Does Sheridan, Wyoming require a short-term rental license?

There is no city license to check. The City of Sheridan does not issue business licenses, and as of October 2026 there is no city short-term rental permit registry. Wyoming instead expects a host who collects lodging tax directly to register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue.

What taxes are charged on a vacation rental stay in Sheridan County?

A stay of less than 30 continuous days in Sheridan County carries Wyoming's 4% state sales tax, the 5% statewide lodging assessment, local sales tax, and Sheridan County's 2% countywide lodging tax. Together they add more than 10% to the pre-tax price of the stay.

What are the warning signs of a vacation rental scam?

The Federal Trade Commission's main warning signs are a demand for payment by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency, a price far below comparable rentals, pressure to pay quickly, and contact details that don't match the property's own listing. The FTC says anyone who insists on wire, gift card or cryptocurrency payment is running a scam.

Is it safe to book a Sheridan-area rental directly with the host?

Booking directly can be safe when the host gives you a business name you can look up, a written rental agreement, a full stay total that includes taxes and fees, and a payment method you can dispute, such as a credit card. Walk away from any booking that requires a wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.

How to Tell If a Sheridan-Area Rental Is Legitimate

Updated October 8, 2026 · Sources are listed at the end of this page.

There is no single license number you can look up for a Sheridan-area vacation rental. Wyoming doesn't run an address-level registry of short-term rentals, and the City of Sheridan doesn't issue business licenses. What you can check yourself is whether the business behind a listing is a registered Wyoming entity, whether the price you're quoted includes Wyoming's lodging taxes, and whether the payment request matches a known scam pattern.

What Wyoming requires of a short-term rental

Wyoming treats an overnight stay by a transient guest, meaning a guest who stays less than 30 continuous days, as a taxable lodging service. Two state-level charges apply to those stays: the 4% state sales tax and a separate 5% statewide lodging assessment. Local sales tax and any county or city lodging tax are added on top.

A host who collects these taxes directly is expected to register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue. When you book through a major booking platform, the platform generally collects and remits Wyoming's lodging taxes for the host. When you book directly with a host, the host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.

What Sheridan County adds

Sheridan County charges a 2% countywide lodging tax on top of the state charges. In May 2026 the Sheridan County Commission placed a continuance of that 2% tax on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot, so the county portion depends on voter approval. Taken together, state and local taxes on a short Sheridan County stay add more than 10% to the pre-tax price, which is why the number to compare between any two options is the full stay total including taxes and fees.

What the City of Sheridan does — and doesn't — require

The City of Sheridan's City Clerk states that the city does not issue business licenses. As of October 2026 we found no City of Sheridan short-term rental permit or registry, so there is no city permit number to ask a host for or to look up for a Sheridan address.

The one check you can run yourself

The Wyoming Secretary of State runs a free public business entity search. Look up the business or LLC named on the listing and you'll see whether it is active, when it was formed, and who its registered agent is.

Search the Wyoming Secretary of State's business database

That search won't tell you whether a particular address is collecting lodging tax. A registered-agent address on its own also tells you little, because many Wyoming entities share the same agent address. Look for a named person, a local phone number that answers, and a physical presence you can confirm.

Warning signs of a rental scam

The Federal Trade Commission's guidance on rental listing scams names these warning signs:

The host insists on payment by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency. The FTC's advice is plain: anyone who insists on those payment methods is running a scam, and money sent that way usually can't be recovered.
The price is far below comparable rentals in the area.
You're pressured to pay right away to lock in a deal.
The contact details don't match the property's own website or listing. Scammers copy real listings and swap in their own phone number and email.

Questions to ask before you pay

What is the full stay total, including every tax and fee?
Is Wyoming lodging tax included in that total, and who remits it?
What is the name of the business or LLC that operates the property? (Then look it up using the search above.)
Can I pay by credit card?
Will I get a written rental agreement with the cancellation terms?

Where to report a suspected rental scam

Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the consumer protection unit of the Wyoming Attorney General's office, to the website that ran the listing, and to local law enforcement.

This page explains the rules. It doesn't name, list, rate or vouch for any specific property or operator, and a listing elsewhere in this directory is not an endorsement or a licensing claim.

Common questions

Does Sheridan, Wyoming require a short-term rental license?: There is no city license to check. The City of Sheridan does not issue business licenses, and as of October 2026 there is no city short-term rental permit registry. Wyoming instead expects a host who collects lodging tax directly to register with the Wyoming Department of Revenue.
What taxes are charged on a vacation rental stay in Sheridan County?: A stay of less than 30 continuous days in Sheridan County carries Wyoming's 4% state sales tax, the 5% statewide lodging assessment, local sales tax, and Sheridan County's 2% countywide lodging tax. Together they add more than 10% to the pre-tax price of the stay.
How can I check whether a Sheridan rental company is real?: Search the business name in the Wyoming Secretary of State's free business entity search at wyobiz.wyo.gov. It shows whether the entity is active, when it was formed and who its registered agent is. It does not show whether a particular address collects lodging tax, so also confirm a named contact and a local phone number.
What are the warning signs of a vacation rental scam?: The Federal Trade Commission's main warning signs are a demand for payment by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency, a price far below comparable rentals, pressure to pay quickly, and contact details that don't match the property's own listing. The FTC says anyone who insists on wire, gift card or cryptocurrency payment is running a scam.
Is it safe to book a Sheridan-area rental directly with the host?: Booking directly can be safe when the host gives you a business name you can look up, a written rental agreement, a full stay total that includes taxes and fees, and a payment method you can dispute, such as a credit card. Walk away from any booking that requires a wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Where do I report a vacation rental scam in Wyoming?: Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the consumer protection unit of the Wyoming Attorney General's office, to the website that ran the listing, and to local law enforcement.