Wyoming Rent Increase Laws: Notices & Month-to-Month Leases

Since its statehood on July 10, 1890, Wyoming has maintained a free-market approach to rental pricing, granting landlords complete authority over their pricing strategies. With no rent control laws and minimal statutory constraints, landlords can adjust rent to reflect market conditions as they see fit, provided they respect the terms of the existing lease agreement.

No Rent Control in Wyoming

Wyoming is a free-market state regarding residential rentals.

• Rent Control: Wyoming has no state-level rent control or rent stabilization laws. Landlords may increase rent by any amount once a lease term expires.
• Local Preemption: There is no specific statutory preemption of rent control (e.g., a "Rent Control Preemption Act"). However, Wyoming follows Dillon's Rule, meaning local governments only possess powers expressly granted by the state. As the Wyoming Residential Rental Property Act (Wyo. Stat. §§ 1-21-1201 to 1-21-1211) does not authorize rent control, municipalities currently lack the legal authority to implement it.

Notice Requirements for Rent Increases

The rules for raising rent depend entirely on the type of tenancy and the terms of the lease agreement. Wyoming law provides no statutory minimum notice period for rent increases.

Fixed-Term Leases

For tenants on a fixed-term lease (e.g., a standard one-year lease), the landlord cannot raise the rent during the active lease term unless the written agreement specifically allows for it. To raise the rent, the landlord must wait until the lease is up for renewal and offer a new lease agreement with the increased rate.

Month-to-Month Tenancies

For month-to-month tenancies, the landlord can raise the rent at their discretion, but notice requirements are governed by the following:

• Lease Terms: Because there is no statute governing rent increase notice, the terms of the written rental agreement prevail.
• Common Law: In the absence of a written agreement, "reasonable notice" is required. This is traditionally interpreted by Wyoming courts as one full rental period (typically 30 days).
• Lease Termination: Unlike many states, Wyoming does not have a statute requiring 30 days' notice to terminate a month-to-month lease. Termination notice is governed strictly by the terms of the lease agreement or, if silent, common law (notice equal to the interval of rent payments).

Prohibited Rent Increases

While landlords have broad discretion, they cannot raise the rent for reasons that violate federal law:

• Retaliation: Wyoming is one of the few states that does not have a state statute prohibiting landlord retaliation. A landlord may legally terminate a tenancy or raise rent even if a tenant has complained about habitability or joined a tenant union, provided they do not violate federal law or the terms of the lease.
• Discrimination: All rent increases must comply with the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.). Rent increases cannot be applied selectively based on a tenant's race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, or disability.

Back to Wyoming Landlord-Tenant Laws OverviewPreview unavailable.