Bolthole Index

Howard County, Nebraska

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

45Index Score / 100
#53 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Howard County, Nebraska requires a county zoning/building permit before construction; ask Planning and Zoning to confirm the requirement for your address and project.12 Howard County has county zoning, while St. Paul has its own zoning jurisdiction.34 Nebraska administers onsite wastewater rules; most ordinary residential systems use Authorization by Rule, and private sewage disposal inside St. Paul also requires the City Superintendent’s written permit.567

At a glance

Building permit
Required through Howard County before construction1
Zoning
County zoning applies in county jurisdiction; St. Paul has its own zoning34
Septic
State rules apply; St. Paul also requires a local private sewage-disposal permit567
RV living
Private-land occupancy was not confirmed; ask county Planning and Zoning8
Tiny home
No specific occupancy or minimum-size rule was confirmed; county zoning applies8
Owner-builder
Some homes qualify for a state design-professional exemption, but county permits still apply91
Floodplain work
County floodplain development permit required for projects in the floodplain10
Water wells
State registration required; some wells or water-transport projects also need permits1112

Who to call

Building permits

Howard County Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department

Howard County zoning permits, variances, conditional uses, rezoning, subdivision matters and floodplain development permits

(308) 754-9121

pz@howardcountyne.gov

612 Indian St. #2, St. Paul, NE 68873

Septic permits

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program

Nebraska onsite-wastewater rules, professional certification, system registration, subdivision review and site-specific permits

(402) 471-4285

DWEE.onsite@nebraska.gov

245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68521

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

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

Unincorporated Howard County requires a county zoning/building permit before construction1. The county's process calls for a completed zoning/building permit application signed by the landowner and payment of the appropriate fee13. Nebraska's state building code, which adopts the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code, applies where a county has not adopted an authorized local code within the statutory period, except for farm or farm-purpose construction; Howard County's separate local-code adoption status remains unconfirmed1415. Ask Planning and Zoning which code review and inspections apply to the proposed work16. A qualifying detached home with less than 5,000 square feet of above-grade finished space may be exempt from the state Engineers and Architects Regulation Act, but that does not waive Howard County permits91.

Who issues building permits and zoning approval in Howard County?

Howard County’s Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department receives, reviews and issues zoning permits and floodplain development permits for projects within the floodplain16. For county zoning/building approval on unincorporated land under county jurisdiction, call (308) 754-9121, email pz@howardcountyne.gov, or visit 612 Indian St. #2 in St. Paul116. Submit a completed zoning/building permit application signed by the landowner and pay the appropriate fee13. Give the department the legal description and address to confirm jurisdiction, district setbacks and which construction requires approval2. Nebraska’s Onsite Wastewater Program administers state septic rules separately from county zoning/building approval5.

Does Howard County have zoning?

Howard County has county zoning and publishes an Official Zoning Map3. The county rules below apply to unincorporated land under county jurisdiction; Nebraska county zoning authority excludes incorporated cities and villages and areas where municipalities exercise granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction17. St. Paul has its own zoning, with its ordinance covering the mapped one-mile planning jurisdiction4. State onsite wastewater rules still apply, and private sewage disposal inside St. Paul requires a written permit from the City Superintendent57. Howard County also publishes separate maps for Boelus, Cotesfield, Cushing, Dannebrog, Elba, Farwell and St. Libory; those maps do not establish who administers each village ordinance18. In county agricultural districts A-1, A-2 and A-3, residential and farm side yards are 10 feet and rear yards are 40 feet; residential structures require 25 feet of separation from another residential structure19.

How do septic permits work in Howard County?

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment's Onsite Wastewater Program administers septic rules in Howard County5. Inside St. Paul, private sewage disposal also requires a written permit from the City Superintendent7. Contact the state program at (402) 471-4285 or DWEE.onsite@nebraska.gov20. Nebraska uses general permits plus construction and operating permits for systems that require those approvals21. Most ordinary residential systems built under Authorization by Rule do not need a state construction permit, but systems designed for at least 1,000 gallons per day, systems handling non-household wastewater and systems outside that authorization need construction and operating permits6. Development approval is required before creating an area with onsite systems proposed on lots smaller than 3 acres22. Every wastewater-generating dwelling still needs a compliant onsite system or a connection to sewer or other wastewater works23. A leach field must be 25 feet from the property line and a well 100 feet from the leach field19. Only 18.8% of mapped soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so evaluate the septic area early24.

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

We could not confirm a Howard County rule that specifically allows or prohibits long-term RV occupancy on private land, temporary camping on private land or tiny-home occupancy; ask county Planning and Zoning for the parcel’s requirements16. Howard County has zoning, so ask Planning and Zoning how the parcel's district classifies an RV, a tiny house on wheels or a small foundation-built dwelling before buying or placing one816. Nebraska's public-property camping rule addresses designated campsites on highways, roadside areas, parks and similar public property; it does not answer private-land occupancy25. Nebraska law permits a county board to impose a 900-square-foot minimum on manufactured homes, but that authority is discretionary and does not establish a minimum for every Howard County dwelling26.

Building a home in Howard County: the steps in order

  1. Give Howard County Planning, Zoning and Floodplain the legal description and address so it can identify whether county or municipal zoning controls and confirm the district and permitted residential use18416.
  1. Confirm the district setbacks and lay out the home, well and leach field19.
  1. Complete the zoning/building permit application, obtain the landowner's signature, pay the appropriate fee and secure county approval before construction131.
  1. Ask Planning and Zoning whether the state fallback code or an authorized local code applies, and confirm inspections and final approvals1416.
  1. Use a state-certified onsite professional to design and register the septic system and determine whether a general permit, construction and operating permits, or small-lot development approval are required2721622.
  1. Register the well and ask the local Natural Resources District whether the proposed capacity requires its permit11.
  1. Obtain a county floodplain development permit if the site is in a floodplain, and obtain a separate state permit if access connects to a state highway1028.

What should you check before buying land in Howard County?

Confirm zoning jurisdiction, the mapped district, allowed use, setbacks, floodplain status, legal access, water and wastewater feasibility before closing210. Test the proposed septic area early because only 18.8% of Howard County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field24. If land will be divided into lots smaller than 3 acres with onsite systems, account for state development approval before proceeding22. Water wells require state registration, and a well pumping more than 50 gallons per minute may need a local Natural Resources District permit11. Transporting withdrawn groundwater by pipeline off the overlying land requires a state permit, subject to limited exceptions12. A new, relocated or altered driveway onto a state highway needs a state permit28.

Watch-outs

  • Howard County's separate local-code adoption and general inspection program were not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning whether the Nebraska fallback code or an authorized local code applies1416.
  • Private-land RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy and a countywide minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; obtain a parcel-specific answer from Howard County Planning and Zoning216.
  • Floodplain development needs a county permit, and access onto a state highway needs a separate state driveway permit1028.

Sources

  1. Howard County, Nebraska - Planning and Zoning (2026 county census)
  2. Planning, Zoning and Floodplain – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  3. Planning and Zoning Maps – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  4. St. Paul: St. Paul Zoning Ordinance (Howard County), quoted and re-checked
  5. Nebraska Administrative Code Title 124 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  6. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Permits, quoted and re-checked
  7. St. Paul: City of St. Paul Municipal Code (Howard County), quoted and re-checked
  8. Planning and Zoning Maps – Howard County (2026 county census)
  9. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-3446 — Construction projects on private lands; applicability of act; owner; duties, quoted and re-checked
  10. Planning, Zoning and Floodplain – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  11. dwee.nebraska.gov, quoted and re-checked
  12. Water Wells, quoted and re-checked
  13. Frequently Asked Questions – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  14. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403 — State building code; adopted; amendments, quoted and re-checked
  15. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403 — State building code; adopted; amendments, quoted and re-checked
  16. Howard County Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department (howardcounty.ne.gov)
  17. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Planning and Zoning Maps – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  19. Setbacks for Zoning Permit Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  20. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  21. Nebraska Administrative Code Title 124 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  22. Onsite Wastewater Fees, Certifications, & Permits, quoted and re-checked
  23. Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  24. 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
  25. Nebraska Revised Statute 39-312 — Camping; permitted; where; violation; penalty (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-15,248 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 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, Howard County has countywide zoning.

RuleHoward CountyHall CountyMerrick CountySherman CountyGreeley CountyNance CountyHamilton County
Building permitRequiredRequiredRequiredLimitedRequiredLimitedRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsNE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENDEENE Dept. of WaterNE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENE Dept. of Env. & Energy

County locator

Howard County in Nebraska

45
County map
Howard County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Howard County scores

Seclusion69100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency21100% ev.
Admin Boringness47100% ev.
Durability39100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost67100% 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 →

$292kTypical home
1.1%Property tax
$4,372Land / acre
27.1"Annual rain
21.7% of yrsSevere drought
12.2 / yr (+10.3)Mid-century 100°F days
23.7 daysMid-century dry spell
1.54" (+3.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.55×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,538Home insurance / yr
0.6% / yrInsurance growth
2.73%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
9,144People within 30 min
549,442People within 2 hr
7,643Radius comparison (15 mi)
11.5People / sq mi
0.4%Federal land
82.2%Land at 15% slope or less
18.8%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
67,445 acWorkable land screen
6.1%Wooded land
11.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
50.1°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Howard 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: Village of Cotesfield · Village of Cushing · Village of Dannebrog · Village of Elba · Village of Farwell · Village of Howard City (Boelus)

Answers from the rulebook for Howard County

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

Howard County rules

  • County-wide zoningPresent

    County zoning in Howard County, including an official county zoning map.

    “Maps Official Zoning Map Existing Land Use Map”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Zoning regulation administered by Howard County in the county jurisdiction, with separate zoning maps also published for incorporated villages.

    • The county page states that the Planning and Zoning Department administers county zoning regulations.
    • The county publishes separate zoning maps for Boelus, Cotesfield, Cushing, Dannebrog, Elba, Farwell, and St. Libory; parcel-specific applicability should be checked against the applicable map and jurisdiction.
    “Setbacks are different for each zoning district. We need to know the legal description and address.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Varies — Aggregate local zoning across Howard County; the county publishes a county Official Zoning Map and separate zoning maps for incorporated villages.
      “Zoning Maps Boelus Cotesfield Cushing Dannebrog Elba Farwell St. Libory Howard Co. Villages zoning Maps 11×17”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Published zoning-map materials for Howard County and incorporated villages.

    • The map page lists separate village zoning maps; district-specific dimensional and use rules were not extracted because the underlying ordinance documents were not successfully opened.
    “Maps Official Zoning Map Existing Land Use Map Fire Districts Map State Functional Classifications Map One- and Six-Year Road and Bridge Plans Map Zoning Maps”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    County zoning districts A-1, A-2, and A-3, plus listed village districts and special situations.

    • Residential and farm side-yard setbacks are 10 feet from the property line in A-1, A-2, and A-3.
    • Front, intersection, rear, accessory-structure, railroad, grain-bin, septic, well, and utility-line requirements vary by use and district.
    • Village setbacks are separately listed for Cushing and other village districts.

    leach field setback: 25 feet (from property line) · well separation from leach field: 100 feet · residential side yard setback A-1/A-2/A-3: 10 feet (from property line) · rear yard setback A-1/A-2/A-3: 40 feet (measured from property line) · residential structure separation: 25 feet (to another residential structure)

    “Leach field – 25’ from property line Well has to be 100’ from the leach field”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development and construction within Howard County floodplain areas.

    • The County Floodplain Administrator reviews and issues floodplain development permits for projects within the floodplain.
    • River or creek-bed work requires a 404 permit or a letter stating one is unnecessary, together with a floodplain permit.
    • The zoning application states that an elevation certificate is needed if the structure is in the flood zone.
    “Reviews and issues floodplain development permits for projects within the floodplain;”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Howard County zoning/building permit application process

    • The application must be completed.
    • The landowner must sign the application.
    • The appropriate fee must be paid.
    “What is required for a zoning / building permit? A completed zoning / building permit application signed by landowner and pay the appropriate fee.”
  • Building permitRequired

    Howard County's Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department administers building and zoning permits, which must be applied for through the county before construction.

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

Nebraska rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    Owners of private-land construction projects in Nebraska, including Howard County, regarding exemption from the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act; this is not a confirmed exemption from Howard County zoning/building permits.

    • A private-land project is subject to the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act unless exempt under sections 81-3449 or 81-3453.
    • A detached single-family through four-family dwelling may qualify when it is less than 5,000 square feet of above-grade finished space; incidental detached or attached sheds, storage buildings, and garages are excluded from finished-space tabulation.
    • The exemption may be increased by board rule but may not exceed Type V, column B, limitations in the state building code.
    • Farm buildings may qualify when designed to be occupied by no more than twenty persons, subject to the Type V, column B limitation.
    • The statute does not state that an owner is exempt from local zoning or building-permit requirements.

    above-grade finished space: < 5000 square feet (detached single-family through four-family dwelling; incidental sheds, storage buildings, and garages excluded) · designed occupancy: <= 20 persons (farm buildings)

    “A project on private land is subject to the provisions of the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act unless exempt under section 81-3449 or 81-3453.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available — A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property under Nebraska's Contractor Registration Act.
      “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:”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Adopted — Nebraska state building code, including the 2018 IBC, IRC, International Existing Building Code, and Uniform Plumbing Code adopted by reference under state law.
      “There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference:”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Nebraska's state building code, including its applicability to Howard County where the county has adopted it or has not adopted a qualifying local code within the statutory period.
      “(1) There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference: (a) The International Building Code (IBC), 2018 edition, except section 101.4.3 and chapter 29, published by the International Code Council, except that (i) section 305.2.3 applies to a facility having twelve or fewer children and (ii) section 310.4.1 applies to a care facility for twelve or fewer persons; (b) The International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 edition, except section R313 and chapters 25 through 33, published by the International Code Council;”
  • 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 serving dwelling and non-dwelling facilities in Nebraska, including Howard County.

    • The state rules allow general permits and construction/operating permits.
    • More stringent local requirements may be adopted.
    “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.”
    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 permitLimited

    Ordinary residential onsite wastewater systems in Howard County.

    • Most systems constructed under Authorization by Rule do not require a state construction permit.
    • A permit is required for systems handling flows of 1,000 gallons per day or more, systems managing non-household wastewater, or systems not covered under Authorization by Rule.
    • A construction permit is required before building and an operating permit before system use.
    • Plans must be prepared by a professional engineer when a permit is required.

    design flow threshold: >= 1000 gallons per day (Systems covered by Authorization by Rule are excluded from the permit requirement.) · construction/operating permit application fee: 450 USD (One fee covers both construction and operating permit applications for one system.)

    “A construction permit is required before building”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Private onsite wastewater treatment systems in Howard County subject to Nebraska Title 124.
      “The two procedures designed to cover all onsite wastewater treatment systems under these regulations are as follows: 002.01 General Permits as described in 003 below. 002.02 Construction and Operating Permits as described in 004, 005, and 006 below.”
    • 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”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Off-grid sanitation through an onsite wastewater treatment system.
      “A dwelling or non-dwelling that generates wastewater must have an onsite wastewater treatment system that complies with state regulations or be connected to a public sewer system or other wastewater works.”
  • 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”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Groundwater-use projects in Nebraska, including Howard County, that withdraw groundwater and transport it by pipeline off the overlying land.
      “When a prospective groundwater-use project will be implemented that would result in groundwater withdrawal and transport via pipeline off the overlying land a permit is required from the Department, with limited exceptions.”
    • Limited — Domestic wells serving property in Howard County.
      “you may need a permit from your local Natural Resources 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”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Development areas in Howard County where onsite wastewater systems are proposed on lots smaller than three acres.
      “Approval is required before developing areas”
    • 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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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 Howard 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
  • 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 Howard County, Nebraska
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Howard County, Nebraska

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 Howard County, Nebraska

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

Howard County scores 45/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 9,144 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (27.1″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

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

Howard County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE / DWEE) - 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.

How much does land cost in Howard County, Nebraska?

Land in Howard County runs about $4,372 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Howard County?

Howard County gets about 27.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 21.7% of years.

How remote is Howard County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,144 people within a 30-minute drive and 549,442 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 Howard compares in Nebraska

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