Overview: Short-term rentals (STRs) are allowed in Thayne, Wyoming and are presently lightly regulated at the municipal level. The documents reviewed indicate no adopted short‑term rental permit or registration program for the Town of Thayne itself. You may therefore operate an STR legally provided you comply with all applicable county, state, and federal requirements (including business licensing, zoning, health/safety, taxes, and nuisance laws). Adjacent jurisdictions (e.g., Star Valley Ranch) have their own STR ordinances; those do not apply within Thayne unless your property is physically located within their corporate limits.

How to start a short-term rental business in Thayne

• Confirm zoning and legal use:
  • Verify the property is in an area where short‑term rentals are a permitted or allowed use (e.g., within a residential zone). If your property is in a homeowners association (HOA), review covenants and rules that may restrict or condition STR activity.
• Obtain required licenses and tax accounts:
  • Wyoming Sales Tax Account: Register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue to collect and remit sales tax and any lodging tax imposed locally.
  • Lincoln County business license: Confirm current county licensing requirements and obtain any applicable license (verify scope with the County Clerk’s office; some counties require an annual business license for STRs).
• Taxes and reporting:
  • Classify the STR as lodging under Wyoming law and collect/remit all required sales and lodging taxes. Maintain accurate guest records and remittance reports.
• Guest management and local responsiveness:
  • Maintain accurate guest logs and contact information. Provide clear house rules and emergency information. Monitor operations for noise, parking, trash, and wildlife interactions. Respond promptly to neighbor or authority inquiries.
• Insurance and liability:
  • Carry appropriate property and liability coverage suitable for a lodging operation. Confirm that coverage meets lender and HOA requirements, if applicable.
• Marketing:
  • Comply with any anti‑nuisance, signage, parking, and occupancy standards that may apply under county or HOA rules. Prominently display emergency contact and house rules inside the unit.
• Operational readiness:
  • Meet fire safety and life‑safety standards; ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are functional; post address visibility and emergency procedures; arrange trash service and wildlife‑safe storage as needed.
• Record‑keeping:
  • Retain rental guest logs, tax filings, communications, and property records.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• Property and zoning confirmation (county assessor/planning or HOA documents).
• Wyoming Department of Revenue Sales Tax Account (for lodging sales tax).
• Lincoln County business license (confirm current requirements with the County Clerk).
• Lodging taxes and sales taxes (as required under state/local law).
• Guest logs and records (guest names, contact, rental dates).
• Fire/life safety documentation (as applicable):
  • Visible address (legible after dusk), posted emergency information and rules.
  • Working smoke alarms (each bedroom; at least one per level).
  • Carbon monoxide alarms (as applicable).
  • Fire extinguisher (e.g., 5‑lb, 3A:40‑B:C near kitchen; one per level recommended).
• HOA approvals or correspondence (if applicable).
• Insurance documentation (property/liability).

Specific regulations affecting STRs in Thayne, Lincoln County, and Wyoming

• Municipal (Thayne):
  • The reviewed ordinances are specific to Star Valley Ranch and do not apply to Thayne. No Thayne‑specific STR ordinance was identified in the provided materials. Absence of a city STR ordinance does not exempt you from county, state, HOA, fire code, health, or nuisance laws.
• County (Lincoln County):
  • County-level short‑term rental regulations were not provided in the materials. Confirm Lincoln County’s current zoning, nuisance, parking, occupancy, signage, and life‑safety requirements prior to operation.
• State of Wyoming:
  • Short‑term rentals are classified as lodging under Wyoming law and must collect/remit applicable sales and lodging taxes.
  • Owners must comply with building, fire, health, and life‑safety standards applicable to residential lodging (e.g., smoke/CO alarms, fire extinguishers, posted address/emergency info).
  • Operations must not create nuisances (noise, trash, parking violations, wildlife harassment).
• Other local overlays:
  • Star Valley Ranch (municipality adjacent to Thayne) has a separate STR ordinance. It is not applicable to Thayne unless your property lies within Star Valley Ranch’s corporate boundaries.

Contact information (local authority in charge of STRs; offices to verify and register)

• Town of Thayne (general inquiries; STR‑specific permitting not identified)
  • Phone: (307) 883‑2668
  • Email: Not specified in provided content
  • Website: Not provided in the provided content
• Lincoln County Clerk (business licensing and zoning confirmation)
  • Phone: (307) 877‑9058 (verify)
  • Email: Not specified in provided content
  • Website: Not provided in the provided content
• Lincoln County Planning & Zoning (zoning and nuisance standards)
  • Phone: Not specified in provided content
  • Email: Not specified in provided content
  • Website: Not provided in the provided content
• Wyoming Department of Revenue (sales/lodging tax registration)
  • Phone: Not specified in provided content
  • Email: Not specified in provided content
  • Website: Not provided in the provided content

Important notes and cautions

• HOA rules: Many subdivisions and HOAs in Star Valley/Lincoln County have restrictive covenants that govern STRs. Obtain written confirmation from your HOA before listing.
• Noise, parking, trash: Even absent city STR rules, county nuisance, parking, and solid‑waste ordinances apply. Ensure guests follow posted quiet hours, park legally, and store trash properly to prevent wildlife attraction.
• State life‑safety: Follow posted emergency information, working smoke/CO alarms, and appropriate fire extinguisher placement. Consider local wildlife considerations (e.g., bears) in trash storage and guest instructions.

Links to source pages (as provided)

• Star Valley Ranch STR Ordinance (effective 10 days after 3rd reading, 3/12/2024): cms9files.revize.com/starvalleyranch/Document_Center/Government/Ordinances/2024/9.A%20-%20Ord%202024-01%20Title%20XI%20Business%20Reg%20Chapter%20113%20STR%20-%203rd%20Reading.pdf
• SPAAR Short‑Term Rental Regulations (regional overview, not city‑specific to Thayne): spaar.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Short-Term-Rental-Regulations-in-SPAARs-Territory.pdf
• AirROI Thayne STR Market Report (regulation level indicator: “Low”): www.airroi.com/report/world/united-states/wyoming/thayne
• Sublette County STR Resolution (reference for county‑level STR structure; not applicable to Lincoln County/Thayne): www.sublettecountywy.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6399
• Pinedale Roundup article regarding municipal STR context (not applicable to Thayne): alpha.creativecirclecdn.com/nmcwyw/files/20240125-182348-c1685804c7185b475c9bc9ad10617351.zip~04162021.pdf

Disclaimers

• Local rules, contact details, and websites are provided only where they appear in the content above. Confirm current requirements directly with Lincoln County and the Wyoming Department of Revenue before operating.
• Market or news links are included only as references; jurisdiction‑specific rules differ and only apply where your property is located.