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HB0158 • 2021

Local land use planning and zoning.

AN ACT relating to land use planning; prohibiting zoning resolutions, ordinances and plans from requiring compliance with local land use plans as specified; modifying the definition of local land use plans; specifying requirements for, restrictions on and implementation of local land use plans; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Land
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Harshman
Last action
2021-04-15
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The full impact of future development projects remains to be seen.

Local Land Use Planning and Zoning

This law changes how local governments can use land use plans when making zoning decisions.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the definition of a 'local land use plan' to say it is not a substitute for zoning regulations.
  • Requires that any part of a land use plan affecting zoning must be included in the actual zoning rules before it can be used.
  • Stops local governments from using land use plans to deny or restrict uses allowed by existing zoning laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governments in charge of land use and zoning

Terms To Know

Land Use Plan
A written statement by a local government about how they want land used, including goals and methods for achieving those goals.
Zoning Regulations
Rules set by local governments that control what can be built or done on specific pieces of land.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify exactly how local governments must follow these rules.
  • It is unclear if the changes will affect existing plans and zoning laws already in place before this act was passed.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0158JC001

Conference Committee

H Adopted, S Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the language in a bill to remove certain restrictions on land use and development that are not already prohibited by existing zoning laws.

  • Removes specific wording from the bill that previously allowed local land use plans to restrict permissible uses of land or physical developments beyond what is already restricted by current zoning regulations.
  • The exact impact and scope of this change on local land use planning are not fully detailed in the provided amendment text, making it hard to predict all possible effects.
HB0158HS001

Standing Committee • House Appropriations Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds the words 'as authority' after the word 'plan' in a specific part of the bill.

  • Adds the phrase 'as authority' after the term 'plan' on page 3, line 12.
  • The exact impact and context of this change are not clear without additional information about how it fits into the rest of the bill.
HB0158S2001

2nd reading • Senator Perkins

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes language that allowed local governments to deny or restrict land uses based on compliance with local land use plans, instead focusing on valid zoning regulations.

  • Removes the ability of local governments to deny or restrict land uses and physical development based on compliance with local land use plans.
  • The exact impact of this change is not fully explained in the provided amendment text, but it limits the authority of local land use plans over zoning regulations.
HB0158SW001

Committee of the Whole • Senator Boner

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the bill to prohibit local governments from requiring that a land use or physical development be consistent with a local land use plan unless those plans are included in the local zoning laws.

  • Local governments cannot require compliance with local land use plans for new developments unless these plans have been added to the official zoning regulations.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if a local government fails to follow this rule, leaving some uncertainty about enforcement and consequences.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-15 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 161

  2. 2021-04-15 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0092

  3. 2021-04-07 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0092

  4. 2021-04-07 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0092

  5. 2021-04-07 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0092

  6. 2021-04-06 Senate

    S Appointed JCC01 Members

  7. 2021-04-06 House

    H Appointed JCC01 Members

  8. 2021-04-06 House

    H Concur:Failed 9-48-3-0-0

  9. 2021-04-06 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  10. 2021-04-02 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 22-6-2-0-0

  11. 2021-04-02 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  12. 2021-04-01 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  13. 2021-03-31 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  14. 2021-03-31 Senate

    S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  15. 2021-03-30 Senate

    :Refer to S05 - Agriculture

  16. 2021-03-24 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S07 - Corporations

  17. 2021-03-23 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  18. 2021-03-23 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 35-24-1-0-0

  19. 2021-03-22 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  20. 2021-03-19 House

    H COW:Passed

  21. 2021-03-10 House

    H Placed on General File

  22. 2021-03-10 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

  23. 2021-03-05 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H02 - Appropriations

  24. 2021-03-01 House

    H Received for Introduction

  25. 2021-02-26 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0338
Bill No.:

HB0158

Effective:

7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

21LSO-0338

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0092

Chapter No.:

161

Prime Sponsor:

Harshman

Catch Title:

Local land use planning and zoning.

Subject:

Restricts the use of land use plans.

Summary/Major Elements:

Under current law, local governments are to adopt land use plans.

Local governments are also authorized to adopt zoning ordinances and resolutions.

Local land use plans are statements of land use policies and visions.

Zoning ordinances and resolutions are regulations under which the local government may regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings and structures and the use and condition of use or occupancy of lands for specified purposes.

This act modifies the definition of land use plans and specifies that the plans may not be used to require that a land use or physical development be consistent with a local land use plan unless the applicable provisions of the local land use plan have been incorporated into the local zoning regulations.

The act also specifies that a land use plan may not be used to deny or restrict a permissible land use or physical development that is not prohibited or is permitted under existing zoning regulations.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
21LSO-0338

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0158

ENROLLED ACT NO. 92,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to land use planning; prohibiting zoning resolutions, ordinances and plans from requiring compliance with local land use plans as specified; modifying the definition of local land use plans; specifying requirements for, restrictions on and implementation of local land use plans; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
‑
8
‑
301(d)(i) and by creating new subsections (e) and (f), 15
‑
1
‑
602(a) and 18
‑
5
‑
201(a)(intro) are amended to read:

9
‑
8
‑
301.

Development of plans.

(d)

As used in this article:

(i)

"Local land use plan" means any written statement of land use policies,
visions,
goals and objectives adopted by local governments.

Such
Local land use
plans shall
relate to
provide
an explanation of the methods for implementation
of the plan
, however, these plans shall not require any provisions for zoning
and implementation of the plan shall be subject to the provisions of this article
. Any local land use plan may contain maps, graphs, charts, illustrations or any other form of written or visual communication;

(e)

Local land use plans may guide local governments in adopting or amending local zoning regulations, however, such plans shall not be construed as a substitute for, or equivalent to, duly enacted local zoning regulations, which have the force and effect of law.

Local land use plans shall be implemented in accordance with the following:

(i)

In the event of a conflict between a duly enacted local zoning regulation and a local land use plan the local zoning regulation shall control;

(ii)

No local government shall require that a land use or physical development be consistent with a local land use plan unless the applicable provisions of the local land use plan have been incorporated into the local zoning regulations.

(f)

Nothing in this article shall allow any local government to use a local land use plan as authority to deny or restrict a permissible land use or physical development which is not restricted or prohibited under existing zoning regulations.

15
‑
1
‑
602.

Regulations; powers of governing body; public hearing; notice.

(a)

The governing body shall specify how regulations, restrictions and the district boundaries are to be determined, established, enforced, amended, supplemented or otherwise changed.
No governing body shall require that a land use or physical development be consistent with a local land use plan unless the applicable provisions of the local land use plan have been incorporated into the local zoning regulations.

18
‑
5
‑
201.

Authority vested in board of county commissioners; inapplicability of chapter to incorporated cities and towns; mineral resources; private schools.

(a)

To promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the county, each board of county
commissioners may regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, agriculture, industry, commerce, public use and other purposes in the unincorporated area of the county. However, nothing in W.S. 18
‑
5
‑
201 through 18
‑
5
‑
208 shall be construed to contravene any zoning authority of any incorporated city or town. No zoning resolution or plan shall prevent any use or occupancy reasonably necessary to the extraction or production of the mineral resources in or under any lands subject thereto.

No board of county commissioners shall require that a land use or physical development be consistent with a local land use plan unless the applicable provisions of the local land use plan have been incorporated into the local zoning regulations.
Nothing in W.S. 18
‑
5
‑
201 through 18
‑
5
‑
208 shall be construed to allow any board of county commissioners, through the establishment of minimum lot size requirements or otherwise, to prevent residential or agricultural uses authorized for land divisions that are exempt from subdivision requirements pursuant to W.S. 18
‑
5
‑
303(a)(i).

No zoning resolution or plan shall regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use or occupancy of lands for the use of a private school as defined in W.S. 21
‑
4
‑
101(a)(iii) in any manner different from a public school, provided that the private school:

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2021
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1