JACKSON, Wyo. — New fees are being proposed for the Teton County Fairgrounds Community Building aimed at mitigating noise complaints from nearby neighbors. 

Teton County Fairgrounds staff began renting out the Community Building for private and community events in January. According to staff, the building is currently booked out almost every weekend for private events, such as birthday parties and weddings, but nearby neighbors have made complaints that the parties being held inside the venue are continuing beyond the time that they should be and are too loud. 

The event room in the Community Building has the capacity for 990 people, or 450 people including tables and chairs. 

To incentivize users to follow the rules, Fairgrounds staff is proposing an increase to the noise complaint fee from $150 to $500 and a reduction in the rental hours. Users will be asked to leave the venue by 10 p.m. rather than the current 12 a.m. cut-off. Increases to the security deposits are also being proposed, from $700 to $1,500 for the event space and $300 to $500 for the kitchen. If the noise complaint fee is collected, the Fairground Manager also has the right to retain the security deposit. 

“Audible noise outside of the building is not permitted at any time,” states the updated rules and conditions. “If the Jackson Police Department or the Fair Office receives a noise complaint and/or finds the user in violation of the noise prohibition, the user may be cited and/or subject to a $500 fee, as determined by the Teton County Fairgrounds Manager.”

Wyoming statute requires the fee change to undergo a 45-day public comment period, which closes Dec. 3. The Teton County Board of County Commissioners will host a public hearing about the fee change at their regular meeting on Dec. 3 before calling a vote. 

Comments can be emailed to rgrimes@tetoncountywy.gov or mailed to P.O. Box 3594, Jackson, WY 83001, before Dec. 3 to be included in the hearing. Details about the proposed fees are available here. 

The Fairgrounds’ fee schedule is updated by the County every couple of years, most recently in 2022 and before that, in 2020. 

Lindsay is a contributing reporter covering a little bit of everything; with an interest in local policies and politics, the environment and amplifying community voices. She's curious about uncovering the "whys" of our region and aims to inform the community about the issues that matter. In her free time, you can find her snowboarding, cooking or planning the next surf trip.