Resident Ownership of Mobile Home Parks in Wyoming

For many renters living in Wyoming’s mobile home parks, park sales and conversions can bring uncertainty. Converting a park to resident ownership offers a way for tenants to gain stability, control, and long-term affordability. This guide explains Wyoming’s laws and procedures around converting a mobile home park to resident ownership, and what it means for renters considering this transition.

Understanding Mobile Home Park Conversions in Wyoming

When a mobile home park owner decides to sell their property, Wyoming law provides certain protections and potential opportunities for current residents to purchase the park as a group. This is called resident or tenant ownership. It allows tenants to form a cooperative or association to buy and operate the park themselves, ensuring greater security and a say in future decisions.

Key Legal Protections and Notice Requirements

Under Wyoming Statutes Title 1, Chapter 21 – Mobile Home Park Act, park owners planning to sell or close a park are typically required to:

• Give residents at least 180 days written notice of the intended sale or closure
• Offer residents (through an association or cooperative) the opportunity to buy the park on the same terms as other buyers
• Provide information that helps residents organize and assess their options

This notice period gives renters time to explore forming a cooperative or negotiating with the park owner. If you're a renter, pay close attention to notices from your landlord—they trigger your rights to take action.

How the Resident Purchase Process Works

If you and your neighbors wish to convert your mobile home park to resident ownership, the basic steps typically follow this sequence in Wyoming:

• Residents receive the official notice from the park owner about intent to sell
• Tenants organize, usually by forming a cooperative or association (a legal business entity owned by members)
• The cooperative notifies the owner in writing of its interest to purchase
• Residents secure financing, conduct due diligence, and negotiate terms
• If successful, ownership of the park is transferred to the residents’ group

For renters, this process can seem overwhelming. Local resources, legal aid, and housing agencies can guide your group as you move forward.

Required Notices and Important Forms

• Notice of Intent to Sell: This written notice from the park owner triggers your rights. Save this document for your records.
• Resident Association Formation Documents: If you decide to organize, you'll likely file Articles of Incorporation for a Cooperative with the Wyoming Secretary of State (Wyoming official business forms).
• Written Offer to Purchase: Your resident group’s official offer to buy must be in writing. Use a clear, dated letter signed by the association's officers.

Example: After receiving the seller’s Notice of Intent to Sell, your renters’ group meets, consults with state housing advisors, files Articles of Incorporation to form your cooperative, and submits a formal offer to the park owner within the 180-day window.

Where to Get Help

The process often involves legal filings, financial analysis, and group organization. Wyoming’s Office of Consumer Protection and state housing agencies can guide you. If you face pushback or unclear requirements, consult the Wyoming Chancery Court, which can handle disputes over contracts or ownership transfers, including those involving mobile home parks.

Wyoming’s Relevant Tenancy Laws

The leading statute for mobile home park conversions is the Wyoming Mobile Home Park Act. This statute sets out:

• Required park owner notice periods for sale or closure
• Tenant association rights and timelines
• Landlord-tenant obligations for park conversions

Staying informed about your rights under these laws can protect you from improper evictions or missed opportunities.

Action Steps for Interested Renters

• Review any official sale or closure notice carefully
• Meet with neighbors to discuss interest in a purchase
• Contact state housing counselors or legal aid for guidance
• Gather signatures and form a legal association if moving forward
• Submit a written offer and negotiate in good faith

Throughout the process, communicate openly with both other residents and the park owner. If you’re unsure of your next move, reach out to the support resources listed below.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What notice must a park owner give before selling a mobile home park in Wyoming?
   At least 180 days’ written notice to all residents, allowing time for renters to organize and potentially buy the park.
2. Can tenants in Wyoming buy their own mobile home park?
   Yes. Tenants, acting as a cooperative or association, have the right to make an offer to purchase during the 180-day notice period.
3. What official forms do residents need to form an association?
   You’ll file Articles of Incorporation for a Cooperative with the Wyoming Secretary of State. Find the required forms on the Secretary of State's website.
4. Where can renters turn for help if they don’t understand a notice or their rights?
   The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection, legal aid services, and the Chancery Court can answer questions or resolve disputes.
5. If residents don’t buy, can park ownership change or the park close?
   Yes. If residents do not purchase within the notice period, the owner is free to sell or close the park (still subject to other notice and relocation rules).

Key Takeaways

• Wyoming renters have a right to notice and a fair chance to purchase their mobile home park before it’s sold to outside buyers.
• Organizing early and accessing state resources are crucial for resident ownership success.
• Legal advice and clear communication can help renters navigate this complex process.

Staying proactive and informed helps protect your housing and community.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• Wyoming Attorney General – Office of Consumer Protection: Offers information on tenant rights and complaints (Phone: 307-777-6397)
• Wyoming Chancery Court: The tribunal handling housing and residential tenancies disputes
• Wyoming Secretary of State – Cooperative Articles Forms: Official business entity and association forms
• Wyoming Mobile Home Park Act: Full legislation text

---

1. Wyoming Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 21 – Mobile Home Park Act. View Wyoming's tenancy law
2. Wyoming Secretary of State Cooperative Entity Forms. Official forms and information
3. Wyoming Attorney General Consumer Protection. Consumer protection services
4. Wyoming Chancery Court. Housing dispute tribunal information

Categories

Renter Rights & Legal Protections Lease Agreements & Renewals Rent, Fees & Security Deposits Moving In: Inspections & Disclosures Moving Out & Ending a Lease Maintenance, Repairs & Habitability Health & Safety Standards Evictions & Lease Violations Roommates, Subletting & Shared Housing Discrimination & Fair Housing Laws Accessibility & Disability Accommodations Utilities, Services & Billing Affordable Housing & Rental Assistance Rent Control & Rent Stabilization Privacy Rights & Landlord Entry Security, Locks & Emergency Protections Dispute Resolution & Legal Aid Retaliation & Harassment Protections Mobile Home & Manufactured Housing Rights Special Housing Types & Situations