Junkyard Control

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 33, ch. 19
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-102 Declaration of legislative policy; nonconforming junkyards deemed public nuisance.

It is hereby declared to be in the public interest to regulate and restrict the establishment, operation, and maintenance of junkyards in areas adjacent to the interstate and primary highway systems within this state. The legislature hereby finds and declares that junkyards which do not conform to the requirements of this act are public nuisances.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-103 Definitions.

(a) Unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms when used have the meanings assigned to them: (i) Junk. Old or scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris, waste, or junked, dismantled or wrecked automobiles, or parts thereof, iron, steel, and other old or scrap ferrous or nonferrous material; (ii) Automobile Graveyard. Any establishment or place of business which is maintained, used, or operated for storage, keeping, buying or selling wrecked, scrapped, ruined, or dismantled motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts; (iii) Junkyard. An establishment or place of business which is maintained, operated or used for storing, keeping, buying or selling junk, or for the maintenance or operation of an automobile graveyard, and the term shall include garbage dumps and sanitary fills; (iv) Interstate System. That portion of the national system of interstate and defense highways located within this state, as officially designated, or as may hereafter be so designated by the transportation commission and approved by the United States department of transportation pursuant to the provisions of title 23, United States Code, "Highways"; (v) Primary System. That portion of connected main highways, as officially designated or as may hereafter be so designated by the transportation commission and approved by the United States department of transportation pursuant to the provisions of title 23, United States Code, "Highways"; (vi) Commission. Transportation commission of Wyoming; (vii) Engineer. State highway engineer or his duly authorized representative; (viii) Federal Interstate System. National system of interstate and defense highways; (ix) Person. Any individual, firm, agency, company, association, partnership, business, trust, joint stock company, or corporation who operates or allows a junkyard to be placed or to remain on premises controlled by him.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-104 Time for compliance for previously lawfully established junkyards.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this act, the owner of any junkyard that was lawful when established, but that is in violation of W.S. 33-19-105(b) and that cannot, as a practical matter to be determined by the engineer, be screened, may maintain such junkyard without liability under W.S. 33-19-110 as follows: (i) Repealed By Laws 2011, Ch. 129, § 202. (ii) If the junkyard was established after October 22, 1965 and if the portion of the highway along which it was established became a part of the federal interstate system of the federal aid primary system after October 22, 1965, the junkyard may be maintained until, but not beyond five (5) years after the date of erection or the date the portion of the highway involved became a part of the federal interstate system or the federal aid primary system, whichever date is later.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-105 When license required; license fee; limitations on issuance of license.

(a) No person shall establish, operate or maintain a junkyard, any portion of which is within one thousand (1,000) feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of the interstate or primary systems, without obtaining a junkyard license from the commission. The commission shall establish and collect fees for the issuance of junkyard licenses, and all fees collected shall be paid to the commission. (b) No junkyard license shall be issued for the establishment, operation or maintenance of a junkyard within one thousand (1,000) feet to the nearest edge of the right-of-way of the interstate or primary systems except for junkyards: (i) Screened by natural objects, plantings, fences or other appropriate means so as not to be visible from the main traveled way of the interstate or primary systems, or otherwise removed from sight; or (ii) Located within areas zoned for industrial use under authority of law; or (iii) Located within unzoned industrial areas as determined from actual land uses and defined by regulations promulgated by the commission; or (iv) Those which are not visible from the main traveled way of the highway system.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-106 Screening; relocation or removal of junkyards; condemnation proceedings.

(a) If considered feasible by the commission, any junkyard in existence on the effective date of this act which is located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of the interstate or primary systems and is visible from the main traveled way of the interstate or primary systems shall be screened by the commission. The screening shall be at locations on the right-of-way or in areas outside the right-of-way acquired for the purpose, so that the junkyard is not visible from the main traveled way of the interstate or primary systems. (b) When the commission determines that the topography of the land adjoining the interstate or primary systems will not permit adequate screening of such junkyards, or that the screening would not be economically feasible, the commission may require the relocation, removal or disposal of the junk and junkyard by negotiation or condemnation. When the commission determines that it is in the best interests of the state, it may acquire such land or interest in land as necessary to provide adequate screening of the junkyards. (c) Damages resulting from any taking of property in eminent domain shall include, but not be limited to acquisition costs, leasehold value and moving costs.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-107 Injunction to abate junkyards which are nuisances.

The establishment, operation or maintenance of any junkyard contrary to the provisions of this act is a public nuisance and the commission may apply to the district court of the county in which the junkyard is located for an injunction to abate the nuisance.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-108 Agreements with secretary of commerce.

The commission may enter into agreements with the secretary of commerce pursuant to title 23, United States Code, relating to the control of outdoor advertising and junkyards in areas adjacent to the interstate and primary systems, and to take action in the name of the state to comply with the terms of the agreements.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-19-109 More restrictive ordinances or regulations saved; just compensation required for taking of property.

Nothing in this act affects the provision of any lawful ordinance or regulation which is more restrictive than the provisions of this act, and nothing authorizes the taking of real or personal property, or restriction of its reasonable and existing use, without just compensation.
Source: Public.Resource.Org WY StatutesURL: https://unicourt.github.io/cic-code-wy/transforms/wy/ocwy/r78/gov.wy.code.title.33.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026