Wyoming Breach of the Peace and Trespass Laws (2026)

Wyoming has no crime called disorderly conduct. The state's disturbance offense is breach of the peace under Wyoming Statutes (W.S.) 6-6-102: disturbing the peace of a community or its inhabitants by unreasonably loud noise or music, threatening, abusive or obscene language, or violent actions, "with knowledge or probable cause to believe he will disturb the peace." It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both.

Criminal trespass under W.S. 6-3-303 is a single misdemeanor with no degrees, carrying the same maximum of 6 months, $750, or both. Trespass-related felonies are separate offenses: unlawful entry into an occupied structure with a battery, burglary, and two 2025 squatting crimes. For other states, see our guide to disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-18. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Wyoming's state criminal statutes on breach of the peace and fighting in public (Title 6, chapter 6), related public-order offenses, and criminal trespass, criminal entry and related offenses (Title 6, chapter 3, article 3, plus the hunting and resource-data trespass statutes). It does not cover local noise ordinances and quiet hours (see Wyoming noise laws), the procedure for removing unauthorized occupants (see Wyoming squatters' rights), use of force against an intruder (see Wyoming self-defense laws), city or county ordinances, civil trespass lawsuits, or federal property rules.

Is there a disorderly conduct law in Wyoming?

No Wyoming statute carries the name disorderly conduct, and the state cannot fall back on the old common-law offense. W.S. 6-1-102(a) provides: "Common-law crimes are abolished. No conduct constitutes a crime unless it is described as a crime in this act or in another statute of this state." The conduct most states call disorderly conduct is charged in Wyoming as breach of the peace or, for a mutual fight, fighting in public.

Breach of the peace (W.S. 6-6-102)

The statute reads:

"(a) A person commits breach of the peace if he disturbs the peace of a community or its inhabitants by unreasonably loud noise or music or by using threatening, abusive or obscene language or violent actions with knowledge or probable cause to believe he will disturb the peace."

Read in plain terms, the offense has three parts:

• The result: disturbing "the peace of a community or its inhabitants."
• The means: unreasonably loud noise or music; threatening, abusive or obscene language; or violent actions.
• The mental state: "knowledge or probable cause to believe he will disturb the peace."

Under 6-6-102(b), breach of the peace "is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both." The section has no felony form and no step-up for a repeat offense.

The loud noise and music clause is one part of this statute; quiet hours and local noise limits are covered in Wyoming noise laws.

Fighting in public (W.S. 6-6-101)

Wyoming has no separate affray statute. Its fighting offense is narrower than a general brawl: a person commits a misdemeanor "if, by agreement, he fights with one (1) or more persons in public." The penalty is up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both. A fight that is not by agreement is addressed by the assault and battery statutes; see Wyoming assault and battery laws.

Swearing, yelling or being drunk in public

Threatening, abusive or obscene language and unreasonably loud noise are listed means of committing breach of the peace, but the words of 6-6-102 reach them only when the person disturbs the peace of a community or its inhabitants with knowledge or probable cause to believe that will happen. How those words apply to particular speech depends on the facts of each case.

Chapter 6 of Title 6, which holds Wyoming's offenses against the public peace, contains fighting in public, breach of the peace, telephone offenses (including threatening communications), funeral protest, nuisances and the governmental-facility offenses described below. It contains no public intoxication or drunk-and-disorderly offense.

Related public-order offenses

Among the other public-order offenses in Wyoming law are these:

• Unlawful protesting at a funeral (W.S. 6-6-105). Protesting, picketing or otherwise causing a breach of the peace within 900 feet of a cemetery, church, building or other facility where a funeral or memorial service is being held, from 1 hour before until 1 hour after the service, when the action "is directed at the funeral or memorial service." Up to 6 months, up to $750, or both.
• Obstructing governmental facilities (W.S. 6-6-302). Going into or upon lands, buildings or structures owned or controlled by a governing body and obstructing or disrupting its activities "by force, violence or other conduct which is in fact obstructive or disruptive." Refusing to desist or leave such a facility on request, after notice of a reasonable policy, is a separate offense in the same article (6-6-303). Every violation of 6-6-301 through 6-6-307 carries a fine of up to $750, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both (6-6-305), a shorter maximum than breach of the peace.
• False reports to 911, police or a fire department (W.S. 6-5-210). Knowingly reporting falsely that a crime has been committed carries up to 6 months, up to $750, or both. Falsely reporting that an emergency exists carries up to 1 year, up to $1,000, or both. If a false emergency report results in serious bodily harm to anyone, it is a felony punishable by up to 5 years, up to $5,000, or both; if it results in a death, it is manslaughter under 6-2-105.
• Terroristic threats (W.S. 6-2-505). Threatening to commit any violent felony with intent to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly or facility of public transportation, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such inconvenience, is a felony punishable by up to 3 years.
• Threatening communications (W.S. 6-6-103(b)(ii)). Telephoning or otherwise communicating electronically or in writing a threat to kill a person, the person's immediate family or anyone at the school where the person is a student or employee, or to injure the person, the person's immediate family or the person's property, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year, up to $1,000, or both.
• Blocking or misusing 911 (W.S. 6-5-212). Knowingly interfering with another person's call to 911 or to a law enforcement agency for help or to report a crime is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months, up to $750, or both. Knowingly calling 911 for a purpose other than a situation the caller reasonably believes requires prompt service to preserve or protect life, health or property is a misdemeanor; that subsection sets no separate penalty, and 6-10-103 makes the general misdemeanor maximum up to 6 months, up to $750, or both, unless a different penalty is prescribed by law.
• Disrupting a public meeting (W.S. 16-4-406). If a public meeting is willfully disrupted so that orderly conduct is unfeasible and order cannot be restored by removing the people interrupting it, the governing body "may order the removal of the person or group from the meeting room and continue in session, or may recess the meeting and reconvene at another location." The section gives the body that removal power; it does not set a criminal penalty.

Title 6, chapter 6 contains no riot, unlawful assembly or failure-to-disperse offense, and Title 6, chapters 6 and 9 contain no loitering, panhandling, public camping or curfew offense. State law separately gives city and town governing bodies power to "regulate, prevent or suppress riots, disturbances, disorderly assemblies or parades" (W.S. 15-1-103(a)(xviii)), so local ordinances may also apply.

Criminal trespass in Wyoming

The offense (W.S. 6-3-303)

Under W.S. 6-3-303(a), a person is guilty of criminal trespass "if he enters or remains on or in the land or premises of another person, knowing he is not authorized to do so, or after being notified to depart or to not trespass." There are no degrees: the same offense covers open land, a yard, a store or a building. Criminal trespass "is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both" (6-3-303(b)), and the section contains no repeat-offender step-up.

Being told to leave, signs and notice

The statute reaches two situations: a person who knows he is not authorized to be there, and a person who stays "after being notified to depart or to not trespass." For purposes of 6-3-303, notice is given by:

"(i) Personal communication to the person by the owner or occupant, or his agent, or by a peace officer; or (ii) Posting of signs reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders."

So a direct instruction to leave from an owner, occupant, their agent or a peace officer is notice, and so are signs that are reasonably likely to come to an intruder's attention. The statute sets no sign size, wording or spacing.

Is there a purple paint law in Wyoming?

No. Section 6-3-303 recognizes only personal communication and posted signs as notice, and Title 6, chapter 3, article 3 contains no paint-mark provision. Bills to treat painted fence posts as notice, 2022 House Bill 19 and 2023 House Bill 75, died in committee.

Criminal entry into buildings and vehicles (W.S. 6-3-302)

A separate misdemeanor covers buildings and vehicles. A person is guilty of criminal entry if, "without authority, he knowingly enters a building, occupied structure, vehicle or cargo portion of a truck or trailer, or a separately secured or occupied portion of those enclosures." The penalty is the same as trespass: up to 6 months, up to $750, or both (6-3-302(c)).

Section 6-3-302(b) provides that it is an affirmative defense to a criminal entry prosecution that:

• "The entry was made because of a mistake of fact or to preserve life or property in an emergency";
• "The enclosure was abandoned";
• "The enclosure was at the time open to the public and the person complied with all lawful conditions imposed on access to or remaining in the enclosure"; or
• "The person reasonably believed that the owner of the enclosure, or other person empowered to license access to the enclosure, would have authorized him to enter."

Is trespassing a felony in Wyoming?

Criminal trespass and criminal entry are misdemeanors only. The felonies are separate crimes with extra elements:

• Unlawful entry into an occupied structure (W.S. 6-3-307). Entering or remaining without authority in an occupied structure and attempting to commit or committing battery or domestic battery. It is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, up to $10,000, or both. An "occupied structure" is a structure other than a vehicle, "whether or not a person is actually present," where any person lives or which is used for overnight accommodation or shelter.
• Burglary (W.S. 6-3-301). Entering or remaining without authority in a building, occupied structure or vehicle "with intent to commit theft or a felony therein." Except for aggravated burglary under subsection (c), it is a felony punishable by up to 10 years, up to $10,000, or both.

For the rules on force against an intruder, see Wyoming self-defense laws.

Forcible entry, squatting and fraudulent leases

• Forcible entry or detainer (W.S. 6-3-306). A person who "violently takes or keeps possession of land without authority of law" commits a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $750. The section states no jail term. Section 6-3-303(c) adds that the trespass statute "does not supersede W.S. 1-21-1003," the civil rule requiring at least 3 days' written notice to quit before a forcible entry and detainer action.
• False documents to stay on property (W.S. 6-5-309(a)). Knowingly presenting a false lease, deed or other instrument conveying real property rights, with intent to detain or remain on real property or in a residential dwelling. Misdemeanor, up to 6 months, up to $750, or both.
• Fraudulent sale or rental of residential property (W.S. 6-5-309(b)). Listing or advertising residential real property for sale knowing the seller has no legal title or authority, or renting or leasing it knowing there is no lawful ownership or leasehold interest. Felony, up to 2 years, up to $5,000, or both.
• Damage by an unlawful occupant (W.S. 6-3-201(b)(iv)). Unlawfully detaining or occupying a residential dwelling and knowingly defacing, injuring or destroying property in or on it, "regardless of the cost of restoring the injured property or the value of the property if destroyed." Felony, up to 10 years, up to $10,000, or both.

All three squatting provisions came from 2025 Enrolled Act 20 (Senate File 6), effective July 1, 2025. The same act created a procedure (W.S. 1-21-1401 to 1-21-1403) under which law enforcement may remove unauthorized occupants of a residential dwelling at the owner's request and, "if appropriate," "may arrest any person found in the residential dwelling for trespass, outstanding warrants or any other legal cause." The removal procedure is covered in Wyoming squatters' rights.

Special trespass offenses

• Trespass to collect resource data (W.S. 6-3-414). Entering private land to collect resource data without an ownership interest, legal authorization, or the written or verbal permission of the owner, lessee or agent, or collecting such data. "Resource data" covers data about land or land use, such as agriculture, minerals, water, soil, habitat and animal species. A first offense carries up to 1 year, up to $1,000, or both; a person previously convicted faces 10 days to 1 year, up to $5,000, or both. Subsection (c), which reached adjacent land, was repealed by 2023 Enrolled Act 28 (Senate File 31), effective July 1, 2023.
• Hunting, fishing and trapping without permission (W.S. 23-3-305(b)). No person may "enter upon, travel through or return across the private property of any person to take wildlife, hunt, fish, collect antlers or horns, or trap without the permission of the owner or person in charge of the property." "Travel through or return across" requires "physically touching or driving on the surface of the private property." The element is the lack of permission; the subsection does not refer to posting. It is a low misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 and up to 6 months (23-6-202(a)(v)). On conviction the court may also, in its discretion, revoke any game and fish license for the rest of that year and suspend the privilege to buy a license or take wildlife for up to 3 years (23-6-206(a)(iii)). Hunting at night on private land requires the owner's or lessee's written permission (23-3-305(e)).
• Illegal signs on public hunting land (W.S. 23-3-405(a)(iii)). Since July 1, 2023, knowingly and without authorization posting or maintaining signs that restrict access to state or federal land where lawful hunting is permitted, with intent to prevent or hinder the lawful taking of wildlife, is a low misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and up to 6 months, 23-6-202(a)(v)). "Knowingly" means the person has received prior notice from a peace officer that the sign is on state or federal land. The section provides that it does not "interfere with any landowner's right to prevent trespass on the landowner's private property" (23-3-405(g)(iii)).
• Ski-area closures (W.S. 6-9-201). Skiing a trail posted "closed," knowingly entering closed and posted land from an adjoining ski area, or intentionally entering leased ski-area land designated unsafe or posted against entry. Misdemeanor, fine of up to $100.
• Leaving a gate open (W.S. 6-9-202). Opening and neglecting to close a gate, or failing to replace bars, in a fence that crosses a private road or a river, stream or ditch. Misdemeanor, fine of up to $750.
• Drones near critical infrastructure (W.S. 19-13-503). Using a drone over or near critical infrastructure to intentionally photograph it, loiter, or further another crime, or flying a drone or model aircraft that carries or is an explosive device there, is a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to 6 months, up to $2,500, or both) and a felony for a second or later offense (up to 2 years, up to $5,000, or both). The section exempts, among others, FAA-authorized operations that comply with the authorization, the infrastructure owner or its agent, and a private landowner's use on the landowner's own property. See Wyoming drone laws.

Title 6, chapter 3, article 3 contains no critical-infrastructure, school or railroad trespass offense.

Wyoming breach of the peace and trespass penalties at a glance

Wyoming does not sort crimes into lettered misdemeanor or felony classes for these offenses. Each section states its own maximum, which is why the table gives the range from the offense's own text. For how Wyoming defines felonies and misdemeanors generally, see Wyoming felony and misdemeanor penalties.

Recent changes

• 2025, Enrolled Act 20 (Senate File 6), effective July 1, 2025. Created the false-document and fraudulent sale or rental offenses in 6-5-309, the unlawful-occupant property-damage felony in 6-3-201(b)(iv), and the unauthorized-occupant removal procedure in 1-21-1401 to 1-21-1403.
• 2025, Enrolled Act 58 (Senate File 132). Created 19-13-503, the drone offense for critical infrastructure.
• 2023, Enrolled Act 28 (Senate File 31), effective July 1, 2023. Repealed subsection (c) of the resource-data trespass statute, 6-3-414.
• 2023, Enrolled Act 18 (House Bill 147), effective July 1, 2023. Added the offense of posting unauthorized signs restricting access to public hunting land (23-3-405(a)(iii)).
• 2026, House Bill 19 (corner crossing), not enacted. The bill would have added a corner-crossing exception to 6-3-303 and 23-3-305(b). The Senate defeated it in Committee of the Whole on March 2, 2026, so both statutes are unchanged.

Federal law separately governs conduct on federal property and at the U.S. Capitol; see the disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state hub.

Related Wyoming laws

• Disorderly conduct and trespass laws by state
• Wyoming noise laws
• Wyoming felony and misdemeanor penalties
• Wyoming squatters' rights
• Wyoming assault and battery laws
• Wyoming self-defense laws
• Wyoming drone laws
• How to charge someone with trespassing

This article provides general legal information about Wyoming's breach of the peace, public-order and criminal trespass statutes as of 2026-10-18. It is not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Wyoming.

Last updated: 2026-10-18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is disorderly conduct a crime in Wyoming?

Not by that name. Wyoming abolished common-law crimes (W.S. 6-1-102), and its disturbance offense is breach of the peace under 6-6-102, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $750, or both.

Is breach of the peace a misdemeanor in Wyoming?

Yes. Under W.S. 6-6-102(b), breach of the peace is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months, up to $750, or both. The section has no felony form.

Can you get breach of the peace for swearing in Wyoming?

Threatening, abusive or obscene language is one listed means, but 6-6-102 reaches it only when the person disturbs the peace of a community or its inhabitants with knowledge or probable cause to believe that will happen.

Is public intoxication illegal in Wyoming?

Title 6, chapter 6, which holds the state offenses against the public peace, contains no public intoxication or drunk-and-disorderly offense. Conduct while intoxicated can still fall under breach of the peace if it meets the elements of 6-6-102.

What are the degrees of criminal trespass in Wyoming?

There are none. Criminal trespass under W.S. 6-3-303 is one misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months, up to $750, or both, whether it involves land, a yard or a building.

Is trespassing a felony in Wyoming?

Criminal trespass is a misdemeanor. Felonies require more: entering an occupied structure and attempting or committing battery (6-3-307, up to 10 years), burglary with intent to commit theft or a felony (6-3-301), or the 2025 squatting fraud and property-damage offenses.

Does Wyoming have a purple paint law?

No. Under 6-3-303, notice is given only by personal communication or by posting signs reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders. Painted-fence-post bills in 2022 and 2023 died in committee.

What happens if an owner or store tells you to leave in Wyoming?

Personal communication from the owner, occupant, their agent or a peace officer is notice under 6-3-303(a). Remaining after being notified to depart is criminal trespass, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months, up to $750, or both.

Is squatting a crime in Wyoming?

Since July 1, 2025, presenting a false lease or deed to stay is a misdemeanor, renting or selling a home without title or interest is a felony (up to 2 years), and damaging a dwelling while unlawfully occupying it is a felony (up to 10 years) under 6-5-309 and 6-3-201(b)(iv).