Bolthole Index

Keith County, Nebraska

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

38Index Score / 100
#86 of 93 in Nebraska

Keith County, Nebraska requires a building permit for new construction, except accessory buildings under 300 square feet, and every county-issued building permit requires inspections12. Keith County administers zoning outside the listed municipal jurisdictions, while Nebraska regulates onsite wastewater systems; most systems use Authorization by Rule, but systems that do not qualify need state construction and operating permits345. Start with Keith County Planning and Zoning before designing or building6.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction, except accessory buildings under 300 square feet1
Zoning
Yes in county-administered areas; Ogallala, Brule and Paxton administer their listed jurisdictions separately73
Septic
State-regulated; most systems use Authorization by Rule, while nonqualifying systems need state permits45
RV living
No private-land occupancy rule was confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel and proposed use8
Tiny homes
No county occupancy or minimum-size rule was confirmed; district and building-code review still apply89
Owner-builder
Own-property work is exempt from contractor registration, but not from permits, zoning or codes10
Floodplain development
A permit is required for development in a Nebraska floodplain11
Water wells
Keith County does not issue or inspect well permits; ask Planning and Zoning which authority applies12

Who to call

Building permits

Keith County Planning and Zoning

Building permits, zoning administration, inspections and physical property addresses in Keith County's jurisdiction

(308) 289-6724

planning@keithcountyne.gov

202 West Riverdale Drive Ogallala NE 69153

Building permits

Keith County Planning and Zoning permit application

Keith County zoning-permit applications and notice of permits not issued or inspected by the county

308.289.6724

planning@keithcountyne.gov

202 West Riverdale Drive Ogallala, NE 69153

Septic permits

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program

Statewide onsite wastewater design, professional certification, registration and permit questions for Keith County systems

(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 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Keith 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 Keith County, Nebraska?

Yes. Keith County requires a building permit for all new construction except accessory buildings under 300 square feet, and inspections are required for every county-issued building permit12. Keith County has adopted the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code, with specified residential-code exclusions9. County zoning administration does not extend into the City of Ogallala's 2-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction or the 1-mile extraterritorial jurisdictions of Brule and Paxton, so projects there go to the relevant municipality13. Contact Planning and Zoning before ordering plans because the small-building exception does not establish an exemption from zoning, use or other approvals114.

Who handles Keith County building permits, and how do you reach them?

Keith County Planning and Zoning handles building permits, zoning administration, inspections and requests for physical property addresses in the county's jurisdiction6. Call (308) 289-6724, email planning@keithcountyne.gov or visit 202 West Riverdale Drive, Ogallala, NE 691536. The application asks for property, contractor, project dimensions, cost, setbacks and a site plan; inspections must be requested 48 hours ahead, and the permit must be displayed prominently15. Keith County does not issue or inspect electrical, plumbing, septic or well permits, so those approvals go through the appropriate outside authority12. The county does not administer zoning in the listed jurisdictions around Ogallala, Brule and Paxton3. We could not confirm a general certificate-of-occupancy rule or a published fee schedule, so ask Planning and Zoning about current fees and final approval6.

Does Keith County have zoning?

Yes. Keith County administers zoning in its jurisdiction, but not in the City of Ogallala's 2-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction or the 1-mile extraterritorial jurisdictions of Brule and Paxton713. The county publishes zoning and subdivision materials, and its permit application asks for the parcel's zoning district, but a complete district schedule and map could not be confirmed14. Subdivision activity is regulated, and a proposed onsite wastewater system on a lot under 3 acres requires state subdivision review and approval16. We could not confirm countywide numeric setbacks, minimum lot size, lot coverage, maximum building height or a general minimum home size; ask Planning and Zoning for the standards tied to the parcel's district6. Verify both jurisdiction and zoning district before treating a rural listing as buildable317.

How do septic permits work in Keith County?

Keith County does not issue or inspect septic permits; Nebraska administers onsite wastewater systems under Title 124, with any local requirements separate from the state program124. Most systems use Authorization by Rule and do not need a state construction permit; systems that fail its wastewater or site requirements need a construction permit before work and an operating permit before discharge or use5. Systems must still be registered with the state, and covered inspection, construction, repair and pumping work must be performed by an authorized professional1819. Only 27.2% of Keith County soils rate as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make a professional site and soil evaluation an early purchase or design step2019. Contact the DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program at (402) 471-4285 or DWEE.onsite@nebraska.gov about Authorization by Rule, registration, permits and certified professionals185.

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

We could not confirm a complete Keith County rule for long-term RV occupancy, private-land camping or tiny-home occupancy. Because Keith County has district-based zoning, ask Planning and Zoning whether the proposed unit and occupancy are allowed in the parcel's district before buying land or moving it onsite176. Nebraska's public-property camping rule does not answer whether an RV may be occupied on private land21. A dwelling or other facility that generates wastewater must use a Title 124-compliant onsite system or connect to wastewater works22. Off-grid septic, holding-tank, lagoon or mound sanitation can be used only when it complies with Title 124; cesspools, dry wells, leaching pits and seepage pits are prohibited23.

Building a home in Keith County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm whether the parcel falls under Keith County or one of the listed municipal zoning jurisdictions3.
  1. Ask Planning and Zoning for the district, allowed residential use, setbacks, application, plans and current fees176.
  1. Have an authorized onsite professional evaluate the soils, register the septic system and determine whether Authorization by Rule applies or state construction and operating permits are needed51918.
  1. Confirm the well authority because Keith County does not issue or inspect well permits12.
  1. Submit the property, contractor, project, setback and site-plan information, then obtain the building permit before new construction151.
  1. Request each required inspection at least 48 hours ahead and keep the permit prominently displayed215.
  1. Obtain any state-highway driveway and floodplain approvals that apply2411.

What to check before you buy land in Keith County

Start with jurisdiction and zoning district because Keith County does not administer zoning in the specified planning areas around Ogallala, Brule and Paxton25. If land will be divided, remember that county subdivision rules apply and an onsite wastewater system proposed on a lot under 3 acres requires state subdivision review16. Make septic feasibility a purchase contingency because only 27.2% of Keith County soils rate as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field20. Confirm a lawful water source and the well authority because Keith County does not issue or inspect well permits12. Check flood status because development in a Nebraska floodplain requires a permit11. Keith County averages 19.6 inches of precipitation annually, and severe drought occurs in 23% of years, so verify parcel-specific water quantity and reliability2627.

Watch-outs

  • Keith County's small-accessory-building permit exception does not by itself waive zoning, use, septic, floodplain or other approvals117.
  • Only 27.2% of county soils rate as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so septic feasibility can change the usable building area and system design20.
  • Long-term RV occupancy, private-land camping, tiny-home occupancy and county minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel and exact proposed use86.
  • A Keith County permit is valid for 1 year, work must begin within 6 months, and any extension must be issued before expiration15.
  • Keith County does not issue or inspect electrical, plumbing, septic or well permits, so a county building permit is not the only approval a project may need12.

Sources

  1. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  2. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  3. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  4. Owner Construction/Operating Permit Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Permits, quoted and re-checked
  6. Keith County Planning and Zoning (keithcountyne.gov)
  7. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  8. Keith County Planning and Zoning (2026 county census)
  9. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  10. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Keith County Planning and Zoning permit application (keithcountyne.gov)
  13. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  14. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  15. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  16. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  17. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  18. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  19. Title 124 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. 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
  21. Nebraska Revised Statute 39-312 — Camping; permitted; where; violation; penalty (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Nebraska Administrative Code Title 124 — Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  23. Nebraska Administrative Code Title 124 — Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  24. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Keith County Planning and Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  26. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Share of years in severe drought: 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, Keith County has countywide zoning.

RuleKeith CountyPerkins CountyArthur CountyDeuel CountyChase CountyMcPherson CountyGarden County
Building permitRequiredLimitedLimitedRequiredLimitedRequiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsNDEENE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENDEENDEENE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNE Dept. of Env. & Energy

County locator

Keith County in Nebraska

38
County map
Keith County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Keith County scores

Seclusion79100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency1398% ev.
Admin Boringness47100% ev.
Durability41100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost72100% ev.

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

$249kTypical home
1.4%Property tax
$2,431Land / acre
19.6"Annual rain
23% of yrsSevere drought
17.9 / yr (+14.5)Mid-century 100°F days
24.9 daysMid-century dry spell
1.24" (+4.3%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.37×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,234Home insurance / yr
0.1% / yrInsurance growth
1.92%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
9,280People within 30 min
224,510People within 2 hr
4,268Radius comparison (15 mi)
7.6People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
82.6%Land at 15% slope or less
27.2%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
172,716 acWorkable land screen
0.8%Wooded land
3.1 tonsBiomass / forest ac
50.1°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Keith 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.

Village of Brule · Ogallala · Village of Paxton

Answers from the rulebook for Keith County

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

Keith County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction in Keith County.

    • Accessory buildings under 300 square feet are excepted.

    accessory building threshold: < 300 square feet (Accessory buildings under 300 square feet are excepted.)

    “All new construction in Keith County requires a building permit with the exception of accessory buildings under 300 square feet.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction subject to Keith County jurisdiction.

    • The county page states that on September 16, 2026, the County Board approved a resolution updating to the 2021 building codes.
    • The 2021 International Residential Code is adopted with stated exclusions: IRC Part III Chapter 3 Section R309.5 and Section 313 automatic fire sprinkler systems; Chapter 3 Section 302.13 Floors, Gen. F.P.; and Part VIII Chapters 34 through 41 Electrical.
    • The 2021 International Building Code and Residential Code are available for public inspection at the Planning & Zoning office.

    building code edition: 2021 International Building Code and 2021 International Residential Code

    “Keith County hereby adopts the 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — Buildings erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, relocated, or converted in Keith County and its zoning jurisdiction.
      “Keith County Building Codes: On September 22, 2021 the County Board approved the adoption of a Resolution updating to the 2018 building codes. [...] The provisions of the International Residential Code shall be controlling throughout the county and its zoning jurisdiction provided, however, that the following provisions of The International Residential Code 2018 Edition, shall not be adopted:”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — County building-code jurisdiction.
      “adopts the 2021 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE. [...] adopts the 2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building permits in Keith County.

    • The county page states inspections are required for all building permits.
    “Inspections are required for all building permits.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Keith County zoning jurisdiction, excluding the incorporated municipal jurisdictions identified by the county.

    • All new construction requires a zoning permit except accessory buildings under 300 square feet.
    • Keith County does not provide zoning administration for the City of Ogallala 2 mile ETJ, Village of Brule 1 mile ETJ, or Village of Paxton 1 mile ETJ.

    accessory-building exemption threshold: < 300 square feet

    “All new construction in Keith County requires a zoning permit with the exception of accessory buildings under 300 square feet. [...] Keith County does not provide zoning administration for the City of Ogallala (2 mile ETJ), Village of Brule (1 mile ETJ), and the Village of Paxton (1 mile ETJ).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — County zoning and subdivision regulation in Keith County, subject to the stated municipal exceptions.
      “Keith County does not provide zoning administration for the City of Ogallala (2 mile ETJ), Village of Brule (1 mile ETJ), and the Village of Paxton (1 mile ETJ).”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate of county and incorporated-place zoning within Keith County.

    • Keith County administers zoning in its county zoning jurisdiction; incorporated places and identified ETJs have separate zoning administration.
    • The county page identifies the City of Ogallala, Village of Brule, and Village of Paxton as outside Keith County zoning administration.
    “Keith County does not provide zoning administration for the City of Ogallala (2 mile ETJ), Village of Brule (1 mile ETJ), and the Village of Paxton (1 mile ETJ).”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate local zoning in Keith County, including county zoning jurisdiction and municipal jurisdictions.
      “Keith County does not provide zoning administration for the City of Ogallala (2 mile ETJ), Village of Brule (1 mile ETJ), and the Village of Paxton (1 mile ETJ).”
    • Varies (with conditions) — Aggregate local zoning controls across Keith County, including county-administered areas and incorporated jurisdictions.
      “All new construction in Keith County requires a building permit with the exception of accessory buildings under 300 square feet. Inspections are required for all building permits. To obtain a physical property address, use the contact information listed above. Keith County does not provide zoning administration for the City of Ogallala (2 mile ETJ), Village of Brule (1 mile ETJ), and the Village of Paxton (1 mile ETJ).”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Keith County zoning regulations and zoning-permit materials.

    • The county publishes links to its Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations and Zoning Permit Application.
    • The detailed district standards were not independently extracted because the linked ordinance PDF was unavailable for review.
    “Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Partial — Keith County zoning districts and district-based permit administration in county-administered areas.
      “Zoning District: _____________ Lot Size: _________________ Block: ____________________”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision activity subject to the Keith County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations.

    • The county page states that the regulations were approved in 2019.
    • Additional state onsite-wastewater subdivision review may apply where applicable.
    “The Keith County, Nebraska Zoning and Subdivision Regulations were approved in 2019.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and development areas using onsite wastewater systems in Keith County.
      “The Keith County, Nebraska Zoning and Subdivision Regulations were approved in 2019.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Keith County building and zoning permitting process.

    • Permit applications require property and project information; a site plan is required; inspections must be requested 48 hours in advance; permits are valid for one year and work must commence within six months.
    • Extensions must be requested and issued before permit expiration.

    inspection notice: >= 48 hours · permit validity: 1 year · commencement deadline: <= 6 months

    “All inspections must be requested 48 hours in advance. [...] Permits are valid for one year of permit issuance. Work must commence within 6 months.”

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.”
  • 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 Keith County under Nebraska Title 124.

    • Title 124 allows more stringent local requirements.
    • Keith County's zoning permit application states that septic permits are not issued or inspected by Keith County.
    “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 Keith County under Nebraska Title 124.
      “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.”
    • 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 affecting Keith County parcels.

    • Most systems use Authorization by Rule and do not require a state construction permit.
    • A permit is required when wastewater quantity or quality, or site conditions, do not meet Authorization by Rule requirements.
    • When a permit application is required, a construction permit is required before construction and an operating permit before wastewater discharge or use.
    • Local requirements may be separate and different.
    “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.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Onsite wastewater systems in Keith County when a Title 124 permit application is required.
      “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.”
    • Required — Private onsite wastewater treatment systems serving dwellings or non-dwelling facilities in Keith County.
      “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.”
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems statewide where system size, non-domestic waste handling, or siting issues require a site-specific evaluation and permitting; ordinary systems also remain subject to applicable Title 124 compliance and registration rules.
      “Most onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska are constructed under “Authorization by Rule” which does not require a construction permit [...] However, some systems will require a permit”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Inspection, pumping, siting, construction, alteration, repair, closure, and other changes to private onsite wastewater systems in Keith County.

    • Only a certified professional, Professional Engineer, registered environmental health specialist, or person under direct supervision may perform covered work.
    • A septic tank owner must have a Master or Journeyman Pumper, Professional Engineer, or registered environmental health specialist periodically inspect the tank.
    • The certification requirement has a specified exception for certain district-owned electric-generation-facility systems.
    “The owner of a septic tank will have a Master or Journeyman Pumper, a professional engineer, or a registered environmental health specialist periodically inspect the septic tank and remove septage from the tank whenever the top of the sludge layer is less than 12 inches below the bottom of the outlet baffle or whenever the bottom of the scum layer is less than three inches above the bottom of the outlet baffle.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Inspection of private onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska.
      “A private onsite wastewater treatment system shall not be [...] inspected [...] unless the [...] inspection [...] is carried out or supervised by either a certified professional”
  • 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 using a private onsite wastewater treatment system in Keith County.
      “Cesspools, dry wells, leeching pits, and seepage pits are prohibited systems and will not accept wastewater. A prohibited system will not satisfy the requirement to have an onsite wastewater system.”
  • 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-dwelling facilities in Keith County.

    • A facility generating wastewater must either have an onsite wastewater treatment system complying with Title 124 or be connected to wastewater works.
    • Systems with design flow greater than 1,000 gallons per day that do not use soil absorption are regulated as wastewater works under Title 123.

    design-flow threshold: > 1000 gallons per day (Systems above this threshold without soil absorption are wastewater works under Title 123.)

    “A dwelling or non-dwelling facility that generates wastewater is to have an onsite wastewater treatment system in accordance with these regulations or be connected to a wastewater works.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Wastewater service for dwellings and non-dwellings generating wastewater statewide in Nebraska.
      “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.”
  • 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.”
  • 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 Keith 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.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Keith County.

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 Keith 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 ↗

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 Keith County, Nebraska

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

Keith County scores 38/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 9,280 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (19.6″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

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

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

How much does land cost in Keith County, Nebraska?

Land in Keith County runs about $2,431 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Keith County?

Keith County gets about 19.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 23% of years. On water rights, Keith County lies in the Platte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek) — 2004 designation triggered a moratorium on new high-capacity wells; no new consumptive groundwater use without an approved offset. Domestic wells exempt..

How remote is Keith County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,280 people within a 30-minute drive and 224,510 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 Keith compares in Nebraska

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