Land buyers guide
Buying Land in Southeast Wyoming
A short guide to acreage in Laramie, Albany, Platte and Goshen counties: what to check, who to call, and what to ask before you make an offer.
Before you offer
The checklist for rural acreage
Land runs a little differently than a house in town. A good plan keeps surprises small.
Walk it first
Find the corners, the road, and the best building spot. Ask what is already in place: a well, septic, power, a driveway, fencing.
Get the paperwork early
Ask for the title commitment, any survey or plat, recorded covenants, and well or septic records. Reading these in week one saves time later.
Plan the timeline
Permits and utility quotes take time. Build enough due diligence time into your contract to get real answers.
Line up financing
Land loans work differently than home loans. Talk with a lender who does rural land before you start touring.
Water and septic
Wells, water rights, and septic
Both are county or state matters, so ask early.
Wells
Wyoming requires a permit from the State Engineer before a well is drilled, including domestic and stock wells. The State Engineer's Office says domestic and stock permits typically take 1 to 2 weeks. If a well already exists, ask for the permit number and the well record.
Water rights
Water rights can be tied to the land. Ask what comes with the parcel, whether any ditch or reservoir rights are involved, and confirm the records with the State Engineer's Office.
Septic
Septic systems need a permit before construction starts. Wyoming DEQ permits small systems directly in Platte County. In Laramie County, septic permits go through Cheyenne-Laramie County Public Health. For Albany and Goshen counties, check with the county.
Soil and site
A percolation test and a site look tell you where a septic system can go. That can shape where you place the house.
Power, access, and rules
Utilities, roads, and covenants
Power at the road is not always power at the building site.
Power and utilities
Call the local power provider. Ask where the lines end and what it costs to extend service to your site. Also ask about internet, propane, and trash service.
Legal access
Confirm in writing how you reach the parcel: county road, private road, or easement. Wyoming's standard subdivision rules generally do not apply to parcels of 35 acres or larger, but those parcels still need recordable easements (at least 40 feet wide) to a public road unless waived in a recordable document. Counties can add their own rules, so check with county planning.
Covenants and zoning
Read any recorded covenants before you offer. They can cover things like home size, outbuildings, animals, and road upkeep. County zoning and building rules apply too.
Minerals and easements
Ask what the title commitment says about mineral rights, pipelines, power lines, and other easements on the parcel.
Financing
Financing land
Plan on more down than a typical home loan.
Farm Credit and local lenders
Land loans often ask for a larger down payment than home loans. Farm Credit Services of America notes that about 35% down is common on many agricultural land loans, though it varies by property and borrower. Farm Credit land loan guide. Local banks and credit unions that do rural lending are worth a call too.
USDA Farm Service Agency
FSA offers Farm Ownership loans for eligible farm and ranch buyers, including a down payment program for eligible beginning farmers. Applications go through your local FSA office. FSA farm ownership loans.
Where to look
County planning offices
Each county sets its own permitting steps, so call before you plan a build.
Looking near Laramie? See Wild Horse Ranch or browse current land listings.
Ready to look at land?
Tell Mariah what you want to build or do with the ground, your range, and your timeline. She will help you narrow it down.
This page is general information. Rules, fees, and processes change, and every parcel and county is different. Confirm details with the county, the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, Wyoming DEQ, your lender, and your title company.