Bolthole Index

Chase County, Nebraska

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

51Index Score / 100
#14 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Chase County, Nebraska requires a zoning permit before nonfarm construction in a zoned area, but farm buildings are exempt and the county does not issue a separate building-code permit1. Zoning is set by Chase County Planning and Zoning, which publishes the zoning-permit forms23. Septic is a state matter, not a county one: systems that a state general permit covers need no individual permit, while systems it does not cover need a state construction permit with an approved design before work begins45.

At a glance

Building permit
Zoning permit required for nonfarm construction in zoned areas; no separate county building-code permit1
Zoning
Yes; county zoning applies outside incorporated places and other municipal zoning jurisdiction26
Septic
State onsite-wastewater program; a general permit may cover qualifying systems, others need a state construction permit45
Owner-builder
Exempt from contractor registration when working on your own property, but not from other approvals78
RV living
Long-term occupancy rule not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning23
Tiny home
No specific occupancy rule confirmed; zoning and wastewater rules still apply29
Farm buildings
Exempt from the county zoning-permit requirement when the agricultural definition is met110

Who to call

Zoning

Chase County Planning and Zoning

County zoning questions and zoning, conditional-use, and rezoning applications

(308) 882-7503

cmulder@chasecountyne.gov

PO Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033

Roads & driveways

Chase County Road Department

County-road and access questions

(308) 882-7520

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Chase County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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

Chase County requires a zoning permit before erecting or constructing a nonfarm building within a zoned area, while farm buildings are exempt and there is no separate county building-code permit1. Nebraska has adopted a state building code that applies in a county that has not adopted a conforming local code within two years after a state-code update, but that default does not apply to construction on a farm or for farm purposes1112. Whether Chase County has adopted its own local code could not be confirmed, so ask Planning and Zoning which code and inspections apply to the proposed structure before work begins3. Before anyone occupies a building within State Fire Marshal jurisdiction, the owner must request a final inspection, but the source does not show that every private residence in Chase County needs a State Fire Marshal certificate of occupancy13.

Who handles building and zoning permits in Chase County?

Chase County Planning and Zoning is the first stop for rural construction and land-use questions; the office publishes forms for zoning permits, conditional-use permits, and rezoning requests.3 Contact the office at (308) 882-7503 or cmulder@chasecountyne.gov, or mail project information to PO Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033.3 No separate Chase County building department or confirmed certificate-of-occupancy process was identified, so ask this office whether the project needs inspections or another approval in addition to the zoning permit.13 For access from a county road, call the Chase County Road Department at (308) 882-7520 before placing the entrance.14

Does Chase County, Nebraska have zoning?

Chase County has adopted zoning regulations with mapped districts administered through its Planning and Zoning office and Planning Commission2. The mapped districts appear on an Official Zoning Map dated December 26, 2000, incorporated into the regulations, and the regulations on file are labeled proposed, so confirm the current version with the office15. Nebraska county zoning authority covers territory outside incorporated cities and villages and outside areas where a municipality is exercising granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction.6 County zoning may regulate structures, setbacks, yards, density, and uses of buildings and land, so the answer for a particular parcel depends on its mapped district and jurisdiction.6 Ask Planning and Zoning to identify the parcel's district and confirm setbacks, allowed uses, accessory structures, and any conditional-use process before choosing a building location.23

How do septic permits work in Chase County?

Nebraska's statewide onsite wastewater program governs septic systems in Chase County, and septic permits for every address come from the state, not from county Planning and Zoning4. A general permit may cover qualifying systems instead of an individual permit, while systems it does not cover need a construction permit before construction, and the state must approve the design before issuing it5. Local requirements may be more stringent where they apply4. A dwelling that generates wastewater must use a Title 124-compliant onsite system or connect to public sewer or another wastewater works.9 Only 19.9% of mapped Chase County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make a professional site evaluation a purchase contingency.16 Any inspection must be performed or supervised by a qualified certified or licensed professional.17

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

A specific Chase County rule for long-term residential RV occupancy on private land could not be confirmed, so ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel's district, temporary occupancy, setbacks, and wastewater before moving an RV onsite.23 Nebraska's restriction on camping along public highways, roadside areas, and parks does not answer whether an RV may be occupied on private land.18 A specific tiny-home occupancy rule also could not be confirmed; a small dwelling remains subject to the parcel's zoning and must have a compliant onsite wastewater system or public sewer connection when it generates wastewater.29 Nebraska's manufactured-home standards are a separate category and do not automatically answer the rules for a site-built tiny home.19

Building a home in Chase County: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Chase County Planning and Zoning to confirm the parcel's jurisdiction, zoning district, setbacks, permitted use, and required zoning application.23
  2. Confirm which building code and inspection process applies, because the county's zoning permit is not a separate county building-code permit.112
  3. Have a certified onsite-wastewater professional evaluate the homesite and determine whether a general permit covers the system or a state construction permit with an approved design is needed before construction.517
  4. Call the Road Department before constructing access from a county road.14 A new, relocated, or altered driveway connecting to a state highway requires a state permit.20
  5. Obtain a floodplain development permit if the site is in a Nebraska floodplain.21

What should you check before buying land in Chase County?

Confirm zoning, legal access, wastewater feasibility, water supply, and floodplain status before making the purchase unconditional. Chase County averages 18.9 inches of precipitation annually and has experienced severe drought in 24.6% of measured years, making a dependable water plan especially important.2223 Only 19.9% of mapped soils avoid severe conventional drain-field limits, although 72.4% of county land has a slope of 15% or less.1624 The median property-tax bill is $2,156 per year at an effective rate of about 1.2%, but confirm the particular parcel's assessment.2526 The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 162 miles from the county center, so contractor and material logistics deserve early planning.27

Watch-outs

  • A farm-building exemption is not a blanket rural exemption: the state definition concerns agricultural buildings on qualifying farmsteads, while nonfarm construction in a zoned area needs a Chase County zoning permit.110
  • Nebraska's owner-builder provision is an exemption from contractor registration, not from zoning permits, building codes, inspections, or other approvals.8
  • Only 19.9% of mapped Chase County soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so resolve septic feasibility before fixing the house location.16
  • A state-highway driveway requires a Nebraska transportation permit even when the county zoning questions are settled.20

Sources

  1. Chase County Planning and Zoning (2026 county census)
  2. Chase County Planning and Zoning (2026 county census)
  3. Chase County Planning and Zoning (chasecounty.nebraska.gov)
  4. Title 124 - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. Title 124 - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  6. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (2026 county census)
  8. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Just for Homeowners (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. nebraskalegislature.gov (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403 — State building code; adopted; amendments, quoted and re-checked
  12. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403: State building code; adopted; amendments (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Title 153, Chapter 22 — Certificate of Occupancy, quoted and re-checked
  14. Chase County Road Department (chasecounty.nebraska.gov)
  15. NEWEST CHASE COUNTY ZONING REGULATIONS.pdf, quoted and re-checked
  16. 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
  17. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-15,248 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Nebraska Revised Statute 39-312 — Camping; permitted; where; violation; penalty (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 10, 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 all 6 of its neighbors, Chase County has countywide zoning.

RuleChase CountyPerkins CountyDundy CountyHayes CountyKeith CountyHitchcock CountyDeuel County
Building permitLimitedLimitedLimitedLimitedRequiredRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsNDEENE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENDEENDEE

County locator

Chase County in Nebraska

51
County map
Chase County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Chase County scores

Seclusion85100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency23100% ev.
Admin Boringness59100% ev.
Durability40100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost72100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$226kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$2,558Land / acre
18.9"Annual rain
24.6% of yrsSevere drought
19.6 / yr (+15.4)Mid-century 100°F days
26.7 daysMid-century dry spell
1.31" (+5.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.34×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,394Home insurance / yr
-2.3% / yrInsurance growth
2.25%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
3,167People within 30 min
149,051People within 2 hr
3,422Radius comparison (15 mi)
4.2People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
72.4%Land at 15% slope or less
19.9%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
113,403 acWorkable land screen
0.3%Wooded land
60.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Chase 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.

Imperial · Village of Lamar · Village of Wauneta

Answers from the rulebook for Chase County

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

Chase County rules

  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning districts shown on the Official Zoning Map and regulated by the Chase County zoning regulations.

    • The Official Zoning Map is dated December 26, 2000.
    • The map is incorporated by reference into the regulations.
    • The cited regulations are labeled proposed.

    Official Zoning Map date: December 26, 2000

    “which map is designated as the Chase County Zoning Map dated December 26, 2000”
  • Building permitLimited

    Chase County is a zoned county whose regulations require a zoning permit prior to erection/construction of any nonfarm building within a zoned area; farm buildings are exempt and there is no separate county building-code permit.

    Chase County Planning and Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Chase County has adopted county zoning regulations with mapped districts (e.g., Agricultural Residential) administered by a Planning & Zoning Director and Planning Commission.

    Chase County Planning and Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

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:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Buildings or structures within the State Fire Marshal certificate-of-occupancy jurisdiction, including applicable projects in Chase County.

    • The owner or authorized representative must request a final inspection before occupancy.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued when no substantial hazard will result before completion.
    • The source does not establish that every private residential building in Chase County requires a State Fire Marshal certificate.
    “No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the structure or portion thereof shall be made until the State Fire Marshal has issued a Certificate of Occupancy therefor.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes regulated by a Nebraska city of the primary class within its corporate limits or extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction.

    • The city may impose the 900-square-foot minimum; the statute does not make that minimum mandatory in every city.
    • The manufactured home must bear an appropriate seal showing compliance with the Uniform Standard Code for Manufactured Homes and Recreational Vehicles, the Nebraska Uniform Standards for Modular Housing Units Act, or United States Department of Housing and Urban Development standards.
    • The city may also require the same foundation-system, permanent-utility-connection, setback, and minimum-square-footage standards applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot.
    • The city may not require additional standards unless uniformly applied to all single-family dwellings in the zoning district.
    • Valid restrictive covenants of record are not superseded.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet (manufactured homes subject to city standards) · minimum exterior width: >= 18 feet (manufactured homes subject to city standards)

    “(i) The home shall have no less than nine hundred square feet of floor area;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Manufactured homes regulated under Nebraska county zoning authority.
      “The county board may also require that manufactured homes meet the following standards: (i) The home shall have no less than nine hundred square feet of floor area;”
  • 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

    Private onsite wastewater treatment systems in Chase County, Nebraska.

    • Coverage under a general permit may apply instead of an individual construction and operating permit.
    • Local requirements may be more stringent where applicable.
    “A private onsite wastewater treatment system is to be permitted by the Department before any construction, reconstruction, alteration, modification, or repair not exempted in Chapter 2 is performed or the system is operated.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater treatment systems in Chase County.
      “Title 124 permit application review completed, design issues resolved and Title 124 Construction Permit issued by NDEE, date:”
    • 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 permitLimited

    Onsite wastewater systems in Chase County when a Title 124 permit application is required.

    • A construction permit is required before onsite system construction when a permit application is required.
    • An operating permit is required before wastewater discharge to or any use of the onsite system.
    • Additional regulatory requirements may apply.
    • Local requirements may be separate and may differ from Title 124.
    “When a permit application is required, Title 124 requires a construction permit prior to any onsite system construction and an operating permit prior to wastewater discharge to or any use of the onsite system.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Construction, reconstruction, alteration, modification, or non-exempt repair of onsite wastewater systems in Chase County.
      “The owner of a dwelling or non-dwelling facility or the owner’s designee, proposing to construct, reconstruct, alter, modify, or make a repair not exempted in Chapter 2 to an onsite wastewater treatment system not covered by a general permit will apply for and obtain a construction permit from the Department prior to construction of the system.”
    • 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 inspectionLimited

    Inspection of private onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska.

    • Inspection must be carried out or supervised by a certified professional, a Nebraska-licensed professional engineer, or a Nebraska-registered environmental health specialist.
    • The statute allows the Director by contract to delegate onsite wastewater inspection and registration to a governmental subdivision with a sufficiently stringent program and enforcement authority.
    “A private onsite wastewater treatment system shall not be [...] inspected [...] unless the [...] inspection [...] is carried out or supervised by either a certified professional”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Off-grid wastewater sanitation using an onsite wastewater treatment system, including septic systems, holding tanks, lagoons, or mound systems, statewide in Nebraska.

    • The onsite system must comply with Title 124.
    • Only a properly certified professional may inspect, repair, pump, or install an onsite septic system.
    • The wastewater directed to the onsite system is limited to domestic wastewater.
    • Any local city or county requirements apply separately.
    “households depend on septic systems [...] for wastewater treatment. [...] the Nebraska Department [...] regulates these systems through Title 124”
  • 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”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Wastewater service for dwellings and non-dwellings generating wastewater statewide in Nebraska.

    • The property must have an onsite wastewater treatment system complying with Title 124, or be connected to a public sewer system or other wastewater works.
    • Local city and county requirements are separate from and in addition to statewide Title 124 requirements.
    “A dwelling or non-dwelling that generates wastewater must have an onsite wastewater treatment (OWT) system [...] or be connected to a public sewer system”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    County zoning regulations and permit requirements for agricultural-purpose buildings on qualifying Nebraska farmsteads, and county zoning treatment of residences on farmsteads.

    • For purposes of the statute, nonfarm buildings are all buildings except buildings utilized for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of twenty acres or more that produces one thousand dollars or more of farm products each year.
    • The county board may decide whether buildings located on farmsteads used as residences are subject to county zoning regulations and permit requirements.
    • The exemption concerns county zoning and permit requirements; other applicable state, local, health, septic, floodplain, or safety requirements are not resolved by this statute.
    • The statute requires county zoning regulations to be adopted or amended only after adoption of a county comprehensive development plan and receipt of specific planning-commission recommendations.

    qualifying farmstead size: >= 20 acres (farmstead used for agricultural purposes) · annual farm products: >= 1000 USD (farmstead must produce at least this amount of farm products each year)

    “buildings utilized for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of twenty acres or more which produces one thousand dollars or more of farm products each year.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Agricultural buildings on farmsteads of at least 20 acres producing at least $1,000 of farm products annually, in the context of county zoning regulations and permit requirements.
      “For purposes of this section and section 23-114.04, nonfarm buildings are all buildings except those buildings utilized for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of twenty acres or more which produces one thousand dollars or more of farm products each year.”
  • 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”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • 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.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All development in a Nebraska floodplain, administered through applicable local floodplain programs under state and federal standards.

    • All development in a floodplain requires a permit, including additions and new structures.
    • A new structure must meet existing Base Flood Elevation requirements.
    • An addition must meet Base Flood Elevation requirements when it is a substantial improvement.
    • Substantial improvement means reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement costing 50 percent or more of the structure's pre-improvement market value.
    • Development includes human-made changes to improved or unimproved real estate, including construction, modifications, repairs, temporary stream crossings, roads, bridges, school buildings, storage, dredging, paving, filling, and grading.
    • Permits must ensure compliance with National Flood Insurance Program requirements, city ordinances, and county resolutions.

    substantial improvement threshold: >= 50 percent of pre-improvement market value

    “All development in a floodplain, whether an addition or a brand new structure, requires a permit.”
  • 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.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Nebraska DWEE air-quality construction permit applications.

    • The fee is non-refundable.
    • The fee is based on facility-wide potential to emit and the applicable pollutant thresholds.
    • Submit the fee with the completed construction permit application.
    • Payment must be by check or money order payable to the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment; electronic payments are not currently accepted.

    fee: 250 USD (Facility-wide PTE less than 50 tons per year of any listed air pollutant, or less than 2.5 tons per year of any single HAP, or less than 10 tons per year of any combination of HAPs.) · fee: 1500 USD (Facility-wide PTE is 50 or more but less than 100 tons per year of any listed air pollutant, or 2.5 or more but less than 10 tons per year of any single HAP, or 10 or more but less than 25 tons per year of any combination of HAPs.) · fee: 3000 USD (Facility-wide PTE is 100 tons or more per year of any listed air pollutant, or 10 tons or more per year of any single HAP, or 25 tons or more per year of any combination of HAPs.)

    “Chapter 3, Section 002.01 of Nebraska Administrative Code Title 129 – Nebraska Air Quality Regulations requires that each air quality construction permit application be accompanied by a non-refundable fee.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Nebraska DWEE environmental permitting, including construction, land-development, and septic-related projects.

    • The permit timeline depends on permit type, project complexity, application completeness and accuracy, applications ahead in queue, and possible 30- to 60-day public notice and comment periods.
    • Applicants are encouraged to contact DWEE early.
    “The time from submittal of your application to the issuance of the permit depends on the type of permit applied for, the complexity of your project, the completeness and accuracy of the submitted application, the number of applications ahead of yours, and possible issues that could arise from the 30- to 60-day public notice and comment periods.”
  • 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 Chase 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.

  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Inspections — Building inspections in Chase County.
  • Local zoning — Aggregate local zoning status for Chase County and its incorporated municipalities.

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.

Water rights & wells in Chase County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Nebraska’s water agency.

Over-appropriated / declining

The aquifer here is over-appropriated and declining. A domestic well is usually still permit-exempt, but long-term supply is a genuine risk.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Domestic/household wells are exempt from NRD construction permits and generally from basin well moratoriums (domestic is a preferred use), so a newcomer can still drill a household well even in over-appropriated basins — it must be registered with the state.

Limit: Wells ≤50 gpm (household/stock) need no NRD construction permit; all new wells must be registered with NeDNR

Central Platte NRD / Neb. Rev. Stat. 46-602 ↗
  • Republican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)majority of county

    Moratorium on new surface appropriations and NRD prohibition on developing new groundwater-irrigated acres for interstate Compact compliance. Domestic wells exempt.

    Nebraska DWEE — Republican River Basin / Compact ↗

Hybrid state (appropriation + riparian). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Nebraska state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Chase County, Nebraska

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

Chase County scores 51/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 3,167 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (18.9″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

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

Chase 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). 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.

How much does land cost in Chase County, Nebraska?

Land in Chase County runs about $2,558 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Chase County?

Chase County gets about 18.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 24.6% of years. On water rights, Chase County lies in the Republican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed) — Moratorium on new surface appropriations and NRD prohibition on developing new groundwater-irrigated acres for interstate Compact compliance. Domestic wells exempt..

How remote is Chase County?

A representative private-land location has about 3,167 people within a 30-minute drive and 149,051 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 Chase compares in Nebraska

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