Investment Property Loans in Cheyenne, WY

Laramie County voters decide on November 3, 2026, whether to renew the county's 2% lodging tax on sleeping accommodations, a ballot list that names short-term condominiums alongside hotels, motels and campgrounds.

For investors: The ballot wording reaches short-term condominiums and similar establishments, not only hotels, so an owner planning nightly stays in Cheyenne should check the November 3 result and confirm with the county whether the 2% applies before setting nightly rates.

Source: Laramie County Clerk, Notice of Lodging Tax Election (dated September 28, 2026), Sep 2026

Cheyenne's development code treats a bed and breakfast as accessory to a home where the business owner lives, with no more than six guest rooms and guest stays capped at 14 consecutive days.

For investors: The owner-residency rule closes this route to an absentee investor. Before counting on nightly income from a whole house in Cheyenne, ask Planning and Development in writing how that use is classified in the property's zone.

Source: City of Cheyenne Unified Development Code, Sec. 5.7.9 and Sec. 1.4.3 definitions (full PDF), Oct 2026

Laramie County's first-half property tax is payable by November 10 and the second half by May 10, and paying the whole year by December 31 avoids interest on the first installment.

For investors: Bills go out by October 10, so a fall closing in Cheyenne should settle who pays the first half. Unpaid taxes turn delinquent on May 21, and the county advertises its tax sale each July, so missed bills escalate quickly.

Source: Laramie County Treasurer, Property Tax Calendar, Oct 2026

The City of Cheyenne cites its August 1, 1985 thunderstorm as its deadliest flood: record 24-hour rainfall, 12 deaths and $65 million in property damage along Dry Creek and Crow Creek.

For investors: Cheyenne flooding comes from thunderstorms between late spring and early fall that pond streets and yards and back up sewers into basements. On any rental near Dry Creek or Crow Creek, ask about past basement water before pricing the purchase or the insurance.

Source: City of Cheyenne Engineering, Floodplain Services, Oct 2026

Beyond FEMA's maps, Cheyenne regulates its own Special Flood Hazard Areas in seven urban drainage basins: Crow Creek, Dry Creek, Capitol, Holliday, East Lincolnway, Henderson and Clear Creek.

For investors: Banks and insurers read FEMA's maps, which leave out these city-regulated areas, so a clean flood certificate does not settle the question. Ask Engineering Services whether the lot is affected before planning an addition, since building in a floodway is prohibited.

Source: City of Cheyenne Engineering, Floodplain Map (based on the January 17, 2007 FIRM), Oct 2026

FEMA's October 2026 list keeps the City of Cheyenne at Community Rating System Class 7, worth 15% off flood insurance, while Laramie County's own program is rated Class 8, worth 10%.

For investors: The city says the 15% applies automatically to any NFIP policy at a Cheyenne address. A rental just outside city limits falls under the county rating instead, and its floodplain questions go to the County Planning Department rather than city engineers.

Source: FEMA, CRS Eligible Communities, October 1, 2026 Effective Date, Oct 2026

Cheyenne allows one accessory dwelling unit per detached single-unit lot where the zone permits, capped at 40% of the main home or 1,200 square feet, though a basement apartment may fill the basement.

For investors: ADUs are barred on lots with apartment buildings or attached and semi-attached homes, so this suits detached houses only. Budget one extra off-street parking space and a recorded Notice of ADU Regulations in Laramie County land records after the city approves.

Source: City of Cheyenne Unified Development Code, Sec. 5.7.3 Accessory Dwelling Units, Oct 2026

Cheyenne's code amendment log lists Ordinance 4659, dated February 9, 2026, which removed the owner-occupancy requirement from the city's accessory dwelling unit rules.

For investors: Until this change, the owner had to live on the lot to add a second unit. A detached Cheyenne rental can now carry an ADU where the zone allows one, adding a second rent roll on one parcel. Confirm the zone first.

Source: City of Cheyenne Unified Development Code, Appendix K Amendments, Oct 2026

Cheyenne's Board of Public Utilities maintains the water and sewer mains, while the owner owns and repairs the water service line past the curb stop and the sewer line from the main into the building.

For investors: A sewer camera inspection is worth ordering on an older Cheyenne rental, since a failed lateral is the owner's bill. The utility also holds owners responsible for keeping meters from freezing, so a vacant unit in winter needs heat and regular checks.

Source: Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities, Property Owner's Responsibility, Oct 2026

Cheyenne sets building permit fees on the full project value, including materials and labor, and charges a separate plan review fee equal to 65% of the permit fee.

For investors: A renovation budget for a Cheyenne rental should carry the permit fee plus that 65% review charge. Inspections are booked through the city's OpenGov portal, where certificates of completion and occupancy are also printed once the work passes.

Source: City of Cheyenne Compliance Department, Building Permit Information, Oct 2026

F.E. Warren Air Force Base, home of the 90th Missile Wing, reports about 2,800 military personnel and 550 civilian employees, plus roughly 4,000 family members and 3,000 military retirees in the area.

For investors: That headcount gives Cheyenne a renter pool tied to base staffing rather than private hiring. Service members arrive and leave on orders, though, so leases aimed at them need a military clause and realistic turnover assumptions.

Source: F.E. Warren Air Force Base, 90th Missile Wing fact sheet (official page read via its July 24, 2026 web archive copy), Jul 2026

F.E. Warren houses unaccompanied Airmen in grades E-1 to E-4 with under three years of service in 12 dormitories; other single Airmen live off base, helped by a Housing Management Office.

For investors: Single Airmen above those grades look for Cheyenne apartments and small houses on a housing allowance. The base office monitors listings on the Automated Housing Referral Network and explains military lease clauses to members, so list there with that clause ready.

Source: F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Newcomers Information: Living Arrangements (official page read via its May 14, 2026 web archive copy), May 2026