Cheyenne WY rent increase 2026 Cheyenne, Wyoming — “The Magic City of the Plains,” Wyoming’s largest city, and FIRST Wyoming city covered on RentCeiling — has no rent control of any kind in 2026. No Wyoming city has ever enacted residential rent control. Wyoming Residential Rental Property Act, Wyo. Stat. §§1-21-1201 et seq.: no statutory deposit cap; 30-day return deadline with itemized statement (Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208); actual damages only for wrongful withholding (no statutory multiplier); 3-day pay-or-quit notice (Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1303); Laramie County District Court, 309 W. 20th St., Cheyenne WY 82001. F.E. Warren AFB: 90th Missile Wing = ONE OF ONLY THREE MINUTEMAN III ICBM WINGS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES (alongside Malmstrom AFB Montana’s 341st Missile Wing and Minot AFB North Dakota’s 91st Missile Wing); ~3,400 military + civilian personnel = Laramie County’s LARGEST EMPLOYER; ~150 deployed Minuteman III ICBMs in hardened silos across ~16,000 sq mi. Wyoming: NO STATE INCOME TAX; NO CORPORATE INCOME TAX; mineral severance revenues fund ~40% of state government. Data center corridor: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure + Microsoft Azure Cheyenne campuses. Wyoming’s Dillon’s Rule posture — no municipality has ever attempted rent control.

Wyoming rent control status: why no Cheyenne ordinance can cap rents

Wyoming is one of the most landlord-friendly states in the Mountain West: no rent control at any level of government, no statewide preemption statute, no deposit cap, and a 3-day pay-or-quit notice period. No Wyoming city or county — not Cheyenne, not Casper, not Laramie, not Gillette, not Rock Springs, not Jackson Hole — has ever enacted a residential rent control ordinance.

Wyoming is a Dillon’s Rule state: local governments in Wyoming possess only those powers expressly granted by the Wyoming Legislature. Because the Wyoming Legislature has never granted municipalities the authority to enact rent control, no Wyoming municipality has the legal power to impose rent restrictions — and none has ever attempted to do so. This makes Wyoming’s rent-control prohibition functionally equivalent to states with explicit statutory preemption (Texas LGC §214.902; Wisconsin §66.1015), without requiring a named statute.

Unlike Oregon (ORS SB 611 statewide 7% + CPI cap since 2019), California (AB 1482 5% + CPI cap), and Washington state (which has not passed statewide rent control but has enacted local just-cause eviction ordinances in Seattle), Wyoming has never seen any legislative movement toward rent regulation at the state or local level. The practical result: Cheyenne landlords may raise rents at lease renewal by any amount with proper advance notice. No rent cap, no annual increase guideline, no stabilization board.

Wyoming law: Cheyenne deposit, notice, and eviction rules

Security deposit: no cap, 30-day return, actual damages — Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208

Wyoming’s security deposit law (Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208) governs all Cheyenne residential tenancies.

No statutory deposit cap: Wyoming imposes no limit on the security deposit amount a Cheyenne landlord may require. Unlike Alaska (2-month cap), Hawaii (1-month), Arizona (1.5-month), California (2-month), and Nevada (3-month), Wyoming imposes no ceiling. This flexibility is especially useful for Cheyenne landlords renting to military tenants with shorter typical tenancy horizons: a higher deposit (within reason) provides additional protection against early departure or damage from transient military households.

30-day return deadline (Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208): After tenancy termination and tenant vacation, the Cheyenne landlord must return the deposit balance with a written itemized statement of deductions within 30 days. Wyoming’s 30-day deadline matches Montana (MCA §70-25-201) and Nevada (NRS §118A.242). It is slower than Alaska (14 days — tied fastest in US), Arizona (14 days), Hawaii (14 days), Idaho (21 days), and California (21 days), but faster than Oregon (31 days). Calendar the move-out date the day the tenant vacates and set an immediate reminder for the 30-day deadline.

Actual damages only for wrongful withholding: A Cheyenne landlord who wrongfully withholds the deposit is liable for the tenant’s actual damages — Wyoming does NOT impose a statutory multiplier. This is Wyoming’s most landlord-favorable feature: Idaho imposes 3× treble damages, Hawaii imposes 3×, Alaska imposes 2×, Oregon 2×, Nevada 2×, California 2×. Wyoming and Montana share the most landlord-favorable deposit-penalty posture in the Mountain West. Document all deductions with dated photographs, contractor invoices, and move-out inspection reports to defend against actual damages claims.

No deposit interest required: Wyoming does not require Cheyenne landlords to pay interest on security deposits. Deposits may be held in a standard account without interest accrual requirements.

Eviction: 3-day pay-or-quit notice — Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1303

Wyoming eviction procedure requires a 3-day written notice to pay rent or quit the premises before commencing eviction proceedings (Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1303).

Wyoming’s 3-day notice period is among the shortest in the Mountain West, matching California (3-day), Montana (3-day), and Texas (3-day). It is significantly shorter than Washington state (14-day), Oregon (13-day), Alaska (7-day), and Nevada (7-day). Unlike Montana (which has an explicit mandatory cure right in MCA §70-24-422), Wyoming’s statute does not include an express mandatory cure right — though in practice, tenants who pay within the notice period typically preclude eviction.

Court: Laramie County District Court, 309 W. 20th St., Cheyenne, WY 82001. For smaller claims, Cheyenne Municipal Court. After the 3-day notice expires without payment or surrender, the landlord files for eviction (forcible entry and detainer) in Laramie County District Court.

Month-to-month termination: Wyoming requires at least 30 days’ advance written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. Serve the notice with adequate lead time and maintain proof of delivery.

F.E. Warren AFB and the 90th Missile Wing: Cheyenne’s nuclear deterrence anchor

Francis E. Warren Air Force Base is the LARGEST SINGLE EMPLOYER IN LARAMIE COUNTY and the most powerful force shaping Cheyenne’s rental market. Understanding F.E. Warren’s mission, scale, and workforce is essential for any Cheyenne landlord.

The 90th Missile Wing — ONE OF THREE US ICBM WINGS: F.E. Warren AFB is home to the 90th Missile Wing, one of only THREE MINUTEMAN III INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE WINGS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES:

• 90th Missile Wing — F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming (Cheyenne): covers southeastern Wyoming, northeastern Colorado, and southwestern Nebraska; ~150 Minuteman III ICBMs
• 341st Missile Wing — Malmstrom AFB, Montana (Great Falls): covers north-central Montana; ~150 Minuteman III ICBMs
• 91st Missile Wing — Minot AFB, North Dakota (Minot): covers western North Dakota; ~150 Minuteman III ICBMs

Together, the three wings maintain the US land-based ICBM nuclear deterrent force of approximately 400 deployed Minuteman III missiles in hardened underground launch facilities (silos) across roughly 55,000 square miles of the Northern Plains and Mountain West.

F.E. Warren’s history is unique among US military installations: established in 1867 as Fort D.A. Russell (one of the oldest continuously active military installations in the United States), renamed in honor of Francis E. Warren (Wyoming’s first state governor in 1890 and a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient). The base was transferred from the Army to the newly established Air Force in 1947 and received the first operational ICBM wing (Atlas missiles) in 1958 — making it the FIRST ICBM BASE IN THE UNITED STATES. Today it operates the most modern version of the Minuteman III, with ongoing modernization under the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) / Sentinel program to replace Minuteman III through the 2030s.

Personnel and economic impact:

• Active-duty Air Force military personnel: approximately 2,500–3,000
• Department of Defense civilian employees: approximately 600–800
• Defense contractors (Boeing Sentinel GBSD modernization, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, SAIC): approximately 1,000–1,500 additional personnel in the Cheyenne area
• Total economic impact: approximately $800M–$1.0B+ annually in the Laramie County economy
• BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) 2026: E-5 with dependents ~$1,600–$1,900/month; O-3 with dependents ~$2,100–$2,500/month; these BAH rates support mid-market Cheyenne rents in the military corridor

For Cheyenne landlords, F.E. Warren personnel represent approximately 20–35% of total rental demand — the largest single tenant cohort in the metro. Military tenants bring reliable income (military pay is contractually guaranteed) and BAH-funded rent payments, but also higher turnover risk (PCS cycles every 2–4 years) and SCRA lease-termination rights. Neighborhoods nearest F.E. Warren’s gates — West Cheyenne along Happy Jack Rd / W. Lincolnway — command the highest rents in the Cheyenne metro, at $1,000–$1,350 for a 2BR.

Wyoming state government: Cheyenne’s second anchor employer

Wyoming State Government is the second-largest employer in Cheyenne, with approximately 10,000–12,000 state employees concentrated in the capital complex. Key state agencies with major Cheyenne presence include:

• Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT): HQ Cheyenne; ~1,800 employees statewide; significant Cheyenne presence
• Wyoming Department of Health: Hathaway Building, Cheyenne; public health administration
• University of Wyoming (UW): Main campus in Laramie (45 miles west), but UW maintains Cheyenne programs, extension offices, and affiliate relationships; ~7,000 statewide employees
• Wyoming Legislature: Meets at Wyoming State Capitol (200 W. 24th St.; National Historic Landmark built 1886–1917; gold dome visible from miles); legislative session generates significant Cheyenne activity January–March
• Wyoming Supreme Court: Meets in Cheyenne; Supreme Court Building 2301 Capitol Ave
• Wyoming Workers’ Safety and Compensation Division: Cheyenne HQ

State government employment provides stable, recession-resistant income for a significant share of Cheyenne’s workforce. State employees are reliable long-term renters with predictable employment tenure, generating low-turnover demand concentrated in the Downtown Historic District, near the Capitol complex, and in south Cheyenne residential neighborhoods.

BNSF Railway: Cheyenne’s transcontinental freight hub

Cheyenne is a critical point on BNSF Railway’s transcontinental network, serving as a major division point where the Powder River Basin coal corridor meets the Northern Transcontinental mainline.

BNSF employs approximately 800–1,200 workers in the Cheyenne area across train operations, mechanical shops, car repair facilities, and administrative functions. The BNSF Cheyenne Mechanical Facility and classification yard handle high-volume coal traffic from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin (which produces approximately 40% of US coal by volume), grain traffic from the Northern Plains, and intermodal freight moving between the Midwest and Pacific Coast.

BNSF employees — engineers, conductors, carmen, machinists, and signal technicians — represent a stable mid-market rental cohort with union wages ($75,000–$120,000+ for train crews) and predictable schedules. BNSF employment concentrates in north and east Cheyenne near the railroad facilities.

Wyoming’s no-tax advantage and Cheyenne’s data center corridor

Wyoming’s exceptional tax structure is a defining characteristic of Cheyenne’s economic environment:

No state income tax: Wyoming is one of nine US states with no individual income tax (alongside Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington). This creates a meaningful net-income advantage for Cheyenne residents compared to workers in neighboring Colorado (4.4% state income tax), Montana (up to 6.75%), or Idaho (5.8%). A Cheyenne resident earning $80,000 saves approximately $3,500–$4,500 per year in state income taxes vs. a comparable worker in Denver.

No corporate income tax: Wyoming also imposes no corporate income tax, making it attractive for business formation. Wyoming LLC laws (among the most flexible, private, and charging-order-protected in the nation) have made Wyoming a popular state for business registrations from out-of-state entrepreneurs and asset protection planners.

Mineral severance revenues: Wyoming produces approximately 40% of US coal by volume from the Powder River Basin (Campbell County), plus significant oil (Natrona and Sublette counties) and natural gas production. Wyoming is also one of only two global sources of naturally occurring trona (Sweetwater County — produces approximately 90% of US soda ash, a critical industrial chemical used in glass, detergents, and paper manufacturing). Mineral severance taxes fund approximately 30–40% of Wyoming state government revenues, reducing the tax burden on residents and businesses.

Cheyenne data center corridor: Cheyenne has emerged as a growing hyperscale data center hub since approximately 2015, driven by: low electricity costs (Wyoming’s coal and wind power infrastructure), cool climate (reducing data center cooling costs), Wyoming’s zero income and corporate tax, land availability near I-25 and I-80, and reliable power grid. Notable Cheyenne data center presence:

• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (Oracle Corporation; NYSE: ORCL; Fortune 100; ~$55B annual revenue): Cheyenne has been an Oracle cloud region since approximately 2015; Oracle’s Cheyenne campus serves as a key western US cloud infrastructure node
• Microsoft Azure (Microsoft Corporation; NASDAQ: MSFT; Fortune 6; ~$245B annual revenue): Microsoft Azure operates data center infrastructure in the Cheyenne area as part of its US West 3 cloud region expansion
• Additional colocation and enterprise data centers serving I-25 technology corridor users

Data center employment is relatively small in headcount (large-scale hyperscale data centers require relatively few on-site employees — typically 50–200 per facility for operations, security, and maintenance), but the indirect economic effect — construction employment, electrical infrastructure investment, supply chain demand, and tech worker relocation — generates meaningful demand for professional housing in East Cheyenne and the I-25 corridor.

Cheyenne Frontier Days: “The Daddy of ‘Em All”

Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration, held annually during the last full week of July at Frontier Park (4501 N. Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001). First held in 1897, CFD has been celebrated continuously for 128 years — earning its nickname “The Daddy of ‘Em All.”

CFD attendance: approximately 200,000+ visitors over 10 days annually, generating significant short-term rental and hotel demand in Cheyenne. For property owners near Frontier Park (north Cheyenne neighborhood), CFD week is the highest short-term rental demand period of the year, with nightly rates for furnished units commanding substantial premiums. Frontier Park also hosts country music concerts with national acts throughout CFD week.

Cheyenne rent trajectory, 2019–2026

Cheyenne rent by neighborhood, 2026

Cheyenne vs. Mountain West state capitals and comparable cities: rent and law, 2026

Wyoming deposit law vs. Mountain West states, 2026

Cheyenne landlord compliance checklist, 2026

1. No rent increase cap. No Wyoming city or county has ever enacted rent control at any level of government. Raise rent at lease renewal by any amount with advance written notice as required by the lease. Wyoming imposes no rent increase restrictions of any kind.
2. No statutory deposit cap. You may collect any deposit amount. Unlike Alaska (2-month cap), Hawaii (1-month), Arizona (1.5-month), California (2-month), and Nevada (3-month), Wyoming imposes no ceiling. Standard Cheyenne practice is 1–2 months’ rent; higher deposits may be appropriate for military tenancies with higher turnover risk.
3. Return deposit within 30 days with itemized statement (Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1208). After tenancy termination and tenant vacation, return the deposit balance plus a written itemized statement of all deductions within 30 days. Calendar the move-out date the day the tenant vacates.
4. Actual damages exposure for wrongful withholding. Wyoming’s remedy is actual damages — no statutory multiplier. Document all deductions with dated photographs, contractor invoices, and move-out inspection reports to defend against actual damages claims. Wyoming’s landlord-favorable penalty is shared with Montana; both states are significantly more favorable than Idaho’s 3× or Alaska’s 2× damages.
5. No deposit interest obligation. Wyoming does not require Cheyenne landlords to pay interest on deposits. Deposits may be held in a standard account.
6. Serve 3-day pay-or-quit notice (Wyo. Stat. §1-21-1303). For non-payment of rent, serve a written 3-day notice to pay rent or vacate. After 3 days without payment, file for eviction in the Laramie County District Court, 309 W. 20th St., Cheyenne, WY 82001.
7. 30-day month-to-month termination notice. To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, provide 30 days’ advance written notice. Maintain written proof of delivery (certified mail or signed acknowledgment).
8. SCRA military tenant provisions. For military tenants at F.E. Warren AFB, include SCRA-compliant early termination provisions in all leases. Military tenants may terminate leases early without penalty upon receipt of PCS or deployment orders. Budget for periodic mid-lease vacancies driven by PCS cycles. Verify BAH rates each January (they adjust annually), as BAH rates set the practical rent ceiling for BAH-funded military tenants.

Further reading

• Billings MT rent increase 2026 — Montana MRLTA, no deposit cap, actual damages, 3-day cure right, ExxonMobil refinery, Billings Clinic
• Missoula MT rent increase 2026 — University of Montana R1, Providence St. Patrick Hospital Level II Trauma, USFS Northern Region 1 HQ
• Anchorage AK rent increase 2026 — AS 34.03.070, 14-day return (tied fastest US), JBER F-22, Willow Project
• Boise ID rent increase 2026 — Idaho Code §6-321, no deposit cap, 3× treble damages, Micron CHIPS Act $6.1B
• Salt Lake City UT rent increase 2026 — Utah Code §57-17, Silicon Slopes, Delta Air Lines hub, no rent control
• Montana landlord-tenant law 2026 — MRLTA MCA §§70-24-101, no deposit cap, actual damages, 3-day cure
• Denver CO rent increase 2026 — CRS §38-12, SB 23-184, tech sector, no statewide rent control