A fair payment made when the government takes private property for public use, usually measured by the property's market value and, in some cases, damage to what remains.

In practice, just compensation most often comes up in eminent domain cases involving roads, utilities, pipelines, or other public projects. The amount is not automatically whatever the owner believes the property is worth, and it is not limited to the government's first offer. A taking may involve all of a parcel, only part of it, or even a loss in access or use that reduces the value of the remaining land. For example, if a highway project affects a frontage lot or changes how vehicles enter the property, the dispute may center on whether the owner has been fully paid for that loss.

In Wyoming, the right is grounded in the Wyoming Constitution (1889), Article 1, Section 33, which says private property cannot be taken or damaged for public or private use without just compensation. That wording matters because it can apply not only to land physically acquired, but also to certain property damage caused by the project.

For injury claims, the issue is usually separate from personal injury damages, but the two can overlap. A road expansion, construction zone, or access change along routes such as I-80 can create both a property-value dispute and a separate negligence claim if someone is hurt. One case may involve payment for the property loss, while the other addresses medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.