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Dubois, WY

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STR Regulations for Dubois, Wyoming

Overview: STR Legality in Dubois, WY

  • Explicit Confirmation: Yes, Short-Term Rentals (STRs) are allowed in Dubois, Wyoming, BUT ONLY with a valid annual Special Use Permit issued by the Town of Dubois. This is a strict requirement defined in Dubois Town Code, Title 7, Chapter 5 ("Short Term Lodging Unit").
  • Important Limitation: No more than 25 STR Special Use Permits may be issued by the Town at any one time. This creates a capped market.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Dubois

  1. Verify Property Eligibility: Ensure the property is located in an eligible zoning district (Residential Zones B, C, or Business Zone D). No permits are available for Residential Zone A or undeveloped lots in any district.
  2. Prepare Required Documentation & Information: See the "Required Documents" section below.
  3. Submit Application: Obtain and complete the Special Use Permit application at the Town Administration Office.
  4. Pay Fees: Pay the non-refundable application fee of $200.00.
  5. Undergo Notification Process:
    • Notification to Neighbors: Provide evidence of notification to adjacent property owners (within 140 ft. for Zone B, 100 ft. for Zone C, Business D follows Zone C rules).
    • Public Notice & Hearing: The Town Clerk will set a public hearing date. You must publish a notice in the official newspaper (at least 7 days prior) and post a conspicuous sign on the property (at least 10 days prior to the hearing) stating the date, time, and purpose.
    • Attend Hearing: You (the applicant) must be present at the hearing or the permit will be denied.
  6. Town Council Decision: The Town Council will approve or deny the permit after the hearing, based on compliance and any public comments/protests.
  7. Finalize Compliance: If approved, display the Special Use Permit and required contact information prominently inside the unit.
  8. Ongoing Operation: Comply with all permit terms, safety requirements, local ordinances (noise, trash, parking), and tax obligations.
  9. Renewal: Apply for renewal annually, at least 30 days before the permit expires (March 31), with the renewal fee set by Council Resolution. Note: Notification of neighbors is NOT required for renewals.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Town-Level Requirements (Dubois):

  1. Town of Dubois Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental: Mandatory. Issued annually (expires March 31). Application fee: $200. Non-transferable.
  2. Completed Application Form: Available at the Town Administration Office. Must include:
    • Applicant's name & address.
    • Property location.
    • Proof of Ownership: Must be the owner of record.
    • Zoning Compliance Affidavit: Statement affirming compliance with all zoning requirements. No STRs in Zone A.
    • Maximum Occupancy: As allowed by zoning.
    • Unit Count: Cannot exceed number allowed by zoning code for Residential Zones B & C.
    • Primary Local Contact: Name, address, phone number reachable 24/7.
    • Display Requirements: Affidavit to display permit and contact info inside the unit.
    • Wyoming Sales & Use Tax License: Mandatory. Must provide a copy. STRs are lodging facilities by state law. (See State Requirements below).
    • Insurance Certificate: Mandatory. Must maintain fire, hazard, and liability insurance without excluding short-term rentals. Provide a copy.
    • Compliance Affidavit: Acknowledgement that violations can lead to suspension/revocation.
    • Guest Information Distribution Plan: Commitment to provide guests with local noise, trash, and other relevant regulations and the 24/7 contact info.
    • Parking Plan: Confirmation that renter/guest parking will be limited to the property's right-of-way, garage, and driveway without obstructing neighbors.
  3. Proof of Neighbor Notification: As described in Step 5 above.
  4. Safety Equipment: Operational restroom facility, smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher in each unit. Town may inspect.
  5. Submission of Application & Scheduling of Hearing: Fee payment and notification proof submitted to Town Clerk.
  6. Appearance at Public Hearing.
  7. Displaying Permit & Contact Information: Inside the unit.

State-Level Requirements (Wyoming):

  1. Wyoming Sales & Use Tax License: Mandatory for all STR operators. Register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue (WDR) to collect/remit state sales tax (4%) and state lodging tax (5%).
  2. State Tax Collection & Remittance: Collect applicable taxes (4% Sales Tax + 5% Lodging Tax = 9% total state taxes) on gross rental receipts. Remit quarterly (or as required by WDR). Note: Some platforms (Airbnb/VRBO) may collect some taxes automatically. Registering with WDR is still required for compliance.
  3. Record Keeping: Maintain detailed revenue records for tax filings.

Specific Regulations for Dubois, Fremont County, and Wyoming

City of Dubois (Town Code, Title 7, Ch. 5):

  • Eligibility: Allowed only in Residential Zones B, C, and Business Zone D. Prohibited in Zone A and all undeveloped lots. Limited to zoning-permitted unit counts in B & C.
  • Permit Requirement: Annual Special Use Permit mandatory per unit. Cap of 25 permits town-wide.
  • Safety: Mandatory smoke & CO detectors, fire extinguisher, operational restroom per unit. Inspections allowed.
  • Operations: 24/7 local contact required. Contact info & permit must be displayed inside. Guest parking restricted to property. Trash/noise regulations apply.
  • Process: Application ($200), neighbor notification (140ft B/100ft C), public hearing (new permits only), Town Council approval.
  • Renewal: Annual renewal before March 31 (fee set by Resolution). No neighbor notification for renewals.
  • Revocation: Grounds include safety violations, zoning violations, nuisance, unresponsive contact, citations issued to guests, non-compliance with permit conditions, lack of response to complaints. 10-day cure period. Complaint-based revocation possible after 3 complaints within 6 months.
  • Violation Penalty: Misdemeanor.

Fremont County:

  • Primary Local Taxes: While state lodging tax allocates 2% to local government (likely Fremont County), the county itself does not appear to have additional specific STR licensing requirements based on the provided content. However, verify any additional local taxes or regulations directly with Fremont County. The provided county board document link is inaccessible.

State of Wyoming:

  • State Lodging Tax: 5% of gross rental receipts (stays under 30 days). (3% to State Tourism, 2% to local govt).
  • State Sales Tax: 4% of gross rental receipts (stays under 30 days).
  • Combined State Tax: 9% (4% Sales + 5% Lodging) typically collected on STR revenues in Dubois.
  • Registration: Mandatory registration with the Wyoming Department of Revenue (WDR) to obtain a Sales & Use Tax License for lodging facilities.

Contact Information

  1. Town of Dubois Administration Office:
    • Address: 624 Bismarck St, Dubois, WY 82513
    • Phone: (307) 455-2165
    • Website: townofdubois.org (Go to "Document Center" - "Title 07 - Business Licensing and Regulation")
  2. Wyoming Department of Revenue (Excise Tax Division):
    • Phone: (307) 777-5200
    • Website: revenue.wyo.gov (For Sales & Use Tax registration and lodging tax info)
  3. Fremont County Government (Verify Local Taxes):
    • Website: fremontcountywy.gov (Specific STR contact info not found in provided content)
    • Phone: (307) 332-1000 (General)
  4. Wyoming Office of Tourism:

Links to Source Pages

  1. Dubois Town Code - Title 7, Chapter 5 (Short-Term Lodging): townofdubois.org/DocumentCenter/View/1074/Title-07---Business-Licensing-and-Regulation (Primary Source for All Dubois Regulations)
  2. Local Article Summarizing Dubois STR Laws: theoffersheet.com/legal/dubois-wy (Note: This article states no municipal permits are required, which is contradicted by the official Town Code requiring the Special Use Permit. Rely on the official code).
  3. Fremont County Board of Commissioners Ordinance (Original Ch. 5 Creation - Inaccessible Content): go.boarddocs.com/wy/fremont2/Board.nsf/files/BCN58U79EA6C/$file/20190514%20Ord%20439%20Creating%20Chapter%205%20of%20Title%207%20Short%20Term%20Lodging%20SHORT%20Attny%20Changes%20and%20Mayor%20Changes%20SECOND%20READING.docx
  4. Wyoming Dept. of Revenue (Tax Registration): revenue.wyo.gov

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Dubois?

Dubois hosts earn a median $35,506/year with $232 ADR and 59% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $43,132+ per year.

See the full Dubois market breakdown

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Dubois

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
6/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Dubois Market Analysis

Photos of Dubois

Overview of Dubois

Dubois is a small, characterful town tucked into the Upper Wind River Valley in Fremont County, Wyoming, with a population of roughly 950 residents. It sits in a striking transition zone where the red desert of the Wind River Basin meets the timbered slopes of the Absaroka and Wind River mountain ranges, giving it a rugged Western character that blends old ranching heritage with outdoor-recreation tourism. The town is best known as a gateway to some of the most scenic backcountry in the Greater Yellowstone region, and it lies about 80 miles southeast of Yellowstone National Park along US Highway 26, with Casper — the nearest sizable Wyoming city — roughly 140 miles to the east.

One of the town's marquee attractions is the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center, located right in Dubois. Operated in partnership with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the center tells the story of wild sheep and the surrounding ecosystem through dioramas, exhibits, and an indoor mountain habitat that is home to a resident herd of bighorn sheep. Visitors can walk through at their own pace in a typical stop of an hour or two, making it an easy add-on for travelers passing through town.

Just outside Dubois, the eastern flank of the Wind River Range rises sharply from the valley, drawing hikers, anglers, and horseback riders. Trailheads leading into the Fitzpatrick and Washakie wilderness areas, including popular routes to alpine lakes, are within roughly 30 minutes to an hour's drive of town, and the range's high-country scenery — granite cirques, glacier-carved valleys, and snow-streaked summits — is widely considered some of the best backcountry terrain in the Rockies.

A little farther afield, the town functions as a staging point for journeys into the southern portions of Yellowstone. The highway over Togwotee Pass, about an hour and a half to two hours northwest of town, climbs into the Absaroka Range and continues toward the park, a route prized for its sweeping alpine vistas. In the opposite direction, the surrounding high desert and badlands offer wildlife viewing for bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule deer, and the occasional moose, much of it visible right from the highway.

For travelers looking to own a short-term rental, Dubois occupies a rare sweet spot: small enough to feel authentic and uncrowded, yet strategically placed at the crossroads of two of the country's most iconic outdoor destinations. Guests come for the wilderness and stay for the town's quiet, Western hospitality, and a well-located property here can serve as a comfortable base for everything from a summer hiking trip to a winter snowmobile excursion into the surrounding mountains.

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