Wyoming is known as a state of firsts. The state elected its first woman governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross. In 1869, Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote. Yellowstone was designated as the first National Park, and Devil’s Tower was the first national monument in the United States.
Most of us know these facts about our amazing state, but most probably don’t know about the state’s firsts regarding the design profession. In 1907, the Wyoming State Engineer, Clarence Johnson, proposed a bill for the Wyoming State Legislature to consider requiring the licensure of engineers and land surveyors. The bill passed, and Wyoming became the first state to require the registration of engineers. Charles Bellamy became the first licensed engineer in the nation under the state of Wyoming’s requirements. For those who graduated from the University of Wyoming Engineering school a while ago, you may have had a surveying or other course from John Bellamy, Charles’ son.
Wyoming continues to lead the way in the design profession with its proactive approach to adopting governing codes. The state has consistently been the first or one of the first states to adopt the current International Building Code in the last 12 years and continues to lead the way in keeping construction projects in the state aligned with present-day code requirements. Presently, only nine states in the U.S. have adopted the 2021 IBC, and Wyoming led the way in adopting the 2021 IBC.
The State’s proactive approach to adopting current codes requires that design professionals practicing in Wyoming stay current in their knowledge of the Code and the changes made every three years when the new I-Codes are issued. The other aspect of code compliance for architects in Wyoming is understanding the authority having jurisdiction for any given project. The plan review process does vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but state statute stipulates the codes that govern construction in Wyoming, which has consistently been the most recent edition of the IBC and associated Codes. The Wyoming State Department of Fire Protection and Electrical Safety (State Fire Marshal’s Office) is tasked with enforcing those codes. In some cases, local jurisdictions have “home rule” and the ability to review documents and enforce the code on behalf of the State. Other jurisdictions have partial oversight leaving other portions to the State. As architects, it is our responsibility to know what jurisdiction covers the project we are working on and to understand the plan review and permitting requirements of that jurisdiction.
The following chart indicates code enforcement authority for municipalities and counties in Wyoming. The chart is compliments of the Wyoming Department of Fire Protection and Electrical Safety:
