Natural Resource Protections

5/1/25 New LDRs are LIVE

  • A copy of the LDRs active through 4/30/2025, which have the 1994-2024 NRO, can be found HERE.
  • A copy of the new LDRs which are active starting on 5/1/2025 can be found HERE.

APPROVED on 2/18/25 & New LDR Sections Available for Review

The Natural Resource Protection LDR Update was approved at the February 18, 2025 BCC hearing, and are set to go into effect on May 1, 2025. Clean drafts of the new LDR sections can be found below.

For questions, contact Ryan Hostetter at rhostetter@tetoncountywy.gov.

Board of County Commissioner Hearings

At the November 19, 2024 Board of County Commissioners hearing, the draft Natural Resources Land Development Regulations and draft Tiered Natural Resources Overlay map were discussed. The item was then continued multiple times: to December 17, 2024, and to January 28, 2025, and and finally to February 18, 2025. At the February 18, 2025 hearing, the proposed amendments were approved and will go into effect on May 1, 2025.

November 19 BCC hearing materials:

  • Watch the recording of the 11/19/24 hearing HERE.
  • View the slide deck from the 11/19/24 hearing HERE.

January 28 BCC hearing materials:

  • View FAQ sheet HERE.

February 18 BCC hearing materials:

  • Watch the recording of the 2/18/25 hearing HERE.

Planning Commission Recommends APPROVAL on 10/28/24

At the October 28, 2024 Planning Commission hearing, the draft Natural Resource Land Development Regulations and draft Tiered Natural Resources Overlay map were recommended for approval with amendments.

  • The draft Land Development Regulations can be reviewed HERE.
  • The DRAFT Tiered Natural Resources Overlay map can be reviewed HERE.

October 28 PC hearing materials:

  • Watch the recording of the 10/28/24 hearing HERE.
  • View the slide deck from the 10/28/24 hearing HERE.

October 14 PC hearing materials:

  • Watch the recording of the 10/14/24 hearing HERE.
  • View the slide deck from the 10/14/24 hearing HERE.
FAQ Sheet Link

What are we doing?

The County is updating the regulations that protect water bodies, wetlands, and wildlife habitat from the impacts of development. Natural resource protection is about identifying valuable resources so that impacts from development can be:

  1. Avoided
  2. Minimized
  3. Mitigated

The community’s goal is that only 40% of new development occurs in wildlife habitat. Achieving this goal will help protect the area's natural resources; however, there will still be a need for new development to minimize and mitigate its impacts.

Focal Species Habitat Mapping

The Focal Species Habitat Mapping Study (PDF) will inform the natural resource protections updates.

In the 2012 Comprehensive Plan, the community established ecosystem stewardship as one of its three common values. Specifically, the community hopes to maintain healthy populations of all native species as well as to preserve and enhance water and air quality.

History of Protecting Natural Resources

The community has a long history of protecting natural resources. The first land development regulations in Teton County in 1978 were based on protecting ground water and steep slopes; and the wildlife habitat protections adopted in 1994 were cutting edge at the time. Yet, while there have been advancements in our scientific understanding of the ecosystem since 1994, there have been only piecemeal updates to our protection of it. This has left the current natural resource protection regulations outdated and inconsistent.

Project Goal

Property rights that allow development exist even in some of the most valuable wildlife habitats. The purpose of this project is to utilize the best available science, like maps of the vegetation and habitat value on all private lands, to better protect natural resources. At the same time, this project will provide greater predictability to property owners about what standards apply to them.

Natural Resource Alternatives Video

More Information