The Wyoming Senate is considering measures to address the state’s housing shortage by reducing regulatory barriers for new developments, Wyoming News Now reports.
Senate File 40, titled “Zoning Protest Petition Amendments,” seeks to make it harder for small groups of residents to block proposed housing projects through zoning protests.
Communities across Wyoming face significant workforce housing shortages, defined as affordable housing for middle-income earners. Advocates believe easing regulatory hurdles could help increase housing availability, particularly multi-family units and apartment complexes.
Current state law allows 20% of neighboring landowners to file a protest petition against a development project, triggering a requirement for a supermajority vote by a governing body like a city council to approve the project. Under SF 40, the threshold for protest petitions would rise to 50%, and petitioners would need to demonstrate specific harm from the proposed development. Additionally, zoning changes could be approved with a simple majority vote instead of a three-quarters supermajority.
The bill emerged from discussions by the Regulatory Reduction Task Force, established in 2023 by Governor Mark Gordon to identify overregulation in state law. Proponents argue the changes balance property rights while reducing unnecessary barriers to much-needed housing developments.
In 2023, a proposed 195-unit apartment complex in Cheyenne, which would have included amenities like a pool and exercise facilities, was derailed after a protest petition prompted a supermajority vote requirement. Despite initial approval, the City Council ultimately rejected the zoning change.
Similarly, a smaller workforce housing project in Laramie failed due to a similar protest process, highlighting the challenges developers face across the state.
Mike Martin of the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) noted that while protests often represent a minority of landowners, their impact can stall critical housing projects.
“Multi-family units and apartments are one proposed solution for creating more affordable housing,” Martin said.
The lack of workforce housing has broader implications for Wyoming’s economy. Renny McKay, president of the Wyoming Business Alliance, emphasized the connection between housing availability and workforce challenges.
“We’ve had businesses offer people jobs, and they love the opportunity to come here, but they can’t find housing, so they turn the job down,” McKay said during public testimony.
According to the WCDA, Wyoming is short by 389 to 2,179 housing units annually to meet current demand. Over the next decade, the state will need to produce 20,000 to 38,000 units to accommodate population growth.
Supporters, including the Southeast Wyoming Builders Association, believe SF 40 is a step toward easing the housing crisis.
“Projects have been shut down because of this protest petition,” said Dan Dorsch of the Builders Association.
He cited a luxury apartment project in Cheyenne that failed by a narrow margin under the supermajority requirement.
Senator Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, explained that the bill’s intent is to ensure regulations are not overly burdensome while preserving property rights.
“This bill is … a balance of everyone’s property rights,” said Cindy DeLancey, a member of the Regulatory Reduction Task Force.
If passed, SF 40 would apply to zoning protests filed after July 1, 2025. Advocates hope the measure will pave the way for more housing developments to address Wyoming’s critical shortage while ensuring a fair process for all stakeholders.
