Bolthole Index

Boone County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Boone County, Nebraska

50Index Score / 100
#15 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Boone County, Nebraska requires a county zoning permit before construction, alteration, moving, occupancy, or a water or sewer connection begins, but we could not confirm a separate county building-code permit12. County zoning covers most unincorporated land, while incorporated communities that exercise extraterritorial authority control certain nearby land3. Start with the Boone County Zoning Office, then address state septic registration and any floodplain or road-access approval that applies45.

At a glance

Building permit
County zoning permit required; separate building-code permit unconfirmed1
Zoning
Yes, for most unincorporated land3
Septic
State-regulated; all changed systems are registered, while specified systems need permits56
RV living
Permanent occupancy generally barred outside an authorized park or campground7
Minimum home size
District-specific; R-M mobile homes need 500 square feet of livable area8
Owner-builder
State contractor-registration exemption only; no county permit exemption confirmed91
Manufactured home
District-specific rules apply10
Floodplain development
Separate permit required in mapped flood zones11

Who to call

Zoning

Boone County Zoning Office

Zoning-permit applications for Boone County

402-395-2737

bczoning@boonecountyne.gov

222 South 4th Street, Albion NE 68620

Septic permits

Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program

Nebraska onsite wastewater rules, registration, professional certification and permits

(402) 471-4285

dwee.onsite@nebraska.gov

245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68521

Roads & driveways

Boone County Highway Superintendent

County roads and bridges; county floodplain-development administration under the zoning regulations

402-649-5379

bcroaddept@boonecountyne.gov

222 S 4th Street Albion, NE 68620

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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Do you need a building permit in Boone County, Nebraska?

Unincorporated Boone County requires a zoning permit before excavating, erecting, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, or moving a building or structure, and before beginning or changing occupancy1. Construction or connection to water or sewer facilities also requires the zoning permit first2. The permit confirms that the proposed land or building use conforms to county zoning; we could not confirm a separate county building-code permit or building-code inspection program1. Nebraska's state building code can apply where a county, city, or village has not adopted an authorized local code, with an exception for construction on a farm or for farm purposes12. Ask the Boone County Zoning Office which code and inspections apply before construction begins4.

Who handles building and zoning permits in Boone County?

The Boone County Zoning Office handles zoning-permit applications at 222 South 4th Street in Albion; call 402-395-2737 or email bczoning@boonecountyne.gov4. Boone County requires a written application on the Zoning Administrator's form, accompanied by project plans that show the lot, proposed structures and uses, and existing and proposed water and sanitary sewer facilities13. The county's permit guidance calls for a plot plan, footing detail, wall detail, roof detail, and floor plan with the application13. The zoning permit fee is $25 for every $10,000 of the estimated cost of the structure, and the application tells you to confirm the exact payment with the administrator14. A certificate of occupancy must be requested with the zoning-permit application for a new building or alteration, and residential occupancy is not allowed in a partially completed building15. Because county building-code adoption and building inspections remain unconfirmed, ask the Zoning Office those questions directly rather than treating zoning approval as the only construction review4.

Does Boone County have zoning?

Boone County zoning applies to unincorporated land and buildings, except land within one mile of an incorporated city or village that exercises extraterritorial zoning authority3. Boone County regulates uses, height, yards, and development intensity by district16. In the A-3 district, a single-family dwelling needs at least 650 square feet of living floor area17. In the R-M district, a mobile home needs at least 500 square feet of livable floor area, while principal and accessory uses have height limits of 35 feet and 20 feet respectively818. R-M mobile-home courts and lots also have specific road, property-line, front, side, and rear setbacks19. Building coverage is capped at 40% in C-1, 50% in I-2, and 40% in PU, showing why the exact district matters even for nonresidential land202122. Give the Zoning Office the legal description and address before relying on a listing4.

How do septic permits work in Boone County?

Nebraska's Onsite Wastewater Program regulates septic tanks, holding tanks, small lagoons, and other decentralized systems in Boone County5. An individual state permit is identified for systems needing site-specific evaluation because of size, non-domestic waste, or siting issues; the state source does not say every ordinary residential system needs one6. Systems that no general permit covers need a state construction permit with an approved design before construction23. Every system constructed, reconstructed, altered, modified, or otherwise changed must still be registered24. A planned development proposing onsite wastewater on any lot smaller than 3 acres must undergo state subdivision review before construction25. County zoning also makes it unlawful to occupy a residential structure for living purposes without an approved waste system26. Only about 21% of Boone County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make the site and soil evaluation a purchase contingency27.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Boone County?

Boone County does not allow a camping unit or travel trailer to be occupied permanently while parked or stored, except in a county-authorized Mobile Home Park, Transient Mobile Home Park, or Campground7. We could not confirm a county rule specifically answering tiny-home occupancy, so ask the Zoning Office how the unit is classified and whether the district allows it4. A structure or changed land use cannot be used until the Zoning Administrator issues a certificate of occupancy, and no structure may serve as a temporary residence15. Manufactured homes are allowed in R-M; in A-1 and A-2, they are tied to agricultural operations and require a special permit renewed annually10. R-M mobile homes also need at least 500 square feet of livable floor area8.

How do you build a home in Boone County, step by step?

  1. Give the Boone County Zoning Office the parcel's legal description and address so it can confirm the zoning authority, district, allowed use, setbacks, height, and lot standards416.
  2. Submit the county zoning-permit application and required plans before excavation or construction begins; include planned water or sewer work1132.
  3. Ask which building code and inspections apply, because we could not confirm a separate county building-code permit or county inspection program4.
  4. Have a qualified onsite professional determine septic registration, permitting, and any subdivision-review requirements625.
  5. Obtain a separate floodplain development permit before work in a mapped A, AE, AO, or AH zone11.
  6. Address county-road access with the Highway Superintendent, or obtain a state permit for a new, relocated, or altered state-highway entrance2829.
  7. Receive the certificate of occupancy before using the completed home15.

What should you check before buying land in Boone County?

Confirm the zoning jurisdiction first, because Boone County rules do not control land inside an incorporated community or certain one-mile extraterritorial areas where a city or village exercises zoning authority3. Check the zoning map, allowed use, dimensional standards, flood zone, legal access, and utility plan16112. Agricultural operations and usual farm buildings are allowed in A-1 and A-2 subject to district requirements; operations up to 300 animal units also need a no-fee livestock registration permit to qualify for by-right treatment30. Septic feasibility deserves early attention because only about 21% of Boone County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field27. The median property-tax bill is about $1,673 per year, with an effective rate near 1%3132.

Watch-outs

  • A Boone County zoning permit is required for covered construction and occupancy activity, but a separate county building-code permit and building inspection program could not be confirmed; ask the Zoning Office before work starts14.
  • Permanent RV occupancy is generally prohibited outside an authorized mobile-home park, transient mobile-home park, or campground7.
  • Floodplain work needs a separate development permit, and county zoning approval does not substitute for state septic registration or a required state-highway entrance permit113329.

Sources

  1. Boone County Zoning Regulations — 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  2. Boone County Zoning Regulations • 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  3. Boone County Zoning Regulations, 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  4. Boone County Zoning Office (boonecountyne.gov)
  5. Onsite Wastewater Program — Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, quoted and re-checked
  6. Onsite Wastewater Program — Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, quoted and re-checked
  7. Boone County Zoning Regulations • 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  8. boonecountyne.gov, quoted and re-checked
  9. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Boone County Zoning Regulations • 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  11. Boone County Zoning Regulations, 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  12. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403: State building code; adopted; amendments (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Forms and Permits — Boone County, quoted and re-checked
  14. Boone County Zoning Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  15. Boone County Zoning Regulations — 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  16. Boone County Zoning Regulations, 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  17. boonecountyne.gov, quoted and re-checked
  18. boonecountyne.gov, quoted and re-checked
  19. boonecountyne.gov, quoted and re-checked
  20. Boone County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  21. Boone County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  22. Boone County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  23. Nebraska Administrative Code Title 124 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  24. Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  25. Onsite Wastewater Program — Subdivision Reviews, quoted and re-checked
  26. Boone County Zoning Regulations, 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Boone County Highway Superintendent (boonecountyne.gov)
  29. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Boone County Zoning Regulations • 2014 Update, quoted and re-checked
  31. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like 5 of its 6 neighbors, Boone County has countywide zoning.

RuleBoone CountyNance CountyGreeley CountyPlatte CountyWheeler CountyMerrick CountyMadison County
Building permitLimitedLimitedRequiredLimitedLimitedRequiredLimited
County zoningYesYesYesNoYesYesYes
Septic permitsNDEENDEENE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENE Dept. of Water

County locator

Boone County in Nebraska

50
County map
Boone County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Boone County scores

Seclusion77100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency2498% ev.
Admin Boringness59100% ev.
Durability40100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost5996% ev.

Evidence strength: 99%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$302kTypical home
1%Property tax
$6,452Land / acre
27.1"Annual rain
18.9% of yrsSevere drought
10 / yr (+8.6)Mid-century 100°F days
21.8 daysMid-century dry spell
1.5" (+6.4%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.62×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,295Home insurance / yr
4% / yrInsurance growth
2.07%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
6,451People within 30 min
494,228People within 2 hr
5,122Radius comparison (15 mi)
7.7People / sq mi
0%Federal land
88.5%Land at 15% slope or less
21%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
91,841 acWorkable land screen
3%Wooded land
27.7 tonsBiomass / forest ac
49°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Boone County

Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.

Not yet researched: Albion · Village of Cedar Rapids · Village of Primrose · St. Edward

Answers from the rulebook for Boone County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Boone County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, movement, or occupancy of buildings and structures subject to county zoning regulations.

    • A county zoning permit is required; this record does not establish a separate county building-code permit.
    • Temporary zoning permits may be issued for temporary construction-related uses for not more than six months, subject to conditions.
    • Permits expire within 90 days if work has not begun and within one year if work has not been completed, unless extended in writing.
    “It shall be unlawful to commence or do any excavating, erecting, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, or moving of any building or structure or to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building, land or premises, or construction or connection to water or sewer facilities or part thereof hereafter created, erected, change, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a zoning permit shall have been issued therefore by the Zoning Administrator stating that the proposed use of the building or land conforms to these regulations.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Inspections by the Boone County zoning administrator or representative to verify zoning-permit compliance.

    • The source describes compliance inspections connected to the zoning permit, not a comprehensive building-code inspection program.
    “Applicants hereby give consent to the Local Administrator or his/her representative to make reasonable inspections required to verify compliance.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or changed use of structures or land subject to county zoning regulations.

    • The certificate must be applied for concurrently with the zoning-permit application for a new building or alteration.
    • It is issued within ten days after completion when the building conforms to the regulations.
    • No certificate may be issued for residential purposes for a partially completed building or portion of a building.
    • No structure may be used as a temporary residence.
    “No structure or land shall be hereafter used or the use changed thereof until a Certificate of Occupancy shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator. A Certificate of Occupancy for a new building, or for the alteration of an existing structure shall be applied for coincident with the application for a zoning permit and shall be issued within ten days after the erection or alteration of such building is completed in conformity with these regulations. No Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued for residential purposes for a partially completed or portion of a building. No structure shall be used as a temporary residence.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Use of structures or changed use of land in areas governed by Boone County zoning regulations.
      “No structure or land shall be hereafter used or the use changed thereof until a Certificate of Occupancy shall have been issued”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    County zoning regulations for unincorporated Boone County.

    • The regulations apply to unincorporated land and buildings, except unincorporated territory within one mile of an incorporated city or village that has exercised extraterritorial zoning authority.
    “These zoning regulations shall apply to all unincorporated land and buildings within the limits of Boone County”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local zoning across Boone County, including county zoning for unincorporated areas and separate municipal or extraterritorial zoning where applicable.

    • The conclusion aggregates different local authorities; Boone County zoning does not govern incorporated municipal limits and may not govern one-mile extraterritorial areas of municipalities that exercise that authority.
    “except that unincorporated territory lying outside of but within one (1) mile of the nearest point of all incorporated cities and villages”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present — County-administered zoning for unincorporated Boone County.
      “These zoning regulations shall apply to all unincorporated land and buildings within the limits of Boone County except that unincorporated territory lying outside of but within one (1) mile of the nearest point of all incorporated cities and villages which have exercised the authority to zone in one (1) mile extra-territorial areas.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Boone County zoning districts and official zoning map.

    • The official zoning map is the final authority for current zoning status and is located in the County Clerk’s office.
    • District limits do not govern incorporated municipal jurisdictions.
    “For the purpose of these regulations, Boone County, Nebraska, except the jurisdictional limits of any community, is hereby divided into the following districts:”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family dwellings in the A-3 Agricultural-Transitional District and mobile homes in the R-M Mobile Home Residential District.

    • A-3 single-family dwellings require at least 650 square feet of living floor area.
    • R-M mobile homes require at least 500 square feet of livable floor area.

    A-3 minimum single-family dwelling size: >= 650 square feet of living floor area · R-M minimum mobile-home size: >= 500 square feet of livable floor area

    “The minimum single family dwelling size shall be six hundred and fifty (650) square feet of living floor area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Each mobile home lot in the R-M Mobile Home Residential District.
      “There shall be a minimum livable floor area of five hundred (500) square feet in each mobile home.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Mobile-home courts and individual mobile-home lots in the R-M district.

    • Road rights-of-way are excluded from the individual-lot area calculation.
    • Corner and cul-de-sac lots have different minimum widths.

    mobile-home-court minimum area: >= 5 acres · individual mobile-home lot minimum area: >= 7500 square feet (Excluding road right-of-way.) · interior lot minimum width: >= 70 feet · corner lot minimum width: >= 80 feet · cul-de-sac or curve lot minimum width: >= 45 feet (When facing a cul-de-sac turnaround or curve on a minor loop street.)

    “Each lot provided for occupancy of a single mobile home shall have an area of not less than seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet, excluding road R.O.W., and a width of not less than seventy (70) feet for an interior lot, eighty (80) feet for a corner lot, or forty-five (45) feet when facing a cul-de-sac turnaround or curve on a minor loop street.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Mobile-home courts and individual mobile-home lots in the R-M district.

    • Court structures must be at least 63 feet from the road centerline when contiguous to or fronting a county road or state highway.
    • Other court property-line setback is 25 feet.
    • Individual lots require 8-foot side yards, a 30-foot street-side setback for corner lots, a 30-foot front yard, and a 25-foot rear yard.

    road-centerline setback: >= 63 feet (When contiguous to or having frontage to a county road or state highway.) · other court property-line setback: >= 25 feet · individual side-yard setback: >= 8 feet (Each side; corner lots have a 30-foot setback on the side abutting a street or road.) · front-yard setback: >= 30 feet · rear-yard setback: >= 25 feet

    “No mobile homes or other structures shall be located less than sixty-three (63) feet from the road centerline when contiguous to or having frontage to a County road or state highway. The setback on all other court property lines shall be twenty-five (25) feet.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings on lots in the Boone County C-1 Commercial District.

    • Minimum lot width is 150 feet.
    • Minimum lot area is one acre excluding road right-of-way.
    • Required front, side, and rear setbacks are at least 63 feet from the road centerline when contiguous to a county road or state highway.

    maximum building lot coverage: <= 40 percent of lot area

    “3.7 The total coverage of all buildings shall not occupy more than forty (40) percent of the lot area.”
    4 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings on lots in the Boone County I-2 Heavy Industrial District.
      “3.6 The total coverage of all buildings shall not occupy more than fifty (50) percent of the lot area.”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings on lots in the Boone County PU Public/Semi-Public Use District.
      “3.7 The total coverage of all buildings shall not occupy more than forty (40) percent of the lot area.”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Building coverage in Boone County zoning districts.
      “The total coverage of all buildings shall not occupy more than forty (40) percent of the lot area.”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Lot-coverage controls under the county zoning districts.
      “No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected or altered: A. to exceed the height; B. to accommodate or house a greater number of families; C. to occupy a greater percentage of lot area; D. to have narrower or smaller rear yards, front yards, side yards, or other open spaces; than herein required; or in any other manner contrary to the provisions of these regulations.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Building height in Boone County zoning districts.

    • Height varies by district and by principal or accessory use.
    • A-3 structures intended for human occupancy are limited to 35 feet; C-1 principal uses may reach 60 feet, but are limited to 35 feet within 100 feet of R-1 or R-M districts.

    A-3 human-occupancy structure height: <= 35 feet · C-1 principal-use height: <= 60 feet (within 100 feet of R-1 or R-M districts, maximum is 35 feet)

    “Maximum height for structures intended for human occupancy shall be thirty-five (35) feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Principal and accessory uses in the R-M Mobile Home Residential District.
      “Maximum height for principal uses: thirty-five (35) feet. B. Maximum height for accessory uses: twenty (20) feet.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Permanent occupancy of camping units or travel trailers in the county zoning jurisdiction.

    • A camping unit or travel trailer may not be occupied permanently while parked or stored anywhere in the county.
    • The exception is a Mobile Home Park, Transient Mobile Home Park, or Campground authorized under county Mobile Home Regulations.
    “A camping unit or travel trailer shall not be occupied permanently while it is parked or stored in any area within the County, except in a Mobile Home Park, Transient Mobile Home Park, or Campground authorized under the Mobile Home Regulations of the County.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured or mobile homes in the R-M Mobile Home Residential District.

    • The use is subject to R-M district requirements, including mobile-home-court and lot standards.
    • Each single-mobile-home lot must have at least 7,500 square feet, specified width and yards, and each mobile home must have at least 500 square feet of livable floor area.

    minimum mobile-home lot area: >= 7500 square feet (excluding road right-of-way) · minimum mobile-home livable floor area: >= 500 square feet

    “The intent of the Mobile Home Residential District shall be to provide for mobile home dwellings on leased or owned property”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Mobile/manufactured-home occupancy in Boone County zoning districts.
      “Mobile homes are permitted only when the land is used or intended to be used only for agricultural operations. All mobile homes require a special one (1) year permit which must be renewed annually and which shall be subject to the conditions of the permit.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Residential structures and buildings used for living purposes in Boone County zoning jurisdiction.

    • Occupancy requires an approved waste system.
    • The approved system must meet or be equivalent to Nebraska onsite-wastewater criteria.
    “It shall be unlawful to occupy a residential structure or any building for living purposes that does not have an approved waste system.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Construction or connection to water or sewer facilities in the county zoning jurisdiction; mobile-home courts have additional utility requirements.

    • A zoning permit is required before construction or connection to water or sewer facilities.
    • Each mobile-home-court lot must have community water and community sewage disposal connections.
    • The water supply must be sufficient for domestic use and fire protection.
    “It shall be unlawful to commence or do any excavating, erecting, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, or moving of any building or structure or to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building, land or premises, or construction or connection to water or sewer facilities or part thereof hereafter created, erected, change, converted, or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a zoning permit shall have been issued therefore by the Zoning Administrator stating that the proposed use of the building or land conforms to these regulations.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural operations in the A-1 and A-2 agricultural zoning districts.

    • Agricultural operations and usual agricultural/farm buildings are permitted subject to district requirements.
    • Up to 300 animal units are treated as a farm and permitted by right only if other district requirements are met and a no-fee livestock registration permit is submitted.
    • Farm chemicals are governed by state agencies; restricted-use pesticide users must be certified as required by law.

    animal-unit threshold: <= 300 animal units (Other district requirements must be met and a no-fee livestock registration permit submitted.)

    “Agricultural operations having up to three hundred (300) animal units are considered a farm and are permitted by right provided other requirements in this district are met and submission of a no-fee livestock, registration permit to the Zoning Administrator.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Floodplain development or substantial improvement in Boone County special flood hazard areas.

    • The applicant must file a written application with development description, site identification, intended use or occupancy, plans and specifications, signature, and other reasonably required information.
    • The Boone County Highway Superintendent administers the regulations.
    “No person, firm or corporation shall initiate any floodplain development or substantial improvement or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate permit”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Boone County zoning permit fees.

    • The application states that the exact payment should be confirmed with the administrator.
    • The fee is payable to the Boone County Treasurer by check or exact cash.

    zoning permit fee: per 25 USD per $10,000 of estimated structure cost (ask the administrator for the exact payment)

    “$25 for every $10,000 of the estimated cost of the structure. Ask the administrator for the exact payment.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning-permit applications.

    • Applications use forms prescribed and furnished by the Zoning Administrator.
    • Plans must include a plot plan, footing detail, wall detail, roof detail, and floor plan.
    • Conditional-use applications require a public hearing and a site plan.
    “For any type of zoning permit application contact the zoning office: 222 South 4th Street, Albion NE 68620 Phone: 402-395-2737 Email: bczoning@boonecountyne.gov For any type of Zoning Permit application, please contact the Zoning Office.”

Nebraska rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property under Nebraska's Contractor Registration Act.

    • The exemption means the person is not a contractor for purposes of the Contractor Registration Act.
    • The exemption applies to work on the person's own property.
    • The statute separately states that a person earning less than five thousand dollars annually for construction services is also not a contractor for purposes of the Act.
    • The exemption does not exempt a contractor from withholding requirements under the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967.
    • This is a contractor-registration exemption and does not establish exemption from applicable building permits, inspections, building codes, electrical requirements, or other local or state approvals.

    annual construction-services earnings threshold: < 5000 USD (Separate statutory basis for not being a contractor under the Act; the own-property exemption has no stated dollar threshold.)

    “Any person who performs work or has work performed on his or her own property or any person who earns less than five thousand dollars annually for construction services is not a contractor for purposes of the Contractor Registration Act.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Nebraska's state building code, including state-owned or state-agency buildings and local jurisdictions as specified by Nebraska law.

    • The adopted code consists of the 2018 International Building Code with stated exceptions, the 2018 International Residential Code with stated exceptions, the 2018 International Existing Building Code with a stated exception, the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code, and minimum radon-resistant construction standards.
    • The state building code applies to all buildings and structures owned by the state or a state agency.
    • It applies in a county, city, or village that elects to adopt it as its local code.
    • It also applies in a county, city, or village that has not adopted an authorized local code within two years after an update to the state building code.
    • The default state-code rule does not apply to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.
    • A local jurisdiction may instead adopt a code that conforms generally with the state building code, subject to the requirements and exceptions in section 71-6406.

    International Building Code edition: 2018 (Except section 101.4.3 and chapter 29; section 305.2.3 applies to a facility having twelve or fewer children; section 310.4.1 applies to a care facility for twelve or fewer persons.) · International Residential Code edition: 2018 (Except section R313 and chapters 25 through 33.) · International Existing Building Code edition: 2018 (Except section 809.) · Uniform Plumbing Code edition: 2018 · local-code adoption deadline after state-code update: 2 years (If no authorized local code is adopted, the state building code applies, except to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.)

    “(1) There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference:”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping on state or county public highways, roadside areas, parks, and other property acquired for highway or roadside park purposes in Nebraska.

    • Camping is unlawful except at places designated as campsites by the Department of Transportation, the county, or another governmental entity owning or controlling the property.
    • The statute excludes certain lands transferred or leased to the Game and Parks Commission and other lands controlled by the Game and Parks Commission or a natural resources district, which are governed under separate statutes.
    • Camping includes temporary lodging out of doors in a sleeping bag, tent, trailer, station wagon, pickup camper, camper-bus, or other vehicle.
    • Violation is a Class V misdemeanor and may require reimbursement for campsite damage.

    penalty: Class V misdemeanor

    “It shall be unlawful to camp on any state or county public highway, roadside area, park, [...] except at such places as are designated campsites”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny houses produced or sold in Nebraska and classified as manufactured homes, modular housing units, or recreational vehicles, including park model recreational vehicles.

    • The Nebraska Public Service Commission states that tiny houses can be built as either a manufactured home, modular housing unit, or recreational vehicle.
    • For a park model recreational vehicle under current Nebraska law, the unit must be designed and marketed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use; must not be permanently affixed to real property for use as a permanent dwelling; must be built on a single chassis mounted on wheels; must have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet in the setup mode; and must be certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5, 2025 edition.
    • LB1147 enacted the 400-square-foot park-model limit and specified the 2020 ANSI A119.5 edition; its emergency clause states that the act takes effect when passed and approved according to law.
    • State classification or construction compliance does not establish unrestricted land-use occupancy. County zoning resolutions may regulate the location, size, and uses of structures including house trailers and automobile trailers, and may regulate uses of buildings and land in unincorporated areas.
    • County zoning powers do not apply within incorporated cities or villages, or areas where a city or village has been granted and is exercising zoning jurisdiction. Local zoning, building, utility, health, and other requirements may therefore impose additional conditions.

    park model gross trailer area: <= 400 square feet (Measured in the setup mode.) · park model chassis: single chassis mounted on wheels · park model permanent-affixation: false (The unit must not be permanently affixed to real property for use as a permanent dwelling.)

    “(16) Park model recreational vehicle means a vehicular unit which meets the following criteria: (a) Is designed and marketed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use; (b) Is not permanently affixed to real property for use as a permanent dwelling; (c) Is built on a single chassis mounted on wheels with a gross trailer area not exceeding four hundred square feet in the set up mode; and (d) Is certified by the manufacturer as complying with the ANSI A119.5 Park Model Recreational Vehicle Standard of the American National Standards Institute, 2025 edition;”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater treatment systems in Boone County, Nebraska.

    • The program covers septic tanks, holding tanks, small lagoons, and other decentralized systems.
    • State regulations require a compliant onsite system or connection to public sewer or other wastewater works.
    • Some systems require site-specific permitting based on size, non-domestic waste, or siting issues.
    “The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers regulations”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Mixed (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska, including septic systems, holding tanks, lagoons, mound systems, and other decentralized systems.
      “Any local requirements (city, county) are separate from and in addition to the requirements found in Title 124 that apply statewide.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private onsite wastewater systems serving ordinary residential or other facilities in Boone County.

    • A system not covered by a general permit requires a Department construction permit before construction.
    • The design must be approved by the Department before the construction permit is issued.
    • Chapter 2 exemptions and applicable general permits may change the path.
    “The two procedures designed to cover all onsite wastewater treatment systems under these regulations are as follows:”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems in Boone County.
      “Most onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska are constructed under a General Permit”
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems statewide where system size, non-domestic waste handling, or siting issues require a site-specific evaluation and permitting; ordinary systems also remain subject to applicable Title 124 compliance and registration rules.
      “Most onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska are constructed under “Authorization by Rule” which does not require a construction permit [...] However, some systems will require a permit”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic tanks serving property in Boone County.

    • The owner must arrange periodic inspection by a Master or Journeyman Pumper, professional engineer, or registered environmental health specialist.
    • Inspection and septage removal are tied to the stated sludge and scum thresholds.

    sludge clearance threshold: < 12 inches below bottom of outlet baffle (inspection and septage removal required when the top of the sludge layer is less than this distance) · scum clearance threshold: < 3 inches above bottom of outlet baffle (inspection and septage removal required when the bottom of the scum layer is less than this distance)

    “The owner of a septic tank will have a Master or Journeyman Pumper, a professional engineer, or a registered environmental health specialist periodically inspect the septic tank”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Inspection of private onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska.
      “A private onsite wastewater treatment system shall not be [...] inspected [...] unless the [...] inspection [...] is carried out or supervised by either a certified professional”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction or modification of water wells in Nebraska groundwater management areas, on land owned or controlled by the person constructing the well.

    • Before commencing construction, the applicant must apply to the district in which the well will be located, using district forms.
    • No permit is required for test holes or dewatering wells intended for use for ninety days or less.
    • No permit is required for a single water well designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less.
    • A district may exempt replacement water wells by rule and regulation.
    • A district may require a permit for a well designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less when it is commingled, combined, clustered, or joined with another well or water source, excluding a water source used to water range livestock; combined wells are treated as one well and their combined capacity is used as the rated capacity.
    • In groundwater management areas where regulations have been imposed to control declining groundwater levels, a district may require permits for each well or categories of wells designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less, except water sources required for human needs relating to health, fire control, or sanitation and water sources used to water range livestock.
    • The district must review the application and issue or deny the permit within thirty days after filing.
    • The application requires a fifty-dollar filing fee payable to the district.
    • The application must include the applicant's name and post-office address, proposed use, intended location, size, type and description, estimated depth if known, estimated capacity in gallons per minute, irrigation acreage and legal description if applicable, non-irrigation use description if applicable, replacement-well registration number if applicable, and other information required by the district.
    • A person who failed to obtain a required permit must apply for a late permit, accompanied by a two-hundred-fifty-dollar fee and the same information required for an ordinary application.
    • A person must apply before modifying a well that was previously exempt into one for which a permit would otherwise be required.

    pump capacity threshold: <= 50 gallons per minute (Single wells at or below this threshold are exempt unless a district rule requires a permit under the statutory exceptions.) · ordinary application filing fee: 50 USD (Payable to the district.) · late permit application fee: 250 USD (Applies when a required permit was not obtained.) · district decision deadline: 30 days (Measured after the application is filed.) · dewatering intended-use period: <= 90 days (Test holes and dewatering wells intended for use for ninety days or less do not require a permit.)

    “shall, before commencing construction, apply with the district in which the water well will be located for a permit on forms provided by the district”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision in counties containing a city of the primary class, outside areas where a city or village has been granted and is exercising subdivision jurisdiction.

    • County-board approval is required before subdivision, platting, or laying out building lots and streets in the described area.
    • The county board may designate specific types of plats for approval by the county planning commission or planning director.
    • A plat has no force or effect and may not be recorded unless approved by the county board, county planning commission, or planning director.
    • The county has no power to regulate when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres.
    • The county may prescribe subdivision standards, require installation of improvements, create public improvement districts, require a good and sufficient bond, and require dedication of land for public purposes.
    • The county planning commission approves plats on recommendation by the planning director and county engineer; the county board may withhold approval pending certified installation of required improvements, posting of a sufficient bond, or creation of public improvement districts.
    • Appeal procedures may be provided for actions of the county planning commission or planning director.

    smallest parcel exemption: > 10 acres (division is not subdivision when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres)

    “Such a county shall have authority within the area described in this subsection (a) to regulate the subdivision of land”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Development areas in Boone County where onsite wastewater is proposed on lots smaller than three acres.
      “Prior to construction of a development area where an onsite wastewater treatment system is proposed on any lot less than three acres in size, the owner of the planned development area must submit an application for subdivision review.”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision, platting, or laying out real estate in counties containing a city of the primary class, outside areas where a city or village is exercising subdivision jurisdiction.
      “Such a county shall have authority within the area described in this subsection (a) to regulate the subdivision of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or building development, except that the county shall have no power to regulate subdivision in those instances where the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres in area,”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New, relocated, or altered private driveways and commercial approach roads connecting to State Highway rights of way.

    • No permits will be issued for driveways or approach roads to private property where the Department has acquired all or portions of the rights of access.
    • Applications must use the Department-furnished form.
    • Hard-surfaced driveway and approach-road applications go to the Department of Roads; unsurfaced driveway applications go to the proper District Engineer's office.
    • The driveway or approach road must comply with permit conditions and must not alter highway drainage or side ditches.
    • A certified check is required as a guarantee; its amount is determined after application and based on the extent of proposed work.
    “Any person desiring to construct a new driveway or approach road or any person desiring to relocate or alter an existing driveway or approach road shall apply for a permit to do so.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term lodging operations in Nebraska, including hotels, tourist homes, private homes rented in whole or in part, campgrounds, and RV pads or hookups.

    • A separate lodging tax permit is required for each hotel.
    • The permit is issued only after examination and approval.
    • The permit is not assignable and is valid only for the named operator, location, and transaction of business.
    • The permit must be conspicuously displayed.
    • Operating without a permit or after suspension is a misdemeanor; conviction may result in a fine up to $500 per day.
    • The cited state rule addresses lodging-tax permitting and does not establish statewide zoning approval for short-term rentals.

    maximum fine for operation without permit after conviction: <= 500 USD per day

    “Every person engaged in the business of operating a hotel in this state where the public may, for a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations, must file an application with the Nebraska Department of Revenue for a Nebraska lodging tax permit.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Nebraska county boards adopting zoning resolutions for county territory outside incorporated cities and villages and outside areas where a city or village has been granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction and is exercising that jurisdiction.

    • The county board may adopt a zoning resolution having the force and effect of law.
    • The zoning resolution may regulate buildings, structures, lot coverage, setbacks, yards, population density, building uses, and land uses for agriculture, forestry, recreation, residence, industry, and trade in the unincorporated area of the county.
    • The powers may not be exercised within incorporated cities or villages or within an unincorporated area over which a city or village has been granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction and is exercising it.
    • A city or village zoning ordinance or amendment controlling an unincorporated area supersedes the county resolution or regulation.
    • If a zoning resolution or regulation affects the Niobrara scenic river corridor, the Niobrara Council must act as provided in section 72-2010.
    • A county board may not prohibit a qualifying manufactured home solely because it is manufactured, but may impose the listed installation and design standards and may not impose additional standards unless uniformly applied to all single-family dwellings in the zoning district.
    • Special districts or zones may be established in areas subject to seasonal or periodic flooding.
    “to adopt a zoning resolution, which shall have the force and effect of law;”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Nebraska counties adopting, administering, enforcing, and requiring permits under local building or construction codes for buildings, including residential construction, in unincorporated areas.

    • A county may enact, administer, or enforce a local building or construction code only if it adopts the state building code or adopts a building or construction code that conforms generally with the state building code.
    • A local code may include special or differing standards only within the statutory conformity rules, including standards addressing construction costs, safety, durability, efficiency, best practices, or special local conditions.
    • A local code must be regularly updated; generally, the most recently enacted state building code or a conforming code must be adopted within two years after an update to the state building code.
    • If a county does not adopt a code as authorized within two years after an update to the state building code, the state building code applies in the county, except that it does not apply to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.
    • A county may adopt administrative amendments concerning enforcement organization, staff qualifications, plan examination, inspections, appeals, permits, and fees, and may publish those amendments separately from the code.
    • Under section 23-172, county-adopted codes and the building-permit or occupancy-permit requirements imposed by those codes or sections 23-114.04 and 23-114.05 apply throughout the county except within incorporated cities or villages and except within an unincorporated area where a city or village has been granted zoning jurisdiction and is exercising that jurisdiction.
    • Under section 23-114.04, permits are required before erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or conversion of a nonfarm building or structure within a zoned area; a permit may be withheld when the proposed purpose conflicts with applicable district zoning regulations.
    • Section 23-114.04 permits reasonable county permit-fee schedules and requires written plans, including sanitation, plumbing, and sewage-disposal information, that fully conform to zoning regulations before permits issue.
    • Section 23-172 states that nothing in that section creates an obligation for the county to inspect plumbing work to determine compliance with the plumbing code.
    “Any county, city, or village may enact, administer, or enforce a local building or construction code if or as long as such county, city, or village: (i) Adopts the state building code; or (ii) Adopts a building or construction code that conforms generally with the state building code.”

Set by your township or city, not the county

In Nebraska, zoning is adopted by each township or city, so Boone County has no county-wide answer on these. Find your township or city in the list of places on this page, or call its clerk or zoning administrator.

  • Accessory dwellings

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Boone County, Nebraska

Is Boone County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Boone County scores 50/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 6,451 people within a 30-minute drive and more administrative friction around building and land use. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (27.1″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Boone County, Nebraska?

Boone County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) - Onsite Wastewater Program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Boone County?

Living in an RV on your own land in Boone County is limited to specific cases: Permanent occupancy of camping units or travel trailers in the county zoning jurisdiction. A camping unit or travel trailer may not be occupied permanently while parked or stored anywhere in the county. The exception is a Mobile Home Park, Transient Mobile Home Park, or Campground authorized under county Mobile Home Regulations. A tiny home is limited to specific cases. Confirm with the county before relying on it.

How much does land cost in Boone County, Nebraska?

Land in Boone County runs about $6,452 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Boone County?

Boone County gets about 27.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 18.9% of years.

How remote is Boone County?

A representative private-land location has about 6,451 people within a 30-minute drive and 494,228 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Boone compares in Nebraska

Compare side-by-side →See all 93 Nebraska counties ranked →