Bolthole Index

Kimball County, Nebraska

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

40Index Score / 100
#78 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Kimball County, Nebraska requires zoning approval before a nonfarm building or structure is erected, constructed or altered, but the zoning resolution does not itself create a building, plumbing, electrical or other construction code12. County zoning applies outside municipal zoning jurisdictions, while Nebraska regulates onsite wastewater systems34. Start a house or other nonfarm project with Kimball County Planning and Zoning5.

At a glance

Building permit
Zoning approval is required for nonfarm construction; a separate general residential building-code permit was not confirmed12
Zoning
Yes in unincorporated Kimball County outside the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality3
Septic
State-regulated through Nebraska DWEE; most systems use Authorization by Rule, while qualifying systems need state permits67
Agricultural buildings
Conditionally exempt from county zoning rules when genuinely used for agricultural purposes89
Owner-builder
Work on your own property is exempt from contractor registration, but not from permits or other construction requirements10
RV / tiny home living
No complete county rule was confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel and proposed use11
Floodplain development
A permit is required for development in a Nebraska floodplain12
Driveway access
A legal road frontage or recorded permanent access easement is required; state-highway approaches need a state permit1314

Who to call

Building permits

Kimball County Planning and Zoning

Zoning and subdivision applications for unincorporated Kimball County outside municipal zoning jurisdiction

(308) 235-2235

Kcpz71@actcom.net

3475 Rd 37 W Kimball, NE 69145

Septic permits

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment Onsite Section

Statewide onsite wastewater certification, registration and permit questions for Kimball County systems

(402) 471-4285

245 Fallbrook Blvd., Ste. 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 Kimball County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

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

Unincorporated Kimball County requires zoning approval before erecting, constructing or altering a nonfarm building or structure in the county zoning area1. The zoning resolution expressly says its permits and certificates concern land-use compliance and do not create a building, plumbing, electrical or other construction code2. Nebraska's state building code applies by default where a county has not adopted an authorized local code within the statutory update period, except for construction on a farm or for farm purposes15. Because we could not confirm a separate Kimball County residential building-code permit or inspection program, ask Planning and Zoning which zoning approval and state-code path apply before ordering plans5. Buildings genuinely used for agricultural purposes have a conditional county zoning exemption, but that exemption does not settle every other requirement8.

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

Kimball County Planning and Zoning is the first stop for a nonfarm project in the unincorporated county zoning area1. The Zoning Administrator helps applicants complete the appropriate application, and the Board of Commissioners establishes zoning fees165. Contact the office at (308) 235-2235 or Kcpz71@actcom.net, or visit 3475 Rd 37 W, Kimball, NE 691455. Published fees include $250 for a conditional-use application, while an after-the-fact application costs $1,000 if the Board agrees to issue it; these are zoning and subdivision fees, not a general residential building-code permit schedule17. We could not confirm a general building-inspection schedule or county certificate-of-occupancy requirement, so ask what construction documents, inspections and final approvals apply. Projects within municipal zoning jurisdiction should go to the municipality3.

Does Kimball County have zoning?

Yes. Kimball County zoning applies to unincorporated territory outside municipal zoning jurisdiction3. For nonfarm housing in the A-1, A-2 and RE districts, the minimum lot size is 10 acres18. The A-1 and A-2 minimum setback is 150 feet along Highway 71 south of Kimball and 50 feet elsewhere; the RE minimum setback is 50 feet, with district-specific side and rear yard rules19. The official zoning map is maintained at the Kimball County Courthouse, so confirm the parcel's mapped district and any overlay before relying on those measurements20. Subdivision is also regulated: a subdivision lot cannot be sold or built on until the final plat is approved and recorded21. A building also needs public or approved private road frontage or a recorded permanent access easement at least 20 feet wide13.

How do septic permits work in Kimball County?

Onsite wastewater systems in Kimball County are regulated by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment under statewide Title 124, using state-certified professionals rather than a county septic department4. Most Nebraska onsite systems are built under Authorization by Rule without a construction permit, but every constructed or modified system must be registered with the state76. A state permit is required when a system handles at least 1,000 gallons per day, accepts non-household wastewater or falls outside Authorization by Rule; the plans must be prepared by a professional engineer, and the listed application fee is $45022. Only 25.5% of Kimball County soils rate as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so arrange a certified site and soil evaluation early2324. Contact the DWEE Onsite Section at (402) 471-4285 for registration, certification and permit questions25.

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

We could not confirm a complete Kimball County rule for long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping on private property or tiny-home occupancy. Because unincorporated Kimball County is zoned, ask Planning and Zoning whether the proposed dwelling type and occupancy are allowed in the parcel's district before buying or moving a unit onto the land115. Nebraska's restriction on camping along public highways, roadside areas and public property does not answer whether someone may occupy an RV on private land26. State law lets a county impose certain standards on manufactured homes, including a discretionary minimum of 900 square feet, but that authority does not prove that Kimball County applies that minimum to a particular home27. Any dwelling that generates wastewater must use a compliant onsite system or connect to an approved wastewater works28.

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

  1. Confirm whether the parcel is under Kimball County zoning or a municipality's zoning jurisdiction3.
  1. Ask Planning and Zoning for the mapped district, allowed residential use, overlays and application205.
  1. Check the district standard: nonfarm housing in A-1, A-2 and RE requires a 10-acre lot, and setbacks vary by district and road frontage1819.
  1. Confirm legal access; the lot must front an approved road or have a recorded permanent access easement at least 20 feet wide13.
  1. Have a state-certified onsite professional evaluate and register the wastewater system or obtain any required state permit6.
  1. Obtain county zoning approval and confirm the applicable state building-code path before construction115.

What to check before you buy land in Kimball County

Start with jurisdiction, mapped zoning district and legal access: county rules apply only outside municipal zoning jurisdiction, district standards vary, and development needs approved road frontage or a recorded access easement32013. For nonfarm housing in A-1, A-2 and RE, verify that the parcel can satisfy the 10-acre minimum and applicable setbacks before closing1819. Make septic feasibility a purchase contingency because only 25.5% of county soils rate as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field23. We could not confirm the applicable private-well permit rule, so ask the well contractor and relevant state water authority before drilling. Kimball County averages 16.6 inches of precipitation annually, and severe drought occurs in 20.2% of years2930. The effective property-tax rate is about 1.7%, with a median annual bill of $1,9053132.

Watch-outs

  • Kimball County's agricultural-building exemption is conditional; do not assume a rural structure is exempt merely because it sits on acreage89.
  • Nebraska's owner-builder exemption concerns contractor registration only; it does not erase zoning approval, building-code, trade-licensing or inspection requirements10.
  • Only 25.5% 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 design23.
  • Long-term RV use, private-land camping, tiny-home occupancy and a county minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel's district and the exact proposed use115.
  • A state-highway driveway requires a Nebraska Department of Transportation permit, separate from the county's access standards1413.

Sources

  1. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations (2026 county census)
  2. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  3. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  4. Nebraska DWEE - Title 124 Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (2026) (2026 county census)
  5. Kimball County Planning and Zoning (kimballcountyne.gov)
  6. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Construction/Operating Permits, quoted and re-checked
  7. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  9. nebraskalegislature.gov (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104, quoted and re-checked
  11. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations (2026 county census)
  12. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  14. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403 — State building code; adopted; amendments, quoted and re-checked
  16. Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  17. Kimball County Zoning & Subdivision Fee Schedule, quoted and re-checked
  18. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  19. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  20. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  21. Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  22. Onsite Wastewater Fees, Certifications, & Permits, quoted and re-checked
  23. 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
  24. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-15,248 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment Onsite Section (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  26. Nebraska Revised Statute 39-312 — Camping; permitted; where; violation; penalty (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Just for Homeowners (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Median property tax bill: 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.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

Compared with neighboring counties

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

RuleKimball CountyBanner CountyCheyenne CountyScotts Bluff CountyMorrill CountyDeuel CountyGarden County
Building permitLimitedLimitedLimitedRequiredLimitedRequiredRequired
County zoningYesNoYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsNDEENDEENDEENDEENE DEENDEENE Dept. of Env. & Energy

County locator

Kimball County in Nebraska

40
County map
Kimball County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Kimball County scores

Seclusion78100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency1592% ev.
Admin Boringness47100% ev.
Durability43100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost7396% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$172kTypical home
1.7%Property tax
$1,701Land / acre
16.6"Annual rain
20.2% of yrsSevere drought
7.2 / yr (+6.5)Mid-century 100°F days
21.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.01" (+3.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.33×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,423Home insurance / yr
-1.9% / yrInsurance growth
2.73%Nonrenewal rate
single ZIP shrunk to state medianInsurance basis
4,200People within 30 min
798,758People within 2 hr
3,696Radius comparison (15 mi)
3.5People / sq mi
0%Federal land
88.5%Land at 15% slope or less
25.5%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
155,156 acWorkable land screen
0%Wooded land
47.6°FAvg temp

Scout Kimball County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Kimball County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Cities and towns in Kimball 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 Bushnell · Village of Dix · Kimball

Answers from the rulebook for Kimball County

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

Kimball County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    County zoning and land-use approval for buildings, structures, and land development in unincorporated Kimball County outside municipal zoning jurisdiction.

    • The resolution applies only to unincorporated areas not located within a municipality's zoning jurisdiction.
    • Buildings, structures, and land must conform to the applicable zoning district regulations before erection, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, movement, or structural alteration.
    • Agricultural and farm buildings and structures are exempt from the zoning regulations, except that non-farm buildings must meet basic setbacks.
    • The county resolution is a zoning regulation only and does not establish or administer building, plumbing, electrical, or other construction codes.
    • The county assessor directs applicants to the County Planning and Zoning Administrator for county zoning; City of Kimball building permits are obtained from City Hall.
    “This Resolution is a zoning regulation only and regulates only land usage.”
  • Building code adoptedNot adopted (with conditions)

    Building, plumbing, electrical, or other construction code created by the Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Resolution for its unincorporated-area jurisdiction.

    • This finding is limited to the county zoning and subdivision resolution; the resolution states that zoning permits and certificates are solely for land-use compliance and does not establish whether a separate county enactment or a state requirement applies.
    “This Resolution does not in any manner whatsoever include, imply or otherwise create any type or form of building, plumbing, electrical or other code which would regulate the design and construction of any building or structure within the jurisdiction of this Resolution.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land use and development in the unincorporated areas of Kimball County.

    • The resolution does not apply within the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality.
    • The regulations were adopted October 5, 2010 and amended through March 4, 2025.
    “This Resolution shall apply to the unincorporated areas within the boundaries of Kimball County, Nebraska not located within the zoning jurisdiction of any municipality as set forth by Nebraska law, and as may be amended when necessary.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land use and development in the unincorporated areas of Kimball County, Nebraska that are not within the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality.

    • The resolution applies only to unincorporated areas not located within the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality.
    • The unincorporated county is divided into A-1 Agriculture One, A-2 Agriculture Two, RE Residential Estate, C Commercial, IC Interstate Highway Commercial, I Industrial, WPO Wellhead Protection Overlay, and AHAO Airport Hazard Area Overlay districts.
    • The resolution was adopted October 5, 2010 and amended through March 4, 2025.
    “This Resolution shall apply to the unincorporated areas within the boundaries of Kimball County, Nebraska not located within the zoning jurisdiction of any municipality as set forth by Nebraska law, and as may be amended when necessary.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts and standards in unincorporated Kimball County.

    • The official zoning map is incorporated by reference and maintained at the Kimball County Courthouse.
    • District standards and overlay requirements vary by district.
    “In order to carry out the purpose and intent of this Resolution, the unincorporated area of Kimball County, Nebraska is hereby divided into the following zoning district classifications:”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Non-farm housing development in the A-1 Agricultural, A-2 Agricultural, and RE Residential Estate zoning districts within the county zoning jurisdiction.

    • The regulations apply to unincorporated Kimball County outside municipal zoning jurisdiction.
    • Every lot in agricultural districts must be located on a lot of record.
    • A lot may meet the agricultural-district minimum if it would otherwise meet it but for reduction by public rights-of-way or other extenuating circumstances.
    • Existing setbacks, lots, or tracts may not be reduced below the resolution's minimum requirements; later-created lots must meet or exceed them.

    minimum lot size for non-farm housing development in A-1, A-2, and RE districts: 10 acres (Agricultural-district lot-size provision addresses reduction caused by public rights-of-way or other extenuating circumstances.)

    “2. Minimum lot size for non farm housing development: 10 acres”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Non-farm housing development in the unincorporated A-1 Agricultural, A-2 Agricultural, and RE Residential Estate districts.
      “2. Minimum lot size for non farm housing development: 10 acres”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Lots in the unincorporated C Commercial, IC Interstate Highway Commercial, and I Industrial districts.
      “2. Minimum lot size: none 3. Minimum Setback: 50 feet”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Non-farm housing development in the A-1 Agricultural District in unincorporated Kimball County outside municipal zoning jurisdiction.
      “2. Minimum lot size for non farm housing development: 10 acres (Resolution 2012-02, April 3, 2012)”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in the A-1 Agricultural, A-2 Agricultural, and RE Residential Estate zoning districts within the county zoning jurisdiction.

    • The regulations apply to unincorporated Kimball County outside municipal zoning jurisdiction.
    • A-1 and A-2 side and rear yards have no limitation unless abutting a Residential Estate District, an improved county road, or a state or federal highway.
    • In A-1 and A-2, fences need not comply with the minimum setback and may be on the property line.
    • The regulations state that the more restrictive overlapping regulation governs unless specifically excepted.

    A-1 and A-2 minimum setback along Highway 71 south of Kimball: 150 feet · A-1 and A-2 minimum setback elsewhere: 50 feet · A-1 and A-2 side or rear yard abutting Residential Estate District: 15 feet · A-1 and A-2 side or rear yard abutting improved county road, state highway, or federal highway: 25 feet · RE minimum setback: 50 feet · RE side or rear yard abutting Residential Estate District: 15 feet · RE side or rear yard abutting improved county road, state highway, or federal highway: 25 feet

    “3. Minimum Setback: A. Along Highway 71 south of Kimball: 150 feet B. Everywhere else: 50 feet 4. Minimum Yard Requirements: A. Side yard: No limitation unless abutting a Residential Estate District then fifteen feet (15’) or abutting an improved county road, state or federal highway then twenty-five feet (25’). B. Rear yard: No limitation unless abutting a Residential Estate District then fifteen feet (15’) or abutting an improved county road, state or federal highway then twenty-five feet (25’).”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Non-farm housing and other regulated structures in the unincorporated A-1 Agricultural, A-2 Agricultural, and RE Residential Estate districts.
      “3. Minimum Setback: A. Along Highway 71 south of Kimball: 150 feet B. Everywhere else: 50 feet”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Structures in the unincorporated C Commercial, IC Interstate Highway Commercial, and I Industrial districts.
      “2. Minimum lot size: none 3. Minimum Setback: 50 feet”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Buildings and structures in the A-1 Agricultural District in unincorporated Kimball County outside municipal zoning jurisdiction.
      “3. Minimum Setback: A. Along Highway 71 south of Kimball: 150 feet B. Everywhere else: 50 feet”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings and structures utilized for agricultural purposes in unincorporated Kimball County.

    • Agricultural buildings are exempt from the zoning regulations.
    • The exemption does not preclude non-farm buildings from meeting basic setbacks.
    • Other state or federal requirements may apply.
    “The regulations provided for under this Resolution regulate, restrict, or prohibit the erection, construction, reconstruction, and/or alteration of non-farm buildings or structures. Non-farm buildings are all buildings except those buildings utilized for agricultural purposes.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels for sale or development within the county resolution's jurisdiction.

    • Exemptions include cemetery burial lots, statutory exemptions, smallest parcel over 10 acres, certain boundary adjustments, and certain divisions of four or fewer contiguous lots of at least 10 acres without a new county road.
    • A final plat must be approved by the County Board and recorded before sale, transfer, or building in a subdivision.
    “No lot in a subdivision may be sold, transferred, no building may be erected in a subdivision unless a final plat has been approved by the County Board and recorded with the Kimball County Register of Deeds.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways serving development in unincorporated Kimball County.

    • The resolution requires adequate sight lines.
    • Applicable road, utility, and other easement requirements also apply.
    “Every building/structure shall be on a lot or parcel of land which abuts a public or approved private street/road or shall be accessible by means of a recorded permanent access easement at least 20 feet in width to provide safe and convenient access for servicing, fire protection and required off street parking.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Kimball County zoning and subdivision applications in unincorporated areas.

    • The schedule lists zoning and subdivision application fees, not a general residential building-code permit fee.
    • Application fees are nonrefundable.
    • The application fee includes published public notices and mailed notices to adjoining property owners.
    • Other associated fees are paid by the applicant.
    • All required permits must be applied for and obtained before construction or the use begins.
    • If the Board agrees to issue an after-the-fact permit, the application fee is $1,000.
    • The schedule is effective March 4, 2025; it states it was adopted by the Board of Commissioners February 4, 2020, with the Special Event Fee dated March 4, 2025.

    conditional use permit fee: 250 USD (Applicant will be billed for actual cost of public hearing transcript.) · wind energy site plan permit fee: 350 USD (Applicant will be billed for actual cost of engineer reviews, inspections, and verifications.) · wind energy permit with final site plan fee: 350 USD (Plus $1,000 per tower; applicant will be billed for actual cost of all engineer reviews, inspections, and verifications.) · amendment to zoning/subdivision regulation text and/or map fee: 250 USD (Applicant will be billed for actual cost of public hearing transcript.) · board of adjustment appeal, interpretation or variance fee: 250 USD (Applicant will be billed for actual cost of public hearing transcript.) · special event permit fee: 100 USD · after-the-fact permit application fee: 1000 USD (Only if the Board agrees to issue the permit after construction or the use began.) · application fee status: nonrefundable

    “Any person submitting an application shall pay the appropriate nonrefundable application fee as established by the Board of Commissioners.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Kimball County zoning and subdivision permit applications in the county zoning jurisdiction; this is not a county building-code permit schedule.
      “Conditional Use Permit $250 [...] Wind Energy Site Plan Permit Wind Energy Permit with Final Site Plan $350 $350 Plus $1000 per tower [...] If the Board agrees to issue an after-the-fact permit, the application fee shall be $1,000. Kimball County Zoning & Subdivision Fee Schedule Effective March 4, 2025”
    • Variable (with conditions) — Fees for permits administered under the Kimball County Zoning and Subdivision Resolution in unincorporated county areas outside municipal zoning jurisdiction.
      “Fees shall be as established by the Kimball County Board of Commissioners.”
  • Permit processPartial

    County zoning and subdivision permit processes in unincorporated Kimball County.

    • The Zoning Administrator assists with applications and receives and maintains applications.
    • The Planning Commission and County Board participate in applicable reviews.
    • Required permits must be obtained before construction or undertaking the use.
    “The Zoning Administrator can help in completing the appropriate application. All fees are established by the Board of Commissioners.”

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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — A person performing construction 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.”
  • 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 (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater systems in Kimball County.

    • Additional local government requirements may also apply.
    • Most systems use a General Permit; systems outside General Permit requirements require state construction and operating permits.
    “Construction or modification of an onsite system (such as septic systems, lagoons, holding tanks, or engineered systems) must be registered with DWEE.”
    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

    Onsite wastewater systems in Kimball County regulated under Nebraska Title 124.

    • A permit is required for systems with flows of 1,000 gallons per day or more, non-household wastewater, or systems not covered by Authorization by Rule.
    • Plans must be prepared by a professional engineer.
    • The construction permit is required before building and the operating permit before system use.
    • The listed application fee is $450.

    design flow threshold: >= 1000 gallons per day · application fee: 450 USD (covers both construction and operating permits)

    “A permit is required for onsite wastewater systems that: Handle flows of 1,000 gallons per day or more; Manage non-household wastewater; Are not covered under “Authorization by Rule” (Title 124, Chapter 3, Section 002).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems statewide where system size, non-domestic waste handling, or siting issues require a site-specific evaluation and permitting; ordinary systems also remain subject to applicable Title 124 compliance and registration rules.
      “Most onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska are constructed under “Authorization by Rule” which does not require a construction permit [...] However, some systems will require a permit”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Inspection of private onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    “shall, before commencing construction, apply with the district in which the water well will be located for a permit on forms provided by the district”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

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

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

  • Lot coverage
  • 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 unincorporated Kimball County.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings in unincorporated Kimball 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 Kimball 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 Kimball County, Nebraska

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

Kimball County scores 40/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 4,200 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (16.6″/yr rainfall).

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

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

How much does land cost in Kimball County, Nebraska?

Land in Kimball County runs about $1,701 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Kimball County?

Kimball County gets about 16.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 20.2% of years. On water rights, Kimball 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 Kimball County?

A representative private-land location has about 4,200 people within a 30-minute drive and 798,758 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 Kimball compares in Nebraska

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