CHUGWATER – In a meeting marked by unanimous votes and spirited public dialogue, the Chugwater town council passed the first reading of Ordinance 326, a sweeping reform of the town’s building permit process. The ordinance repeals long-standing regulations dating back as far as 1937 and it aims to modernize Chugwater’s permitting structure in response to the national and local housing crisis.
Mayor Josh Hopkins opened the session with a strong message underscoring the town’s commitment to private property rights. “There will always be opinions about others’ homes and property… but no individual has the right to tell another what they may do with their property,” Hopkins said. “We live in one of the smallest incorporated communities in the state, and our population has been declining for the past 20 years. Ordinance 326 is a common-sense approach to building permits that streamlines the process and helps create a more diverse community.”
The mayor cited national housing trends and recommendations from the National Housing Crisis Task Force, which encourage building code reform to reduce regulatory barriers and increase housing availability. “Building code reform can bring down the cost of new development by allowing more home choices in a community,” Hopkins added.
Ordinance 326: a new framework
Ordinance 326 repeals Ordinances 224 and 59 and introduces a consolidated permitting process for construction, alteration and placement of structures. According to town officials, the revised code will simplify application procedures, reduce wait times and clarify definitions—particularly regarding manufactured homes, accessory buildings, and setback requirements.
“This is not a zoning ordinance,” Mayor Hopkins clarified during the discussion. “It simply addresses how to obtain a building permit once zoning requirements are met.”
Council members voted unanimously to approve the first reading after hearing public questions about terminology, setback guidelines and potential conflicts with existing codes. Several residents raised concerns over the use of outdated language such as “mobile home,” and council members agreed the term should be clarified as “manufactured home” in future drafts.
Address confusion and emergency access
A heated portion of the meeting centered around building address assignments and their alignment with emergency access protocols. Former mayor pro tem Eric Marlatt and other citizens questioned whether the entrance to a new home at 201 5th Street would face the proper street for emergency responders to easily locate it.
“Emergency personnel, firemen and everybody else need to be able to enter the building from the street listed in the address,” Keith Miller stated, citing concerns based on past incidents. Hopkins acknowledged the concern, noting that although it makes logical sense, current town code does not mandate that entrances face a specific street. The discussion also touched on a Wyoming statute (24-2-1098) that may require such alignment, which will likely be explored further in upcoming meetings.
Mayor Hopkins, town attorney Eric Jones and council members agreed to review applicable laws to ensure the new ordinance meets those standards.
This issue is a key issue among most Platte County towns and has increasingly been a source of unrest countywide, other towns site concerns such as an aging demographic and local ordinances which have not been updated in many decades could potentially lead to unsafe living conditions for future generations who purchase homes in the area.
Some residents at the meeting voiced concern about water, sewer, trash and other utilities required for the property and how that could be accommodated with what looks to be classified as a “shed.” The mayor explained, a permit request to place a “tiny home” on a town lot is delayed because the permit states the property owners are required to obtain permits to get water, sewer, trash and other utilities placed on the property and hooked-up, in accordance with local and state codes.
Additional building permits approved
In addition to Ordinance 326, the council approved several building permit applications:
303 Swan Avenue: A storage shed addition to an existing garage, approved unanimously;
151 Swan Avenue: A greenhouse on agricultural-zoned land, discussed at length due to its lack of a concrete foundation. The council permitted the structure, clarifying that setback requirements and a permit are still necessary;
210 First Street: An accessory warehouse for the Chug Chili building, approved with a required rear setback increase from 20 feet to 25 feet; and
201 Fifth Street: A ready-made tiny home placed on a concrete basement foundation. Questions arose about plans for additional buildings on the same lot, but the council emphasized the permit is for one home only. The issue of address consistency and emergency access was noted for future follow-up.
Hopkins abstained from voting on one of the permits, as it pertains to his property.
Moving forward
The council will need to approve a second and third reading of Ordinance 326 before it becomes an encoded ordinance for Chugwater.
Mayor Hopkins’ remarks, which struck a balance between preserving individual freedoms and promoting community development, appeared to set the tone for the town’s path forward. “We urge the council to consider this for the benefit of those who wish to invest in our town—those who live here now and those who wish to move here. Together, we can create more housing options and help shape a diverse and thriving Chugwater,” he said.
Some residents left with unanswered questions and others with lingering concerns, such as exactly what street will be the listed address and which state laws would be applicable. Other concerns included future additions to listed properties that are more than a single lot wide, with the possibility of adding additional residences on the property.
At least one Chugwater resident was concerned about the listed address conflicting with the U.S. Postal Service. She described issues that arose with her mail deliveries when she did a home improvement that moved her main entry door to the back of the house.
The next town council meeting is expected to include the second reading of Ordinance 326 which would be amended to include further clarifications on address regulations in response to public concerns.
