wyoming law does not recognize any riparian rights to the continued natural flow of a stream or river for persons living on the banks of the stream or river; (iv) If the subdivision is located within the boundaries of an irrigation district that is subject to the provisions of title 41, chapter 7 of the Wyoming statutes, the map or plat shall be accompanied by recommendations from the irrigation district regarding any changes to the attached water rights and the irrigation district's easements. If there is a conflict with the irrigation district's recommendations, the owner shall certify that it met with and made a good faith effort to resolve any conflicts with the irrigation district; and (v) If the subdivision will create a significant additional burden or risk of liability to the public entity, company, association or appropriators responsible for the ditch, irrigation works or other water conveyance system, the owner shall provide an adequate and responsible plan to reduce or eliminate the additional burden or risk of liability and evidence that the owner submitted the plan to the public entity, company, association or appropriators for review and recommendation regarding the adequacy of the plan.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-416 Landowner petition to exclude tract from city or town; disposition thereof; exclusion of land for highway purposes.

(a) Repealed By Laws 1997, ch. 158, § 3. (b) Repealed By Laws 1997, ch. 158, § 3. (c) The governing body may exclude from any city or town land sufficient for the construction of state highways. Notice of the intended action and the time and place of public hearing for objections shall be published once each week for four (4) consecutive weeks prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the city or town. No action may be taken by the governing body to exclude land for highway purposes over the objection of any owner of property to be excluded.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-417 Annexing contiguous cities or towns; procedure.

(a) When any city or town desires to be annexed to another contiguous city or town, their governing bodies shall meet to determine the terms and conditions on which the proposed annexation might be made. If the governing body of each city or town approves of the terms and conditions proposed, the governing body of the city or town to be annexed shall circulate a written petition requesting annexation subject to the terms and conditions set forth in W.S. 15-1-403 among the city's or town's qualified registered electors. Once the petition is signed by at least a majority of the qualified registered electors residing in the city or town, as determined by the records of the county clerk, it shall be filed with the clerk of the annexing city or town. (b) No signature on the petition is valid if it is dated more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date of filing the petition for annexation with the clerk. No person signing a petition for annexation may withdraw his signature from the petition after it has been filed with the clerk. (c) The clerk shall refer the petition to the governing body which shall then, without undue delay, take appropriate steps to comply with W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-404 and 15-1-405 and determine if the petition is in compliance with subsection (a) of this section. (d) If the petition is not in minimum compliance, the governing body of the city or town desiring to be annexed shall be notified that no further action will be taken on the petition until compliance is made. (e) As an alternative to the circulation of the petition as provided by subsection (a) of this section the town to be annexed may hold a special election on the question in accordance with W.S. 22-23-801 through 22-23-809.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-418 Annexing contiguous cities or towns; annexation ordinance; filing.

(a) If after the hearing, the governing body of the annexing city or town finds that the conditions and procedures required by W.S. 15-1-402, 15-1-404 and 15-1-405 have been met and the terms and conditions in the written petition exist, it may by ordinance annex the city or town. (b) A certified copy of the annexation ordinance including a legal description of the area and the map prepared pursuant to W.S. 15-1-402(c)(i) and in accordance with W.S. 33-29-801 shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the action has taken place.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-419 Annexing contiguous cities or towns; effective dates; appeals.

(a) The annexation of any city or town is effective upon the publication date of the annexing city or town's annexation ordinance, unless a different date is specified in the ordinance. Thereafter the city or town to which the annexation is made shall pass ordinances, not inconsistent with law, as will carry into effect the terms and conditions of the annexation. For purposes of taxation, the annexation does not become effective until January 1 next following the effective date of the ordinance, unless an appeal is filed and perfected, in which case the effective date is January 1 next following the court's final decision. (b) Appeals to the district court and limitations thereon are governed by W.S. 15-1-409 except that any registered and qualified elector as of the date of adoption of the ordinance shall also be able to appeal to the district court.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-420 Annexing contiguous cities or towns; how governed; extension of laws, rights and utilities; dissolution of annexed city or town; disposition of assets and liabilities.

(a) After the effective date of annexation, the city or town annexed shall be governed as part of the city or town to which it is annexed. The territory and inhabitants of the city or town annexed are subject to all the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city or town to which annexed and are entitled to all the rights, privileges and franchise services afforded the inhabitants thereof including fire protection, sanitary facilities and utility service. If the inhabitants of the annexing city or town are furnished any utility service by the annexing city or town or under franchise, the annexed area may receive the same service. (b) The annexed city's or town's municipal corporate assets including money, real and personal property, and rights, titles and interests of any nature, upon the effective date of annexation, without further conveyance, are the assets of the annexing city or town. The annexed city or town, without further action, shall be dissolved and the annexation ordinance shall so provide. The annexing city or town shall make provision for meeting all liabilities of the annexed city or town through assumption or by other lawful means. No such assumption or other action taken under this act shall materially impair existing obligations of contract of either the annexing or annexed city or town. Liabilities to be assumed by the annexing city or town shall include all revenue bonds and other special obligations which by their terms are not payable from ad valorem taxes. The revenue bonds and special obligations shall not become general obligations of the annexing city or town. (c) The annexing city or town in the annexation ordinance shall allocate equitably the debts of the annexed and annexing city or town. The equitable allocation shall be according to benefits received by the annexed and annexing city or town from additional assets being brought into the combined city or town. (d) Any such bonded indebtedness may be refunded by the annexing city or town under the laws of Wyoming existing at the time of this refunding.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-421 Municipal de-annexation.

(a) Any landowner within a city or town may petition the governing body of the city or town to have his land or a portion of it de-annexed and the boundaries of the city or town redrawn so their land is outside the city or town boundaries. The landowner shall file the petition with the clerk of the affected city or town and shall also provide a copy of the petition to the county commissioners of the affected county. The county commissioners shall, within sixty (60) days, prepare a report on the impact of the de-annexation. The affected city or town may not take any action on the petition for de-annexation until after the sixty (60) day period. The commissioners may establish rules and regulations for the area to be de-annexed which are consistent with county land use plans and zoning ordinances. (b) The petitioner shall be responsible for publishing a public notice of the petition in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected municipality no more than ten (10) days after filing the petition with the municipal clerk. The notice shall also include a map showing identifiable landmarks and boundaries. (c) The governing body of the city or town may by ordinance provide for this de-annexation and redrawing of boundaries provided that: (i) The owners of all the land to be de-annexed either sign the petition for de-annexation or consent to the de-annexation within one hundred twenty (120) days after the final passage of the de-annexation ordinance and before its effective date. The passage of the ordinance shall serve as the consent of the city or town for any land owned by the city or town within the area to be de-annexed; (ii) The ordinance is adopted within one hundred twenty (120) days after the receipt of the de-annexation petition and within one hundred eighty (180) days after the landowner's signature of the petition, unless a further consent of all the landowners is obtained before the effective date of the ordinance; and (iii) If the de-annexation causes land within the city or town boundaries to no longer be contiguous with the rest of the city or town, the de-annexation ordinance may be adopted only with the consent of all the owners of the land to be isolated by the de-annexation. (d) If the city or town owns any rights-of-way, easements, streets or other property or improvements within the area to be de-annexed it may: (i) Vacate or abandon them; (ii) Transfer them to the county government with the consent of the county commissioners; (iii) Agree to transfer them to another city or town upon completion of the annexation of all or part of the de-annexed land to that other city or town; (iv) Retain ownership of them. (e) No de-annexation shall create an area which is situated entirely within the municipality but is not a part of the municipality. (f) The landowner petitioning to have land de-annexed and his successors and assigns shall remain liable for any assessments incurred or levied while the land was within the city or town boundaries and for all mill levies necessary to repay any indebtedness that was outstanding at any time the property was within the city or town boundaries. Neither the de-annexation nor subsequent annexation to or incorporation as another city shall increase or decrease these liabilities.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-422 Prohibited acts.

The granting of an exception to the area wide waste treatment management plan by any city or town to any person may not be conditioned upon any agreement by that person to annexation under this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-423 Municipal growth management agreements.

(a) Following a public hearing which may be held jointly between the affected cities or towns, any city or town may mutually agree with one (1) or more cities or towns defining the future geographical growth and expansion areas for each respective city or town. Any agreement under this section shall be reduced to writing and approved by the governing body of each city or town which is a party to the agreement. No agreement under this section shall be amended, terminated or voided by any party thereto after its execution except by the mutual written agreement of the parties to the agreement. (b) Any agreement entered into by and between any cities or towns under this section shall provide that the parties to the agreement shall not annex real property located in any other party's defined growth and expansion area unless the nonannexing city or town's governing body consents, in writing, to any such annexation. (c) Any agreement entered into by and between any cities or towns defining their respective future geographical growth and expansion areas prior to July 1, 2007 is hereby ratified and approved and may only be amended, terminated or voided by the mutual written agreement of the governing bodies of the parties thereto. (d) Nothing in this section shall supercede other requirements for annexation under this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-501 Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this article: (i) "Commission" means the planning commission authorized by W.S. 15-1-502; (ii) "Street" includes streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, parkways, roads, lanes, walks, alleys, viaducts, subways, tunnels, bridges, public easements and rights-of-way and other ways; (iii) "Subdivision" means the division of a tract or parcel of land into three (3) or more parts for immediate or future sale or building development.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-502 Commission authorized; organization and procedure; compensation; staff; consultants; expenditures.

Each city and town may have a planning commission. The number and terms of the members and any other details relating to its organization and procedure shall be determined by the governing body. The members shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the governing body and shall serve without compensation, except for reasonable expenses. The commission may appoint employees and staff necessary for its work and may contract with city planners and other consultants, including any appropriate agencies or departments of the state of Wyoming, for any service it requires. Commission expenditures shall not exceed the amount of funds appropriated by the governing body or obtained through gifts or otherwise.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-503 Master plan; adoption; concurrent action; contents; amendment.

(a) The commission, after holding public hearings, shall adopt and certify to the governing body a master plan for the physical development of the municipality. If the plan involves territory outside the city or town, action shall be taken with the concurrence of the board of county commissioners or county planning commission, or other municipal legislative body concerned. The master plan, with the accompanying maps, plats, charts and descriptive and explanatory matter shall show the: (i) Commission's recommendations for the development and may include the general location, character and extent of streets, bridges, viaducts, parks, waterways and waterfront developments, playgrounds, airports and other public ways, grounds, places and spaces; (ii) General location of public buildings and other public property; (iii) General location and extent of public utilities and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned, for water, light, power, heat, sanitation, transportation, communication and other purposes; (iv) Acceptance, widening, removal, extension, relocation, narrowing, vacation, abandonment, or change of use of any public ways, grounds, places, spaces, buildings, properties, utilities or terminals; (v) Zoning plan for the regulation of the height, area, bulk, location and use of private and public structures and premises, and of population density; (vi) General location, character, layout and extent of community centers and neighborhood units; and (vii) General character, extent and layout of the replanning of blighted districts and slum areas. (b) The commission may amend, extend or add to the plan or carry any part or subject matter into greater detail.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-504 Master plan; preparatory surveys and studies; general purpose.

In preparing the master plan, the commission shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the existing conditions and probable future growth of the municipality and its environs. The plan shall be made for the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the municipality which will best promote the general welfare as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-505 Master plan; manner of adopting generally; certification thereof.

The commission may adopt the master plan in parts as the plan progresses or as a whole. Any part of the plan shall correspond generally with one (1) or more of the functional subdivisions of the subject matter thereof. The adoption of the plan or any part, amendment or addition shall be by resolution carried by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the commission. The resolution shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive matter and other matters intended by the commission to form the whole or part of the plan. The action taken shall be recorded on the adopted plan or part thereof over the signature of the secretary of the commission. A copy of the plan or part thereof shall be certified to the governing body.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-506 Master plan; construction to conform, be approved; overruling disapproval; time limitation.

(a) If the governing body has adopted the master plan or any part thereof, no street, park or other public way, ground, place or space, public building or structure or public utility, whether publicly or privately owned, may be constructed until its location and extent conform to the plan and have been approved by the commission. If disapproved, the commission shall communicate its reasons to the governing body which by a vote of not less than a majority of its membership may overrule the disapproval. If overruled, the governing body or the appropriate board or officer may proceed. However, if the public way, ground, place, space, building, structure or utility is one which the governing body, or other body or official of the municipality may not authorize or finance, then the submission to the commission shall be by the board or official having that jurisdiction, and the commission's disapproval may be overruled by that board by a majority vote or by that official. The acceptance, widening, removal, extension, relocating, narrowing, vacation, abandonment, change of use, acquisition of land for, or sale or lease of any street or other public way, ground, place, property or structure may be similarly overruled. (b) If the commission fails to act within thirty (30) days after the proposal has been submitted to it, the proposal is deemed approved, unless a longer period is granted by the governing body or other submitting body, board or official.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-507 General powers of commission.

(a) The commission has all powers necessary to perform its functions and promote municipal planning and may: (i) Make reports and recommendations relating to the plan and development of the municipality to public officials and agencies, other organizations and citizens; (ii) Recommend to the executive or legislative officials programs for public improvement and their financing.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-508 Major street plan; official map; contents; procedure; effect; recording ordinance.

(a) After the commission has adopted a major street plan, the governing body may establish an official map of the whole or any part of the existing public streets. The map may also show the location of the lines of streets on plats of subdivisions which the commission has approved. The governing body may make other additions to or modifications of the official map by extending the lines of proposed new streets or street extensions, widenings, narrowings or vacations which have been accurately surveyed and definitely located. Before taking any such action the governing body shall hold a public hearing thereon. Any proposed addition to or modification of the official map shall be submitted to the commission for its approval. If the commission disapproves, approval of the addition or modification then requires an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the governing body. (b) The placing of any street or street lines upon the official map does not of itself constitute the opening or establishment of any street or the taking or acceptance of any land for street purposes. (c) The governing body shall direct that the adopted ordinance creating the official map be recorded in the office of the county clerk.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-509 Major street plan; preserving integrity of map; building permits; necessary findings; specifications.

(a) To preserve the integrity of the official map, the governing body may provide by ordinance, subject to appropriate eminent domain proceeding, that no permit may be issued for any building or structure which encroaches upon land located within the lines of any street as shown on the official map. The ordinance shall provide that the board of adjustment, which the governing body may create by ordinance, has the power, upon an appeal filed with it by the owner of any such land, to authorize a permit for a building or structure within any mapped-street location when it finds that: (i) The property of the appellant a portion of which lies within the street lines will not yield a reasonable return to the owner unless the permit is granted; or (ii) Balancing the interest of the municipality in preserving the integrity of the official map and the interest of the owner in the use and benefits of the property, the grant of the permit is required by justice and equity. (b) Before taking any action, the board shall hold a public hearing thereon. If the board decides to authorize a building permit, it may specify the exact location, ground area, height and other details and conditions of extent and character and also the duration of the building or structure to be permitted.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-510 Major street plan; subdivision plats; approval required; preparation and adoption of governing regulations.

(a) If any commission adopts a major street plan and certifies it to the governing body, no plat of a subdivision of land lying within the municipality may be filed or recorded in the office of the county clerk until it has been submitted to and approved by the governing body and its approval entered in writing on the plat by the clerk of the governing body. No county clerk may file or record a plat of a subdivision without approval by the governing body and any unapproved filing or recording is void. (b) The commission shall prepare regulations governing the subdivision of land within the municipality. The governing body may adopt the regulations for the municipality after a public hearing thereon.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-511 Major street plan; subdivision plats; when penalty for not preparing; exception; enforcement.

Subject to appropriate eminent domain proceedings, if anyone transfers or sells any land located within any area for which a major street plan has been adopted by the commission and the governing body, except for land located in a recorded subdivision, without first preparing a subdivision plat and having it approved by the commission and governing body and recorded in the office of the county clerk, he shall pay a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each lot transferred or sold. The description by metes and bounds in the instrument of transfer or other document used in the process of selling or transferring does not exempt the transaction from such penalties. The municipality may enjoin the transfer or sale or may recover the penalty by civil action.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-512 Violations of provisions deemed misdemeanor; remedies.

Violation of any of the provisions of this article is a misdemeanor. The municipality, or any owner of real estate within the district in which the offending building, structure or land is located, in addition to other remedies provided by law, may institute an injunction, mandamus, abatement or any other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, enjoin, abate or remove any unlawful erection, construction, alteration, maintenance or use.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-601 Regulations; scope and purpose; uniformity within authorized districts; to follow plan; objectives.

(a) The governing body of any city or town, by ordinance, may: (i) Regulate and restrict the: (A) Height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures; (B) Percentage of lot that may be occupied; (C) Size of yards, courts and other open spaces; (D) Density of population; and (E) Location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes. (ii) Establish setback building lines. (b) The governing body may divide the city or town into districts of such number, shape and area as it deems necessary, and within those districts it may regulate and restrict the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or use of buildings, structures or land. (c) Regulations may differ from one (1) district to another but shall be uniform for each class or kind of buildings within a district. (d) All regulations shall be made: (i) In accordance with a comprehensive plan and designed to: (A) Lessen congestion in the streets; (B) Secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; (C) Promote health and general welfare; (D) Provide adequate light and air; (E) Prevent the overcrowding of land; (F) Avoid undue concentration of population; and (G) Facilitate adequate provisions for transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements. (ii) With reasonable consideration, among other things, of the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses; (iii) With a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the city or town; and (iv) With consideration given to the historic integrity of certain neighborhoods or districts and a view to preserving, rehabilitating and maintaining historic properties and encouraging compatible uses within the neighborhoods or districts, but no regulation made to carry out the purposes of this paragraph is valid to the extent it constitutes an unconstitutional taking without compensation.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-602 Regulations; powers of governing body; public hearing; notice.

(a) The governing body shall specify how regulations, restrictions and the district boundaries are to be determined, established, enforced, amended, supplemented or otherwise changed. No governing body shall require that a land use or physical development be consistent with a local land use plan unless the applicable provisions of the local land use plan have been incorporated into the local zoning regulations. (b) No regulation, restriction or boundary is effective until after a public hearing. At least fifteen (15) days notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-603 Regulations; protest makes change ineffective; exception; hearing and notice.

(a) If there is a protest against a change in the regulations, restrictions or district boundaries signed by the owners of twenty percent (20%) or more of the area of the lots included in the proposed change, or of those immediately adjacent within a distance of one hundred forty (140) feet, the change is not effective except upon the affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all the members of the governing body. In determining the one hundred forty (140) feet, the width of any intervening street or alley shall not be included. (b) The provisions for public hearings and notice specified in W.S. 15-1-602 apply to all changes.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-604 Zoning commission; appointment; duties; effect on governing body.

The mayor, with the consent of the governing body, shall appoint a zoning commission to recommend the boundaries of the various original districts and appropriate regulations to be enforced therein. The commission shall make a preliminary report and hold public hearings before submitting its final report. The governing body shall not hold its public hearings or take action until it has received the commission's final report. If a city planning commission already exists, it may be appointed as the zoning commission.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-605 Board of adjustment; appointment; composition; terms; removal; vacancies.

(a) The mayor, with the consent of the governing body, may appoint a board of adjustment consisting of not less than five (5) nor more than seven (7) members. Each member shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, except that the initial appointments shall be: (i) Two (2) for one (1) year; (ii) Two (2) for two (2) years; and (iii) The remaining member or members for three (3) years. (b) The governing body may remove any board member for cause upon written charges after public hearing. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of a term. (c) The mayor, with the consent of the governing body, may appoint the city or town planning commission as the board of adjustment.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-606 Board of adjustment; meetings; procedure; records.

Board meetings shall be held at the call of the chairman and at such other times as the board determines. The chairman, or in his absence the acting chairman, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All board meetings are open to the public. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon each question or if the member was absent or failed to vote. The board shall also keep records of its examinations and other official actions. All minutes are public records and shall be filed in the board's office.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-607 Board of adjustment; appeals to board; grounds; how conducted; stay of proceedings.

(a) Any aggrieved person or any officer, department, board or bureau of the city or town affected by any decision of the administrative officer may appeal to the board. Appeals shall be taken within a reasonable time as provided by the rules of the board by filing with the officer from whom the appeal is taken and with the board a notice of appeal specifying the grounds therefor. The officer from whom the appeal is taken shall immediately transmit to the board the complete record of the action from which the appeal is taken. (b) An appeal stays all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from, unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken certifies to the board that by reason of facts stated in the certificate a stay, in his opinion, would cause imminent peril to life or property. In such cases proceedings shall not be stayed other than by a restraining order granted by the district court for the district, or a judge thereof, on notice to the officer from whom the appeal is taken, and on due cause shown.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-608 Board of adjustment; powers and duties; vote required.

(a) The board shall: (i) Hear and decide: (A) Appeals from and review any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative official charged with the enforcement of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this article; (B) All matters referred to it or upon which it is required to pass under any such ordinance. (ii) Fix a reasonable time for hearing an appeal, give public notice, adequate notice to the parties in interest and decide the appeal within a reasonable time. Any party may appear in person at a hearing or by agent or attorney; (iii) Adopt rules in accordance with the provisions of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this article. (b) The board has the power to: (i) Hear and decide special exemptions to the terms of the ordinance upon which the board is required to pass under the ordinance; (A) Repealed by Laws 1984, ch. 15, § 2. (ii) Vary or adjust the strict application of any of the requirements of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this article in the case of any physical condition applying to a lot or building if the strict application would deprive the owner of the reasonable use of the land or building involved. No adjustment in the strict application of any provision of an ordinance may be granted unless: (A) There are special circumstances or conditions, fully described in the board's findings, which are peculiar to the land or building for which the adjustment is sought and do not apply generally to land or buildings in the neighborhood, and have not resulted from any act of the applicant subsequent to the adoption of the ordinance; (B) For reasons fully set forth in the board's findings, the circumstances or conditions are such that the strict application of the provisions of the ordinance would deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of the land or building, the granting of the adjustment is necessary for the reasonable use thereof and the adjustment as granted is the minimum adjustment that will accomplish this purpose; and (C) The granting of the adjustment is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the ordinance and will not be injurious to the neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare. (iii) Grant exceptions and variances upon request after a showing that an illegal construction or a nonconforming building or use existed for a period of at least five (5) years in violation of local ordinance and the city or town has not taken steps toward enforcement; (iv) Reverse or affirm wholly or partly the order, requirement, decision or determination as necessary, but no power exercised under this paragraph shall exceed the power or authority vested in the administrative officer from whom the appeal is taken. (c) The concurring vote of a majority of the board is necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision or determination of any administrative official, or to decide in favor of the application on any matter upon which it is required to pass under any ordinance or to effect any variation in the ordinance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-609 Board of adjustment; review of decisions.

The decision of the board may be reviewed by the district court pursuant to Rule 12 of the Wyoming Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-610 Action to prevent violations authorized.

(a) If any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained, or if any building, structure or land is used in violation of this article or of any ordinance or other regulation made under its authority, the proper authorities of the city or town, in addition to other remedies prescribed by ordinance, may institute any appropriate action to prevent: (i) The violation; (ii) The occupancy of the building, structure or land; or (iii) Any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about the premises.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-611 Higher standards govern in conflicts.

If the regulations made under this article conflict with any statutes or local ordinances or other regulations, the statutes, ordinances or regulations imposing the higher standards govern.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-701 Definitions; vesting of powers and privileges.

(a) As used in this article: (i) "Mortgage" means any security device; (ii) "Project" means any land, building, pollution control facility or other improvement and all necessary and appurtenant real and personal properties, whether or not in existence, suitable for manufacturing, industrial, commercial or business enterprises, for health care facilities or for manufacturing, processing or assembling agricultural or agricultural-related products. "Project" may also mean an undivided interest as a tenant in common in an electrical generating facility or in pollution control facilities in connection therewith. "Project" may also mean an energy improvements program; (iii) "Property" means real or personal property, or any interest in property, including any undivided interest as a tenant in common in an electrical generating facility or in pollution control facilities in connection therewith; (iv) "Energy improvements program" means a program authorizing energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements in a program adopted by a municipality, county or joint powers board. (b) In order to facilitate and promote the local health and general welfare, the sound economic growth of the state of Wyoming, the development of its natural resources, the protection of its natural environment, the expansion of agricultural and agricultural-related industries, the provision of health care services, energy improvements and to promote employment opportunities for the citizens of Wyoming by creating or encouraging the expansion of manufacturing, industrial plants, processing facilities and all kinds of business, which contribute payrolls and tax base to the state of Wyoming, and by attracting to and encouraging the location or the expansion within this state of such plants, facilities and businesses, all of which are hereby declared to be and constitute public purposes, the counties and municipalities of the state of Wyoming are vested with the powers and privileges hereafter set forth in this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-702 Powers of municipalities and counties; limitations.

(a) In addition to all other powers each municipality, county, and multi-county joint powers board has without any other authority the power to: (i) Acquire one (1) or more projects located within the territorial limits of the municipality or within the territorial limits of the county wherein the municipality is situated, if acquired by a municipality, or located within the county, if acquired by a county, or located within multiple counties if acquired by a joint powers board formed under W.S. 16-1-101 et seq.; (ii) Lease any or all of its projects upon terms and conditions fixed by the governing body and consistent with the provisions of this article; (iii) Issue revenue bonds to defray the cost of acquiring or improving any project and secure the payment of the bonds as provided in this article. Revenue bonds may be issued in two (2) or more series or issues, if necessary, and each series or issue may contain different maturity dates, interest rates, priorities on revenues available for payment, priorities on securities available for guaranteeing payment, and other terms and conditions deemed necessary and consistent with the provisions of this article; and (iv) Sell and convey any property acquired under paragraph (a)(i) of this section and make any order respecting that property in the best interest of the municipality or county. The governing body of the municipality or county may establish terms and conditions as appear to be in the best interest of the municipality or county, including the deferment of payment of the purchase price for not to exceed ten (10) years. If payment of the purchase price is deferred, the municipality or county, at the time of completing the sale, shall take or retain a security interest in the property sold. The security interest, by vote of the governing body, may be subordinated to an obligation incurred by the purchaser for the construction of buildings or improvements on or in connection with the property sold, but the subordination agreement shall require that in the event of default by the purchaser in the payment of the deferred sale price, the holder of the obligation to which the payment of the deferred sale price is subordinated shall pay any unpaid deferred balance. The sale or conveyance of property is subject to the terms of any lease but free and clear of any other encumbrance. (b) No municipality or county may operate any project referred to in this section as a business or in any manner except as the lessor or holder of a security interest, nor acquire any such project or any part thereof by condemnation. (c) A municipality, county or joint powers board may designate an energy improvements area and establish an energy improvements program to make loans to owners of real property within the area for cost-effective energy improvements to existing residential, commercial or industrial buildings on the property. Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the designation under this subsection, the governing body shall provide an explanation of the proposed program to any utility which distributes electricity or natural gas in the area in which the proposed program will operate. A governing body which establishes an energy improvements program may secure a loan under the program with a lien on the benefited property and enforce the lien in the same manner as provided for special assessments under W.S. 15-6-401 et seq. Additionally, the governing body may require any other security for a loan it deems reasonable and necessary. The designation may establish: (i) A loan application process that includes an energy audit of the building proposed to be improved and other requirements to ensure that the loan will be used for energy improvements which are cost effective and otherwise consistent with the purpose of the program; (ii) The loan terms, including interest rates; (iii) The application and loan fees sufficient to pay the administrative and financing costs of the program, included costs associated with loan delinquencies; and (iv) Any requirements and conditions to ensure timely repayment of loans and fees imposed under the program. (d) When issued for agricultural and agricultural-related projects, a municipality, county or joint powers board shall only issue bonds under this article to an entity that: (i) Is headquartered in Wyoming and organized under the laws of the state of Wyoming; and (ii) Falls within the United States small business administration small business size standards for its industry classification code, effective August 19, 2019.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-703 Bonds; limitations; terms and conditions; sale; expenses; negotiability.

(a) No bonds issued by a municipality or county under this article may be general obligations of the municipality or county. Bonds and interest coupons do not constitute nor give rise to a pecuniary liability of the municipality or county or a charge against its general credit or taxing powers. These limitations shall be stated clearly on the face of each bond. (b) The bonds may be executed and delivered at any time, in such form and denominations, be of such tenor, in registered or bearer form either as to principal or interest or both, payable in installments at any place and at any time not exceeding thirty (30) years from their date, bear interest at any rate, be redeemable prior to maturity with or without premium and contain any provisions not inconsistent with this section, if deemed in the best interest of the municipality or county and if provided for by the governing body at the time of authorization. (c) Any bonds issued under this article may be sold at public or private sale in a manner and at a time set by the governing body. The municipality or county shall pay all necessary expenses, premiums and commissions in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds from the proceeds of the sale or from the revenues of the projects. (d) All bonds and interest coupons are negotiable instruments, although payable solely from a specified source.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-704 Bonds; sources of security and limitations; mortgage provisions and limitations.

(a) The principal and interest on any bonds issued under this article shall be secured by a pledge of the revenues of the project for which the bonds were issued and may be secured by a mortgage covering all or any part of the project by a pledge of the lease of the project, or by other security devices deemed advantageous that do not constitute a general obligation of the municipality or county. A municipality or county shall not obligate itself except with respect to the project and the application of its revenues, and shall not incur a pecuniary liability or a charge upon its general credit or against its taxing power. (b) Any mortgage given to secure the bonds may contain any agreement and provisions customarily contained in instruments securing bonds, including provisions respecting the fixing and collection of rents for any project covered, the terms of the lease of the project, the maintenance and insurance of the project, the creation and maintenance of special funds from the revenues of the project and the rights and remedies available in the event of a default to the bondholders or to the trustee under a mortgage. (c) Any mortgage securing the bonds may provide that: (i) In the event of a default in the payment of the principal or interest or in the performance of any of the terms of the agreement or mortgage, payment and performance may be enforced by mandamus or by the appointment of a receiver with power to charge and collect rents and to apply the revenues from the project in accordance with the agreement or mortgage; (ii) In the event of a default in the payment or the violation of any agreement contained in the mortgage, the mortgage may be foreclosed and sold in any manner permitted by law; (iii) Any trustee under the mortgage or the holder of any of the bonds secured thereby may become the purchaser at any foreclosure sale. (d) No breach of any agreement specified in this section may impose any pecuniary liability upon a municipality or county or any charge upon their general credit or against their taxing powers.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-705 Leasing; prior determinations; record; agreement required; provisions thereof.

(a) Before leasing any project the governing body shall determine the: (i) Project furthers the public purpose of providing health care facilities in the state or meets the following public purposes: (A) Creating new or additional employment opportunities; (B) Expanding the tax base and increasing sales, property or other tax revenues to the municipality or county; (C) Maintaining and promoting a stable, balanced and diversified economy among agriculture, natural resource development, business, commerce and trade; (D) Promoting or developing use of agricultural, manufactured, commercial or natural resource products within or without the state. (ii) Amount necessary to pay the principal and interest on the bonds proposed to finance the project; (iii) Amount necessary to be paid into any reserve funds which the governing body establishes in connection with the retirement of the proposed bonds and the maintenance of the project; (iv) Estimated cost of maintaining the project in good repair and keeping it properly insured, unless the terms under which the project is to be leased provide that the lessee shall maintain and carry all proper insurance on the project; (v) Manner in which the amount necessary to pay any charges negotiated as hereinafter set forth, in lieu of taxes shall be determined. (b) No bonds shall be issued pursuant to the provisions of this article to acquire, construct or improve a project unless the governing body makes the determinations and findings required by paragraph (a)(i) of this section. However, in the case of bonds issued to acquire, construct or improve a pollution control facility or to acquire an undivided interest as a tenant in common in pollution control facilities and any land, building, other improvement and real or personal property necessary and appurtenant thereto, the governing body shall not be required to make the determinations and findings required by paragraph (a)(i) of this section but shall be authorized to issue bonds upon determining the project will assist in reducing, preventing, abating or eliminating pollution in the municipality or county and will facilitate and promote the protection of the natural environment of the municipality or county. The determinations and findings of the governing body shall be set forth in the record of proceedings at which the proposed bonds are authorized. Before issuing the bonds the municipality or county shall lease the project under an agreement conditioned upon completion of the project and providing for payment of such rentals as, upon the basis of the determinations and findings are sufficient to pay the: (i) Principal and interest on the bonds; (ii) Any charges negotiated as hereinafter set forth, in lieu of taxes, to build up and maintain any necessary reserves; and (iii) The costs of maintaining the project in good repair and keeping it properly insured, unless the lease obligates the lessees to pay for the maintenance and insurance of the project. (c) Subject to the limitations of this article, the lease or its extensions or modifications may contain other terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the parties, and notwithstanding any other provisions of law relating to the sale of property owned by municipalities and counties, the lease may contain an option for the lessees to purchase the project.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-706 Refunding bonds; general procedure; limitations.

(a) Any municipality or county may refund at any time any bonds issued under this article and outstanding, including without limitation short-term bonds issued in anticipation of the issuance of long-term bonds, by issuing refunding bonds in an amount sufficient to refund the principal together with any unpaid interest and any necessary premiums and commissions. An issue of refunding bonds may be combined with an issue of additional revenue bonds on any project if consistent with the requirements of W.S. 15-1-705. Any refunding may be effected whether the bonds to be refunded have matured or shall thereafter mature, either by sale of the refunding bonds and the application of the proceeds in payment of the bonds to be refunded, or by exchange of the refunding bonds for the bonds to be refunded. The holders of any bonds to be refunded are not compelled without their consent to surrender their bonds for payment or exchange prior to the date on which they are by their terms subject to redemption by option or otherwise. Any refunding bonds are subject to the provisions of W.S. 15-1-703 and may be secured as provided in W.S. 15-1-704. The principal proceeds from the sale of any refunding bonds shall be applied only as follows: (i) To the immediate payment and retirement of the bonds being refunded; or (ii) To the extent not required for the immediate payment of the bonds being refunded then the proceeds shall be deposited in trust to provide for the payment and retirement of the bonds being refunded and to pay any expenses incurred in connection with refunding but provision may be made for the pledging and disposition of any surplus, including, without limitation, provision for the pledging of any surplus to the payment of the principal of and interest on any issue or series of refunding bonds. Money in any trust fund may be invested in direct obligations of or obligations the principal of and interest on which are guaranteed by the United States government or obligations of any agency or instrumentality of the United States government. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as a limitation on the duration of any deposit in trust for the retirement of bonds being refunded but which shall not have matured and which shall not be presently redeemable or if presently redeemable, shall not have been called for redemption.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-707 Use of bond proceeds for certain purposes; actual project costs.

(a) The proceeds from the sale of any bonds issued under this article shall be applied only for the purpose for which the bonds were issued. Any accrued interest and premiums received on the sale shall be applied to the payment of the principal or the interest on the bonds sold. If any portion of the proceeds is not needed for the purpose for which the bonds were issued, then the unneeded portion shall be applied to the payment of the principal or the interest on the bonds. The cost of acquiring or improving any project shall include the actual cost of: (i) Acquiring or improving the real estate; (ii) Construction of all or any part of the project, including architects' and engineers' fees; (iii) All expenses in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds to finance the acquisition or improvement; and (iv) Interest on the bonds for a reasonable time prior to construction, during construction and for not more than six (6) months after completion of construction.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-708 Taxation or imposition of fee; amount; general procedure.

(a) Notwithstanding that title to a project may be in a municipality or county, any project initiated or proceedings instituted prior to February 16, 1967, by the execution of a contract between any municipality and a lessee or proposed lessee for the acquisition of a project, are subject to taxation to the same extent, in the same manner and under the same procedures as privately owned property in similar circumstances if the projects are leased to or held by private interests on both the assessment date and the date the levy is made in any year, unless the governing body and the lessee or proposed lessee agree upon an annual fee pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. The projects are not subject to taxation if they are not leased to or held by private interests on both the assessment date and the date the levy is made in any year. If personal property owned by a municipality or county is taxed under this section and the taxes are delinquent, levy by distress warrant for collection of the delinquent taxes may be made only on the personal property against which the taxes were levied. (b) Projects initiated after February 16, 1967, are exempt from ad valorem taxes, but the governing body shall negotiate with the proposed lessee an annual fee in lieu of taxes, which shall fully compensate the state, the political subdivisions and other recipients of ad valorem taxes for the share each would have received had this exemption not been authorized. The annual fee, if payable to a municipality, shall be remitted by the municipality to the county treasurer of the county wherein the project is located before January 1 of the year following the year for which the fee is collected. The county treasurer shall distribute the fee together with similar fees collected from county projects to the state, the political subdivisions and other recipients of ad valorem taxes in the same manner and proportions as the ad valorem tax revenues received by the county are distributed as by law provided.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-709 Advice and information.

The executive director of the Wyoming business council and the University of Wyoming shall furnish advice and information in connection with a project when requested to do so by a county or municipality.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-710 Alternative procedures authorized; other provisions applicable; form of transaction; exceptions.

(a) Pursuant to this section and as an alternative to the procedures set forth in W.S. 15-1-701 through 15-1-708, a municipality or county may issue revenue bonds to defray the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving any project regardless of whether or not the municipality or county acquires any ownership interest in the project. The municipality or county may authorize the user of the project, or an agent of the user or a trustee, to disburse the proceeds of the revenue bonds to pay only those costs of the project specified in W.S. 15-1-707 and only upon the conditions that the user agrees to complete the acquisition or construction of the project and pay to the municipality or county an amount sufficient to pay, when due, the principal, interest and premium, if any, on the revenue bonds, and any other expenses incurred by the municipality or county in connection therewith. The revenue bonds are payable solely from the revenues derived from payments to the municipality or county by the user of the project. These revenues may be pledged and assigned to a trustee for the benefit of the bondholders. The revenues are not deemed to be revenues of any project. (b) If the project is financed pursuant to this section, the provisions of W.S. 15-1-701 through 15-1-708 apply. However, the procedures shall contemplate and authorize a transaction in the form provided in this section rather than a transaction in the form of a lease or sale of a project, except that: (i) The revenue bonds issued pursuant to this section are not subject to the provisions of W.S. 15-1-704(a), but shall be secured by a pledge of the agreement of the user enterprise to pay principal, interest and premium, if any, on the bonds and any and all other expenses in connection with the bonds, and may be secured by any other agreement or obligation of the user enterprise or any other person; (ii) The governing body of the municipality or county shall make similar determinations and findings as and where required by W.S. 15-1-705 before issuing bonds under this section; (iii) Title to or in the project may at all times remain in the user or in any other person; and (iv) The agreement or contract of the user with the municipality or county may include provisions the municipality or county deems appropriate to effect the financing of the proposed undertaking.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-801 Construction authorized; financing; security.

(a) The governing body of any city or town may construct and provide off-street parking facilities to reduce street congestion. (b) A city or town may: (i) Appropriate by ordinance all or any portion of the revenues derived from the use of parking meters for the creation, purchase, lease, construction and maintenance of off-street parking facilities; (ii) Pledge on-street parking meter funds, or proceeds of gasoline taxes in the manner and subject to the limitations prescribed by W.S. 15-6-437, as additional security for the bonds authorized in paragraph (iii) of this subsection; (iii) Issue revenue bonds for the creation, purchase, lease, construction and maintenance of off-street parking facilities, or refunding revenue bonds to refund, pay or discharge all or a part of its off-street parking facility revenue bonds, including interest. The procedure for issuing revenue or refunding revenue bonds is the same as that prescribed by W.S. 35-2-424 through 35-2-436, as from time to time amended; (iv) If parking meters are not used, use any other funds available to carry out the provisions of this article.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-901 Concerts and payment authorized; membership.

Any city or town may provide public band concerts for the entertainment of their residents and pay the expense out of any monies in the general fund. The band concerts shall be given at a place designated by the governing body.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-902 Tax levy.

Any city or town when authorized may levy each year for band concerts, a tax not exceeding one (1) mill on the dollar of all taxable property within its boundaries. The revenue obtained therefrom shall be used only for band concerts.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-903 Tax levy; petition for election thereon; form of question; vote required; limitation.

(a) If a petition signed by fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified electors who are real property holders within the city or town is filed with the clerk requesting that the question of a levy for band purposes be submitted to the election of the city or town, the governing body shall submit the question to the voters at the next general municipal election as follows: "Shall a tax not exceeding .... mill be levied each year on all taxable property within the boundaries of the .... of .... for the purpose of providing a fund for the maintenance or employment of a municipal band for musical purposes?" (b) If a majority of votes cast favor the proposition, the governing body shall in each subsequent year levy the tax as approved by the electors in the petition but not exceeding one (1) mill on the dollar on all taxable property within the city or town.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-904 Tax levy; petition for election on discontinuing; form of question; vote required.

(a) If a petition signed by fifteen percent (15%) of the qualified electors who are real property holders within the city or town is filed with the clerk requesting that the question of discontinuing the levy for band concerts be submitted to the voters, the governing body shall submit the question at the next general municipal election as follows: "Shall the levy of a tax for the purpose of providing a fund for the maintenance or employment of a municipal band for municipal purposes be discontinued?" (b) If a majority of the votes are in the affirmative, the levy shall be discontinued.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1001 When authorized; vote required; transfer of assets.

If the population residing within the corporate limits of any city or town is thirty-five (35) persons or less according to an accurate census made in the manner specified in this article, three-fourths (3/4) of the members of the governing body or if there is no governing body, a majority of those persons living within the county in which the municipality is situated who were members of the last governing body, may resolve to dissolve its municipal corporate status. Those persons may give, transfer, convey or assign all or any part of the municipal corporate assets, including money, property and rights, titles and interests of any nature to the nearest city or town within the same county.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1002 Census; when taken; affidavit.

In order to determine whether its resident corporate population is thirty-five (35) persons or less, the governing body or the persons of the last governing body shall cause an accurate census to be taken of the resident population of the city or town on some day not more than forty (40) days prior to the date of passage of the resolution to dissolve its municipal corporate status. The census shall name every head of a family residing within the municipality on that day and the number of persons then belonging to every family. The person or persons taking the census shall verify it by affidavit.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1003 Disposition of assets; use by receiving city or town.

The city or town receiving the assets becomes the absolute and unconditional owner of that property. The receiving city or town shall deposit all money so received to its general fund and may make expenditures thereof for any lawful purpose. All other assets may be managed or disposed of in any manner provided by law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1004 Disposition of assets; resolution and statement; when filed; contents.

Any city or town disposing of all or any part of its assets, within sixty (60) days after the date of the first of such transfers, shall file a certified copy of its resolution of dissolution in the office of the secretary of state. The resolution shall be accompanied by a true and correct verified statement of the mayor, president of the council or clerk of the governing body, or of the chairman or mayor of the last governing body, setting forth the nature, description and extent of the assets, the date or dates on which transfers were made, the recipient of the assets, a certified copy of the census and all proper instruments of conveyance necessary to transfer any remaining assets to the state of Wyoming.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1005 Certificate of dissolution; issuance and filing thereof; date of dissolution.

(a) The secretary of state shall thereafter issue to the mayor, president of the council, or clerk or chairman of the former governing body a certificate of dissolution, together with a certified copy thereof which shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the city or town was situated. (b) The municipal corporate status shall be dissolved upon the date the secretary of state issues a certificate of dissolution, if a certified copy of the certificate is filed in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the municipality was situated within ten (10) days after that date. Otherwise the date of dissolution is the date upon which the certified copy of the certificate of dissolution is filed in the proper county office.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1006 Certificate of dissolution; presumption upon filing; escheat of assets.

If the certified copy of the certificate of dissolution is filed, it is presumed that the dispositions of all municipal corporate assets was made in substantial compliance with this article. All other assets belonging to the city or town not described in the statement or instrument of conveyance filed with the secretary of state shall escheat to the state in the manner and for the uses and purposes provided by law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1101 Definition.

As used in this article, "quasi-municipal district" means any sanitary and improvement district organized pursuant to W.S. 35-3-101 through 35-3-107 and 35-3-109 through 35-3-121 or any water district, sewer district or water and sewer district organized pursuant to W.S. 41-10-101 through 41-10-151.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1102 Validation of prior organizations; generally.

(a) The organization or reorganization of any quasi-municipal district by decree, order or amendment thereof entered prior to March 5, 1969, is validated. (b) All acts and proceedings prior to March 5, 1969, by or on behalf of any quasi-municipal district under law or under color of law, including but not limited to the terms, provisions, conditions and covenants of any resolution or motion appertaining to the authorization or issuance of bonds or coupons, are validated, notwithstanding any lack of power or authority, or any defects and irregularities in the acts and proceedings.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 15-1-1103 Validation of prior organizations; legislative authority; exceptions.

This article provides necessary legislative authority to validate any organization or reorganization or act or proceeding which the legislature could have authorized in the laws under which the organization or reorganization was accomplished and pursuant to which the acts or proceedings were taken. This article does not validate the organization or reorganization of any quasi-municipal district, or any act, proceeding or other matter the legality of which is being contested or inquired into in any legal proceeding now pending and undetermined and does not validate the organization or reorganization of any quasi-municipal district, or any act, proceeding or other matter which has been determined in any legal proceeding to be illegal, void or ineffective.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title15.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026