County Commission Votes To Preserve Small Business
The staff at Laramie.Free would like to thank the Laramie County Commissioners for listening to their citizens. Today, approximately 350 people from Laramie County (as Commissioner Troy mentioned, more than he's ever seen) took several hours out of their day to explain to the County what they believe was missed in the new land use regulations, with respect to the Home Occupation Permits. The Commissioners saw the wisdom, and voted to remove the permit requirements, the application requirements, the plot plan, and the fees related to home occupations, as well as restoring the "by right" language. While democracy is not always pretty, and can sometimes be a contact sport, by and large the tone was respectful.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to each and every individual who helped in this charge; whether you wrote a letter, called, spread the word, attended the meeting, or just kept us in your prayers. Sometimes it was hard to keep up the fight, with unwarranted accusations of spreading false and misleading rhetoric, being referred to as uneducated bumpkins, and other slings and arrows, but we all perservered. This is how we can effectuate change.
Now that this fight is concluded, Laramie.Free will go offline, and will not update further.
. . .
For now.
The below retained for historical interest.
Urgent: Stop New Home Occupation Rules Threatening Laramie County
Your property rights and home-based livelihood are under immediate threat. In just days, on August 5, 2025 at 3:30PM, Laramie County commissioners will vote on sweeping new Land Use Regulations that include onerous Home Occupation Permit requirements. These proposed rules were introduced with minimal public notice, meaning many landowners still have no idea their rights could drastically change overnight. This grassroots page aims to inform our community and mobilize opposition before it's too late.
Key Issues with the Proposed Regulations
- Permits required for all home businesses: Any economic activity on your property - from selling eggs or home-baked goods to 4-H animal projects or even Tupperware parties - would require a county permit. This includes ventures already legal under the state's Wyoming Food Freedom Act, directly undermining that law's intent to free small producers from red tape.
- Invasive inspections & heavy fines: If these rules pass, officials could inspect your home business at any time to ensure "compliance". Violations would carry fines as high as $750 per day - an astronomical penalty that could crush families over minor infractions.
- Property re-zoning and tax hikes: Nearly every rural residential property is slated for re-zoning under the new plan. This rezoning not only adds use restrictions (and agricultural uses aren't explicitly allowed at all) but could also raise your property taxes by changing your land's classification. Landowners chose county life for freedom - now that freedom is at risk.
- Threats to home-based livelihoods: The regulations impose new hurdles on home enterprises that have operated peacefully for years. Entrepreneurs worry that "free" permits will soon carry fees and open the door to bureaucratic meddling. If you comply with state law and aren't bothering anyone, why should you need a permission slip from the county?
- Rushed process, little public input: The county's planning office spent months crafting 100+ additional pages but gave landowners only a few short weeks of notice. Most residents affected still don't know about the August 5 vote. This lack of transparency and outreach means the very people whose lives and property values are on the line have barely had a say in the matter.
Voices from the Community
"The proposed regulations require a permit for any home business activity... This is redundant and invasive. It's presented as 'deregulation,' but it's just more red tape." - Denel Pugh, local home bakery owner
"We have a right to earn a living. I don't think we should have to get permission from the county to do that. Requiring a permit to work from home is an overreach and an infringement." - Julie Formby, Laramie County resident
"Let the people of Laramie County have the freedom to use their land for what they want without paying for some 'permit' all the time." - Dan Macoubrie, rural landowner
Take Action Now - Defend Your Rights
1. Attend the Public Meeting (Aug 5): Mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 3:30PM. Join fellow citizens at the Laramie County Commissioners' meeting in the Board Room, 310 W 19th St, Cheyenne (Historic Courthouse). A strong turnout matters - show up and voice your opposition to these regulations. Many landowners are still unaware of this vote, so every person counts!
2. Email the County Commissioners: Send a respectful but firm message urging them to vote NO on the new home occupation permit rules. Email all commissioners at commissioners@laramiecountywy.gov and Please CC freelaramie@proton.me so we can track responses. Let them know how these changes would affect you, and that government overreach into our homes and businesses is unacceptable.
3. Spread the Word: Time is short. Share this information with neighbors and friends in Laramie County. Post on social media, text or email your HOA and community groups, talk to fellow small business owners. The more people know about this, the harder it will be for officials to push it through quietly. Our strength is in our numbers and our voices - let's use them!
Learn More & Get Informed
UPDATE: Radio Interviews on KGAB
UPDATE 2: The Planning Director Strikes Back
UPDATE 3: Auto Repairs and Citizen Autonomy
In a group I have been following someone suggested that the impetus behind this is related to a county resident engaging in a home auto-repair business. And that the county has received complaints about it. This is very interesting for a couple of reasons.
- If all home businesses are already illegal as Planning Director Justin Arnold has explicitly stated, then why can't the county already proceed against that business? According to the regulations in the email Justin sent above, that's already prohibited. Why do they need additional powers?
- There are several avenues that the county could pursue against a noxious business - common law nuisance, environmental regulations, noise ordinances, etc. They don't need additional authority, they just don't want to use the tools that they already have.
- If this is actually true, that some auto repair business is the motivating factor, then this response is even more frustrating. Literally one guy's bad acts and every citizen of the county now has to acceed to random inspections just to practice their business, vocation, or trade at home.
Others have said it's related to a Wyoming Supreme Court Case, Asphalt Specialties Co., Inc. v. Laramie County Planning Commission. If that's the reason, then the Planning Department is misunderstanding that case (which only requires a passed zoning ordinance, not merely an advisory "plan").
UPDATE 4: Perhaps a bit of understanding?
UPDATE 5: Hiding behind technical language...
- Justin replied to our above email. He takes the tack that "by right" doesn't necessarily mean without a permit. But this is just hiding behind technical language, because he has never pointed out where a permit is currently required. So he's moving the goalposts.
- Here's our reply. Even if "by right" doesn't necessarily mean "by right", in the context of the 2022 regs the creation of a new permit is not warranted. And it cannot be called deregulation in any form or fashion.
Many landowners still don't know about these drastic changes - please share this page and help spread the word. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable and keep Laramie County free from overregulation.