<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2WIW1y_1GoN5u5n00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2WIW1y_1GoN5u5n00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>From left, Casper Mayor Ray Pacheco, Amber Pollock, Pat Sweeney, Michael Bond and Matt Larsen take part in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 Casper City Council meeting. (Tommy Culkin, Oil City News)</figcaption></figure>CASPER, Wyo. — After weeks of discussion and deliberation, the Casper City Council on Tuesday officially approved a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s building and construction regulations. The approved ordinance modernizes local construction standards by formally adopting updated national model codes — including the 2024 International Building Code and the 2024 International Fire Code — while reorganizing administrative rules and establishing an updated permit fee schedule based on fiscal year 2025 revenue. Chief Building Official Justin Scott said the updates are intended to remove obsolete language, correct grammatical errors and align local enforcement with evolving state and national guidelines. Among the core structural changes outlined by Scott are new licensing classifications for specialized sub-trades like concrete, framing, drywall and insulation, as well as a mandatory four-hour annual continuing education requirement for licensed contractors. Under the new framework, subcontractors working directly under a licensed general contractor are not required to obtain independent licenses unless they operate as distinct business entities. The updates to the city’s building and construction regulations, which fall under Title 15 of the municipal code, also included a comprehensive fee structure for permits, plan reviews, inspections and contractor licensing, calibrated against Casper’s highest-grossing permit fee revenue year, fiscal year 2025. Permit fees for building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical projects are calculated based on total project valuation, including all labor and materials. Fees start at $60 for projects valued up to $500, scaling incrementally up to $1,090 for valuations reaching $100,000. Projects over $100,000 are assessed at the $1,090 amount for the first $100,000, plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000. Former Mayor and Natrona County Commissioner Steve Freel, representing the Central Wyoming Board of Realtors, raised several concerns regarding the new regulations, urging the council to establish clearer guidelines for continuing education requirements and questioning the necessity of creating standalone subcontractor licenses for trades operating under licensed general contractors. Freel also pointed to what he described as an equity gap in permit regulations, pointing out that while homeowners occupying their primary residences can pull their own permits and commercial building owners may manage minor renovations, non-occupying owners of single-family rental properties are required to hire licensed general contractors for major work. “If you’re trying to put a mechanism in place where somebody that wants to be a general contractor would follow that, then maybe you should have one single license that allows people to do that,” Freel said. However, opinions varied among members of the public. General contractor Alicia Bell spoke in support of the trade-specific license options. She noted that Casper had previously lacked formal licensing categories for specialized trades like drywalling, leaving experienced local workers without a pathway to credentialing. She added that unpermitted or improperly executed work on residential rental properties poses safety risks that can extend to neighboring structures. “Through the course of getting my [general contractor’s] license, it would have been easier had I had my drywaller’s license, because that question was asked: ‘Why were you not licensed?’ Because Casper didn’t offer it,” she said. Councilor Pat Sweeney introduced an amendment to strike the broader Title 15 overhaul and adopt only the 2026 National Electrical Code, arguing that delaying the remaining chapters would allow city staff more time to resolve contractor concerns. The amendment failed, however, with only Councilors Gena Jensen and Michael McIntosh siding with Sweeney. Defending the change, Councilor Amber Pollock said city staff would establish specific administrative criteria and approve course lists for continuing education before the renewal deadlines take effect. The changes ultimately passed 6–3, with Sweeney, Jensen and McIntosh casting the dissenting votes. </div></body>

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CASPER, Wyo. — After weeks of discussion and deliberation, the Casper City Council on Tuesday officially approved a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s building and construction regulations. The approved ordinance modernizes local construction standards by formally adopting updated national model codes — including the 2024 International Building Code...

Casper adds continuing education requirements, additional license classifications in building code update

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CASPER, Wyo. — After weeks of discussion and deliberation, the Casper City Council on Tuesday officially approved a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s bu

Casper adds continuing education requirements, additional license classifications in building code update

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