Laws & Policies

This webpage is intended to help you learn about the laws and policies that protect you and your park.

Learn more about the:

• Superintendent's Compendium
• Foundation Document
• Firearms in Parks

Superintendent's Compendium

The purpose of the compendium is to provide the public and park employees with a document that lists the special designations, closures, public use limits, permit requirements and other restrictions imposed under the discretionary authority of the Superintendent. The Fort Laramie NPS Superintendent's Compendium may be downloaded from the link below. The signed Compendium is on file.

• A plain text version is available on the Superintendent's Compendium page.
• A copy of the signed document may be obtained by contacting the park and requesting it.
• A PDF can be downloaded here: 2025 Superintendent's Compendium

Fort Laramie National Historic Site Foundation Document

To effectively manage a national park unit and plan for its future, a basic understanding of a park's resources, values, and history is needed - a foundation for planning and management. These are call foundation documents. Foundation documents are at the core of each park's planning portfolio.

Each foundation document aims to answer critical questions such as:

• What is the purpose of this park?

• Why was it included in the national park system?

• What makes it significant?

• What are its fundamental resources and values?

• What legal and policy requirements, special mandates, and administrative commitments apply to this park?

• What are the park's key planning and data needs?

Fort Laramie NHS completed its Foundation Document and Overview in February 2017. Both documents are available for download as PDFs:

• Overview
• Foundation Document

Firearms in Parks

As of February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess firearms in this park.

The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, was enacted May 22, 2009 and will become effective February 22, 2010. Section 512 of this law; Protecting Americans from Violent Crimes, supersedes the uniform treatment of firearm possession in the national park system outside Alaska under the regulations found at 36 C.F.R. 2.4.

It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. Fort Laramie National Historic Site is located in Wyoming whose regulations are listed below.

Federal law also prohibits firearms in certain facilities in this park (such as visitor centers, government offices, maintenance facilities, etc.); those places are marked with signs at all public entrances. Hunting and discharge of firearms remain prohibited at Fort Laramie National Historic Site

WYOMING:

Open Carry Allowed
Handgun = Yes
Rifle = Yes
In Vehicle = Yes
Age Requirement = None

Concealed Carry Allowed - Permit Required
Person = Yes
Vehicle = Yes
Age Requirement = 21 years of age

Link to Wyoming State Firearms Information

Filming, Still Photography, and Audio Recording.

On January 4, 2025, the EXPLORE Act was signed into law (Public Law 118-234) and has been codified at 54 U.S.C. 100905. Section 125 of the Act changed how the National Park Service will manage filming, photography, and audio recording in park areas.

Key Elements of the New Law:

• In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that involves eight or fewer individuals. In order to avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming, still photography, or audio recording must meet all of the following conditions:
  • Occurs in areas open to the public;
  • Uses hand-carried equipment only;
  • Does not require exclusive use of a site;
  • Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and
  • Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the National Park Service.
• Permits and fees are never required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that is associated with an activity or event that has been authorized under a written instrument (e.g., permit or agreement), such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.
• All filming, still photography, and audio recording is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, for content creation, by a student, or conducted by media or for news gathering.
• When a filming, still photography, or audio recording permit is required, the National Park Service will charge location fees and fees to recover its costs to administer the permit, including application fees.
• Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording remain subject to all other laws and regulations applicable to visitors to park areas, including those requiring permits for certain activities (e.g., special events or demonstrations) and those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to natural or cultural resources.
• Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording are subject to entrance and/or recreation fees that may apply in park areas even when a permit is not required.