Wyoming’s rules come from the Residential Rental Property Act (Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1201 to 1-21-1211) and the forcible entry and detainer statutes (§§ 1-21-1001 and following). It is one of the most landlord-friendly states: a 3-day (72-hour) notice, fast circuit-court evictions, no rent control, and no statewide source-of-income protection. Wyoming also has no state fair-housing agency, so discrimination complaints go straight to HUD, and no single statewide voucher administrator — the Housing Authority of the City of Cheyenne is the largest, and rural counties can have a coverage gap. This page maps the authorities to apply to, the tenant-law framework, and where to get help.
- 211 Wyoming — dial 2-1-1 or 888-425-7138 for rent, utility, and shelter help
- Legal Aid of Wyoming: 1-877-432-9955 · lawyoming.org
- Housing Authority of the City of Cheyenne (largest voucher agency): (307) 633-8320
- Wyoming Community Development Authority (state HFA, not vouchers): (307) 265-0603
- LIEAP heating help (Dept. of Family Services): 1-800-246-4221 · lieapwyo.org
- HUD fair housing (Wyoming has no state agency): 1-800-669-9777
Major Wyoming public housing authorities
Unlike Montana, Wyoming has no single statewide voucher administrator. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are run by local and regional authorities, and the Wyoming Community Development Authority does not run vouchers (it handles finance and development only). The largest programs are:
- Housing Authority of the City of Cheyenne — PHA WY002, (307) 633-8320; by far the largest, with about 1,806 vouchers spread across multiple Wyoming cities plus public housing in Cheyenne and Laramie; its waitlist has generally been open
- Housing Authority of the City of Casper — PHA WY004, (307) 266-1388; waitlists have been closed with none scheduled to open
- Rock Springs Housing Authority — PHA WY003, (307) 352-1471
- Smaller low-rent authorities also operate in Buffalo, Douglas, Evanston, and Lusk; many rural counties have no local PHA at all
Because coverage is patchy, start with HUD’s PHA directory and read how to find your PHA. For tax-credit apartments, search HUD’s LIHTC database or read how to find LIHTC housing.
The Wyoming Community Development Authority & state programs
The Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) in Casper (307-265-0603 or 800-273-4635, wyomingcda.com) is the state housing finance agency, but it is a common misconception that it runs Section 8 — it does not. WCDA finances affordable development through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, tax-exempt bonds, HOME, the National Housing Trust Fund, and HOME-ARP, and it runs first-time homebuyer mortgages and down-payment help. For a voucher, you still apply to a local authority such as Cheyenne’s.
Emergency rent & heating help in Wyoming
Federal pandemic rental assistance has ended and Wyoming has no standing state rent fund, so ongoing help is local:
- LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) — run by the Wyoming Department of Family Services at 1-800-246-4221 (lieapwyo.org); heating aid matters through long, harsh winters
- Dial 211 (or 888-425-7138) for one-time rent and deposit funds through community-action agencies and DFS field offices; see emergency rental assistance
Wyoming tenant law: key protections at a glance
Quick reference: Wyoming
- Voucher administrator: local authorities only (Cheyenne is largest); no statewide agency and no WCDA voucher program
- Source-of-income protection: none — landlords may decline vouchers
- Rent control: none exists and no statute authorizes it
- Nonpayment / lease-violation notice: 3 days (72 hours) to pay, cure, or quit (Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1002)
- Month-to-month termination: generally one full rental period (about 30 days)
- Security deposit: no cap; returned within 30 days, or 15 days after you give a forwarding address, whichever is later (Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208)
- Self-help eviction: the court process is required, but Wyoming law sets no specific lockout penalty, so tenant remedies are weaker than in neighboring states
- Fair housing: no state agency — complaints go to HUD
Security deposits
Wyoming sets no cap on the deposit. After you move out, the landlord must return it within 30 days, or within 15 days after you provide a forwarding address, whichever is later — and up to 30 additional days if there was damage — with a written itemization of any deductions (Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208). Any nonrefundable portion has to be disclosed in writing up front (§ 1-21-1207). Put your forwarding address in writing the day you leave, and read how to recover your security deposit.
Eviction process & how long it takes
Wyoming evictions are fast. After a 3-day (72-hour) notice, the landlord files a forcible entry and detainer action in circuit court; after a writ of restitution a tenant may have only about two days to move out, so the whole process can run just two to five weeks. Wyoming’s warranty of habitability is also procedurally strict — you must stay current on rent, give written notice, and cannot use rent-withholding or repair-and-deduct. Because the clock is short, contact Legal Aid of Wyoming (1-877-432-9955) the day you get a notice, and read how to avoid eviction.
Source of income & fair housing
Wyoming has no source-of-income protection, so a landlord may legally decline a Housing Choice Voucher. It is also one of the few states with no state fair-housing law and no substantially-equivalent agency, which means every discrimination complaint goes directly to HUD’s Fair Housing office (Denver regional office, 1-800-877-7353, or 1-800-669-9777) within one year. See our source-of-income protections guide.
Tribal & veteran housing in Wyoming
- Wind River Reservation — the state’s only reservation is served by two tribal housing authorities, the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Housing Authority and the Northern Arapaho Housing Authority, both funded through HUD Indian Housing Block Grants (NAHASDA)
- HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
- Jackson / Teton County — one of the most expensive rental markets in the country, where the county publishes its own workforce affordable-rent caps; if you work there but cannot afford market rent, ask about Teton County housing programs
Nearby states
Rules change at the state line. Compare deposit caps, notice periods, and how vouchers are run:
- Montana tenant rights — the state runs Section 8 directly through Montana Housing
- Idaho tenant rights & Section 8 — fast evictions and statewide-agency vouchers
- South Dakota tenant rights — a one-month deposit cap
- Nebraska tenant rights — a 7-day nonpayment notice and stronger lockout remedies
- Alaska tenant rights — a two-month deposit cap and a 7-day notice
Where to get help in Wyoming
Tenant help & legal aid: Legal Aid of Wyoming (1-877-432-9955) handles evictions, repairs, and deposits; access-to-justice help is also at Equal Justice Wyoming, (307) 777-8383.
Discrimination complaints: Wyoming has no state fair-housing agency, so file with HUD’s Denver regional office (1-800-877-7353) or 1-800-669-9777 within one year.
Vouchers & local PHAs: start with the HUD PHA directory; in the southeast, the Housing Authority of the City of Cheyenne (307-633-8320) covers the most ground.
211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 for rent, heating, and shelter help statewide.
Next Steps
Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool maps Wyoming programs to your situation in about two minutes.
If you get a 72-hour notice, call Legal Aid of Wyoming (1-877-432-9955) immediately — the eviction timeline is short — and read eviction prevention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs Section 8 in Wyoming?
There is no statewide voucher agency. Local authorities run Housing Choice Vouchers, and the Housing Authority of the City of Cheyenne is by far the largest, administering about 1,806 vouchers across multiple cities plus public housing in Cheyenne and Laramie. The Wyoming Community Development Authority is the state finance agency and does not run vouchers, so apply to a local authority.
How fast can I be evicted for not paying rent in Wyoming?
Very fast. After a 3-day (72-hour) notice, the landlord files a forcible entry and detainer case in circuit court, and after a writ of restitution you may have only about two days to move out. The whole process can run just two to five weeks, so get legal help immediately.
When do I get my security deposit back in Wyoming?
Within 30 days after you move out, or within 15 days after you give the landlord a forwarding address, whichever is later, with a written itemization of any deductions (Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-1208). If there was damage, the landlord can take up to 30 more days. Provide your forwarding address in writing right away.
Where do I report housing discrimination in Wyoming?
Wyoming has no state fair-housing agency, so file directly with HUD's Fair Housing office — the Denver regional office at 1-800-877-7353, or 1-800-669-9777 — within one year of the incident. Legal Aid of Wyoming (1-877-432-9955) can help you prepare the complaint.
Can a landlord refuse my voucher in Wyoming?
Yes. Wyoming has no source-of-income protection at the state or local level, so a landlord may legally decline a Housing Choice Voucher. Federal protections against discrimination based on race, disability, family status, and other classes still apply.
Is there rent control in Wyoming?
No. No Wyoming city has rent control and no state statute authorizes it, so there is no legal cap on rent increases. In resort markets like Jackson, rents are among the highest in the nation; Teton County publishes its own workforce housing rent caps for income-restricted units.