Bolthole Index

Saline County, Nebraska

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

48Index Score / 100
#30 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Saline County, Nebraska requires a zoning permit for most development and a certificate of zoning compliance before a new or changed use is occupied12. County inspections enforce zoning; Nebraska’s state building code may apply separately34. Crete and Wilber issue their own building permits and set zoning5678. Nebraska DWEE regulates onsite wastewater throughout Saline County, with state construction permits required for specified systems910.

At a glance

Building permit
A county zoning permit is required for most buildings, structures, land uses and structural alterations1
Zoning
Yes, throughout county jurisdiction outside municipalities and their zoning areas11
Permit fee
$30 for the county building permit listed on the zoning fee schedule12
Septic
Nebraska DWEE regulates systems; state permits apply to specified systems1310
RV or tiny home
No general private-land occupancy rule confirmed; classification and zoning district control1415
Owner-builder
A qualifying owner-built dwelling may be exempt from state architecture regulation, not zoning or other approvals16
AG-G home lot
At least 5 acres for a single-family dwelling, manufactured home or mobile home, subject to wastewater needs17

Who to call

Building permits

Saline County Planning & Zoning

Building and zoning permit questions, parcel zoning, setbacks, subdivisions, conditional uses and special exceptions in unincorporated Saline County

402-821-3326

lweber@salinecountyne.gov

PO Box 865, Wilber, NE 68465

Septic permits

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

Statewide onsite wastewater standards, professional certification, subdivision review and permits for systems requiring site-specific evaluation

(402) 471-4285

DWEE.onsite@nebraska.gov

245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68521

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

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Saline 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 Saline County, Nebraska?

Most development in unincorporated Saline County needs a county zoning permit before work begins1. Applications use county forms and include a plot plan showing the lot, proposed work, parking, water supply and sewage-disposal locations18. A certificate of zoning compliance is required before a new, changed, converted, altered or enlarged building or premises is used or occupied2. The published building-permit fee is $30; filing after the application date adds $7512. County inspections determine compliance with zoning rather than building, plumbing, electrical, structural or other construction codes3. Nebraska's state building code can separately apply where a local government has not adopted an authorized local code, subject to the state rule's farm-purpose exception4. Qualifying non-residential farm buildings remain subject to county zoning but are exempt from the zoning permit; nonagricultural uses, parcels that do not qualify as farms and associated waste-handling facilities do not qualify19.

Who handles Saline County building permits and inspections?

Saline County Planning & Zoning handles county zoning-permit questions on unincorporated land20. Reach the office at 402-821-3326 or lweber@salinecountyne.gov, or mail PO Box 865, Wilber, NE 6846520. Inside Crete, the Building Official handles building permits; inside Wilber, building-permit applications go to the Utilities Superintendent57. Nebraska DWEE remains the onsite wastewater authority throughout Saline County, subject to additional local requirements13. Ask county Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s jurisdiction and district; the official map held by the Zoning Administrator or County Clerk controls current county zoning status2120. The county fee schedule lists $25 per parcel for a subdivision application and $100 each for a zoning change or variance12.

Does Saline County have zoning?

Saline County zoning governs land use, building size, height and intensity in unincorporated county jurisdiction; municipal zoning jurisdiction can displace county authority1422. Crete sets its own zoning, including a zoning jurisdiction beyond city limits, and Wilber sets zoning inside city limits68. Nebraska DWEE still administers onsite wastewater requirements in both cities13. In the AG-G General Agricultural District, a single-family dwelling, manufactured home or mobile home needs at least 5 acres, and wastewater standards may require more land17. AG-G buildings designed for human habitation are limited to 40 feet23. The county’s manufactured-home definition requires at least 900 square feet of floor area and an exterior width of at least 18 feet, plus a permanent foundation and permanent public-utility connection; these are manufactured-home standards, not a confirmed minimum for every dwelling24. Setbacks and lot coverage depend on the district2526.

How do septic permits work in Saline County?

Nebraska’s Department of Water, Energy, and Environment administers onsite wastewater requirements in Saline County, subject to additional local requirements13. A state permit is required for systems handling at least 1,000 gallons per day, non-household wastewater or systems outside Authorization by Rule; the construction/operating permit application fee is $450 for one system10. Systems covered by Authorization by Rule do not need the state construction permit, but constructed or changed systems must still be registered with DWEE1027. A wastewater-generating building must use a state-compliant onsite system or connect to public sewer or other wastewater works, including off-grid homes2829. Only 9% of Saline County soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional drain field30. Development proposing onsite wastewater on any lot smaller than 3 acres requires DWEE subdivision review and approval before development31. Contact the Onsite Wastewater Program at (402) 471-4285 or DWEE.onsite@nebraska.gov32.

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

We could not confirm a general rule allowing long-term RV or tiny-home occupancy on private land in unincorporated Saline County; ask Planning & Zoning to classify the unit and proposed use20. Nebraska recognizes tiny houses as manufactured homes, modular units or recreational vehicles; park-model recreational vehicles are for temporary recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use and cannot be permanently affixed as permanent dwellings15. Manufactured housing is allowed in AG-G when county dwelling standards and zoning approvals are met33. A separate agricultural-district provision allows temporary mobile-home placement alongside an existing dwelling to care for an immediate family member in need; adequate water and sewage disposal are required, and rental or occupancy by others requires proper subdivision34. That care-related mobile home must stand at least 20 feet from existing buildings and be removed within 90 days after non-occupancy unless a compliant subdivision creates a separate lot34.

What are the steps to build a home in Saline County?

  1. Ask Saline County Planning & Zoning to confirm jurisdiction, the zoning district, allowed dwelling type, setbacks and lot coverage14252620.
  2. Confirm public-road frontage and vehicle access; minimum-maintenance or unimproved roads can trigger owner-funded improvements and maintenance, without a county commitment to accept maintenance35.
  3. Evaluate the septic site before finalizing the lot and plot plan: an AG-G home needs at least 5 acres, potentially more for wastewater disposal, and the system may need a DWEE permit1710.
  4. Submit project details and the plot plan with the county zoning-permit application and pay the listed $30 fee18112.
  5. If designing the home yourself, confirm whether the state architecture exemption for a qualifying detached dwelling applies; the exemption does not waive zoning, sanitation or building-code requirements16.
  6. Obtain any required floodplain or state-highway approach permit, then secure the county certificate of zoning compliance before occupancy36372.

What should you check before buying or dividing land in Saline County?

Before buying, ask Saline County Planning & Zoning to confirm jurisdiction, the intended use and public-road access, especially if a listing relies on a minimum-maintenance or unimproved road213520. Saline County publishes a subdivision application; residential subdivisions in the RCI Rural Commercial/Industrial District must be surveyed and engineered, with a plat submitted for approval under county subdivision regulations3839. Separately, development proposing onsite wastewater on any lot smaller than 3 acres requires DWEE subdivision review and approval before development31. Make septic feasibility a purchase contingency because only 9% of county soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional drain field30. We could not confirm the private-well permit requirements for a particular Saline County parcel; ask Planning & Zoning to identify the responsible natural resources district, which handles well-construction permits in groundwater management areas, subject to statutory exemptions2040. Check floodplain status because development in a Nebraska floodplain requires a permit36.

Watch-outs

  • Saline County requires a certificate of zoning compliance before a new or changed use is occupied; county inspections enforce zoning rather than building, plumbing, electrical or structural codes23.
  • A non-residential farm building remains subject to the zoning resolution even when exempt from the zoning permit, and the exemption does not cover a nonagricultural use, a non-farm parcel or an associated waste-handling facility19.
  • Only 9% of Saline County soils rate without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so verify the actual homesite before treating land as septic-ready30.

Sources

  1. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  2. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  3. Saline County Zoning Regulations: Amended 2018, quoted and re-checked
  4. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403 — State building code; adopted; amendments, quoted and re-checked
  5. Crete: Chapter 9 Building Regulations, Article 2 Building Permits (Saline County), quoted and re-checked
  6. Crete: Chapter 11 Municipal Planning, Article 2 Zoning Regulations (Saline County), quoted and re-checked
  7. Wilber: Wilber Code § 150.001 Requirement (Saline County), quoted and re-checked
  8. Wilber: Wilber Code § 153.15 Zoning Regulations Adopted (Saline County), quoted and re-checked
  9. Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  10. Onsite Wastewater Fees, Certifications, & Permits – DWEE Nebraska, quoted and re-checked
  11. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  12. Zoning Fees – Saline County, quoted and re-checked
  13. Onsite Wastewater Program – DWEE Nebraska, quoted and re-checked
  14. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  15. Housing and Recreational Vehicle (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-3449 — Practice of architecture; exempted activities, quoted and re-checked
  17. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  18. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  19. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  20. Saline County Planning & Zoning (salinecountyne.gov)
  21. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  22. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. salinecountyne.gov, quoted and re-checked
  24. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  25. salinecountyne.gov, quoted and re-checked
  26. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  27. Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  28. Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  29. Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  30. 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
  31. Planning and Zoning – Saline County, quoted and re-checked
  32. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  33. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  34. salinecountyne.gov, quoted and re-checked
  35. Saline County Zoning Regulations: Amended 2018, quoted and re-checked
  36. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  37. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  38. Forms, Permits and Regulations – Saline County, quoted and re-checked
  39. Saline County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  40. Nebraska Revised Statute 46-735 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Like all 6 of its neighbors, Saline County has countywide zoning.

RuleSaline CountySeward CountyFillmore CountyYork CountyJefferson CountyLancaster CountyGage County
Building permitLimitedRequiredLimitedRequiredLimitedLimitedRequired
County zoningYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Septic permitsNE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENDEENDEENE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENDEE

County locator

Saline County in Nebraska

48
County map
Saline County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Saline County scores

Seclusion47100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency26100% ev.
Admin Boringness59100% ev.
Durability46100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost64100% ev.

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

$222kTypical home
1.4%Property tax
$5,669Land / acre
30.1"Annual rain
17.2% of yrsSevere drought
16.3 / yr (+13.1)Mid-century 100°F days
22.2 daysMid-century dry spell
1.79" (+4.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.6×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,444Home insurance / yr
4.2% / yrInsurance growth
2.11%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
21,534People within 30 min
1,828,450People within 2 hr
13,803Radius comparison (15 mi)
25.4People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
97.7%Land at 15% slope or less
9%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
32,790 acWorkable land screen
5.5%Wooded land
33.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.8°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Saline County

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

Not yet researched: Village of De Witt · Village of Dorchester · Friend · Village of Swanton · Village of Tobias · Village of Western

Answers from the rulebook for Saline County

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

Saline County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    County zoning permits for buildings, structures, land uses, and structural alterations in unincorporated Saline County.

    • Non-residential farm buildings are subject to the zoning resolution but exempt from zoning permit requirements.
    • Farm buildings containing non-agricultural uses are treated as non-farm buildings and require zoning permits.
    • Farm buildings on parcels that do not qualify as farms are treated as non-farm buildings and are subject to applicable requirements, including zoning permits.
    • Waste handling facilities associated with farm buildings require applicable requirements, including zoning permits.
    • Public entities and political subdivisions are exempt for specified structures in public rights-of-way or recorded easements.
    • This is a zoning permit, not a general construction/building-code permit.

    building permit fee: 30 USD

    “No building, structure, or land shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, moved or structurally altered without a zoning permit / certificate of zoning compliance first being issued by the Zoning Administrator, provided:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Buildings, structures, and land uses subject to Saline County zoning.
      “No building, structure, or land shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, moved or structurally altered without a zoning permit / certificate of zoning compliance first being issued by the Zoning Administrator, provided:”
  • InspectionsLimited

    County inspections for compliance with the zoning resolution, not construction-code inspections.

    • The county resolution authorizes inspections to determine compliance with the zoning resolution.
    • The resolution expressly disclaims creation of building, plumbing, electrical, structural, or other construction codes.
    “Conduct inspections of buildings, structures, premises and the uses of land to determine compliance with the terms of this Resolution.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings or premises created, erected, changed, converted, altered, enlarged in use, or occupied under the county zoning resolution.

    • The certificate must be issued by the Zoning Administrator.
    • It must conform to the resolution unless authorized through an administrative appeal, variance, or approved conditional use.
    “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises or both or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use until a Certificate of Zoning Compliance shall have been issued therefore by the Zoning Administrator”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Buildings, structures, land uses, and zoning districts in unincorporated Saline County.

    • The zoning district definition specifies standards within the unincorporated area of the County.
    “ZONING DISTRICT: One of several sets of zoning regulations designed for a particular class of land uses which established uniform regulations governing the use, building and structure height, area, size, intensity of use and other standards of land use within unincorporated area of the County.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Saline County zoning districts and the official zoning map for county zoning jurisdiction.

    • The official zoning map maintained by the Zoning Administrator and/or County Clerk is the final authority as to current zoning status.
    • The county regulation identifies zoning districts as applying within the unincorporated area.
    “Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Zoning map which may from time to time be made or published, the Official Zoning Map, which shall be located in the office of the Zoning Administrator and/or County Clerk, shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of zoning of land within Saline County, Nebraska.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — County zoning districts.
      “ZONING DISTRICT: One of several sets of zoning regulations designed for a particular class of land uses which established uniform regulations governing the use, building and structure height, area, size, intensity of use and other standards of land use within unincorporated area of the County.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes in the county zoning jurisdiction.

    • The definition also requires an 18-foot minimum exterior width, minimum roof pitch, specified exterior and roof materials, removal of wheels and towing apparatus, permanent foundation, and permanent public-utility connection.

    manufactured home minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet

    “and which complies with the following minimum standards: 1. a minimum floor area of nine hundred (900) square feet, 2. a minimum exterior width of eighteen (18) feet,”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential, manufactured-home, and mobile-home lots in the AG-G General Agricultural District and other county zoning districts.

    • In AG-G, a single-family dwelling, manufactured home, or mobile home requires at least five acres.
    • A larger lot may be required by Nebraska Title 124 wastewater criteria.
    • For conditional uses in AG-G, lot size is determined by the Board of Commissioners.
    • Onsite sewage lots require at least five acres; public or semi-public sewer lots require at least 10,000 square feet; lots not needing sewage disposal require at least one acre.

    minimum lot area for single-family dwelling, manufactured home, or mobile home in AG-G: >= 5 acres (larger lot may be required under Nebraska Title 124)

    “The minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling unit, manufactured home or mobile home shall be five (5) acres, provided that a larger lot may be required if the standards and regulations of Title 124 of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality with regard to soil percolation rates, slope, depth to water table or other requirement of said Title 124 requires the use of a lagoon or other type of waste disposal facility, in which case the lot shall be sized to comply with the requirements of said Title 124.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family dwellings, manufactured homes, and mobile homes in the AG-G General Agricultural District.
      “The minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling unit, manufactured home or mobile home shall be five (5) acres, provided that a larger lot may be required if the standards and regulations of Title 124 of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family dwellings, manufactured homes, and mobile homes in the AG-G General Agricultural District.
      “The minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling unit, manufactured home or mobile home shall be five (5) acres, provided that a larger lot may be required if the standards and regulations of Title 124 of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality with regard to soil percolation rates, slope, depth to water table or other requirement of said Title 124 requires the use of a lagoon or other type of waste disposal facility, in which case the lot shall be sized to comply with the requirements of said Title 124.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots two acres or larger in the AG-T Transitional Agricultural District.

    • For lots fronting a federal or state highway, the front setback is 25 feet from the highway right-of-way.
    • Grain-storage buildings have a separate electric-line setback rule.

    county road front setback: >= 58 feet (Measured from county-road centerline.) · side setback: >= 15 feet · rear setback: >= 15 feet

    “For lots two (2) acres or larger in area: 1. Front Setback - Fifty-eight (58) feet, measured from the centerline of a County Road, provided that for lots which front on a Federal or State highway the front setback shall be twenty-five (25) feet from the right-of-way line of such highway.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    New structures subject to the county zoning resolution.

    • The specific applicable limit depends on the zoning district; no general numeric countywide percentage was located in the opened sections.
    “A lawfully erected structure in existence as of the effective date of this Resolution which does not comply with the lot coverage, height, setback requirements or other standards applicable to new structures in the zoning district in which said structure is located.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Buildings in the AG-G General Agricultural District.

    • There is no general limitation, but buildings designed for human habitation are limited to 40 feet.

    maximum height for buildings designed for human habitation: 40 feet (No limitation for other structures under the cited district provision.)

    “No limitation, except for buildings designed for human habitation which shall be limited to a height of forty (40) feet.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured housing in the AG-G General Agricultural District.

    • The dwelling must comply with Section 615.
    • Applicable zoning permit or certificate of zoning compliance is required.
    “Single-family dwellings, including manufactured housing and mobile homes, provided such dwellings comply with the provisions of Section 615 of this Resolution.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Temporary placement of one mobile home with an existing dwelling for care of an elderly, disabled, or otherwise demonstrably needy immediate family member in the county agricultural district provisions.
      “Placement of the mobile home shall be temporary and shall be limited to the time that the mobile home is needed to provide such care for the family member or members.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Residential development and dwelling sites under the county zoning resolution.

    • County district standards distinguish lots using onsite sewage disposal, public or semi-public sewer, or no sewage disposal facilities.
    • A dwelling generating wastewater must comply with Title 124 onsite wastewater requirements or connect to public sewer or other wastewater works.
    • The cited materials do not establish a universal countywide water-connection requirement.
    “A dwelling or non-dwelling that generates wastewater must have an onsite wastewater treatment (OWT) system that complies with Title 124 or be connected to a public sewer system or other wastewater works.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Non-residential farm buildings in unincorporated Saline County zoning jurisdiction.

    • The exemption is from the county zoning-permit requirement only.
    • The buildings remain subject to the other requirements of the zoning resolution.
    • The provision applies to non-residential farm buildings as defined in Section 303.34.
    “Non-residential farm buildings, as defined in Section 303.34 of this Resolution, shall be subject to the requirements of this Resolution, but shall be exempt from the zoning permit requirements of this Resolution;”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Conditional — Non-residential farm buildings under the county zoning resolution.
      “Non-residential farm buildings, as defined in Section 303.34 of this Resolution, shall be subject to the requirements of this Resolution, but shall be exempt from the zoning permit requirements of this Resolution;”
    • Conditional — Non-residential farm buildings under the county zoning resolution.
      “Non-residential farm buildings, as defined in Section 303.34 of this Resolution, shall be subject to the requirements of this Resolution, but shall be exempt from the zoning permit requirements of this Resolution;”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and development-area review in unincorporated Saline County.

    • The county publishes a subdivision application and comprehensive plan/zoning subdivision regulations.
    • Where onsite wastewater is proposed on lots smaller than three acres, Nebraska DWEE subdivision review and approval is required before development.

    onsite-wastewater subdivision-review threshold: < 3 acres (Applies where an onsite wastewater system is proposed.)

    “Prior to construction of a development area where an onsite wastewater treatment system is proposed on any lot less than three acres in size, the owner of the planned development area must submit an application for subdivision review.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Subdivision and development-area review in unincorporated Saline County.
      “Prior to construction of a development area where an onsite wastewater treatment system is proposed on any lot less than three acres in size, the owner of the planned development area must submit an application for subdivision review.”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Residential subdivisions in the RCI Rural Commercial/Industrial District.
      “Such residential subdivisions shall be surveyed and engineered, and a plat prepared for consideration and approval in accordance with the Saline County Subdivision Regulations. Such plat shall conform with the requirements and standards of said Subdivision Regulations and the following requirements:”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Parcels containing single-family dwellings, manufactured housing, or mobile homes under Section 615.

    • The parcel must front on and have vehicular access to an existing public roadway other than a minimum-maintenance or other unimproved roadway.
    • An owner on an unimproved road bears stated improvement and maintenance responsibilities; the County is not committed to accepting the road for maintenance.
    “The parcel on which such dwelling is located shall front on and have vehicular access to an existing public roadway other than a roadway designated by the Saline County Board of Commissioners as a minimum maintenance road or other unimproved roadway,”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Access for new dwellings in unincorporated Saline County.
      “The parcel on which such dwelling is located shall front on and have vehicular access to an existing public roadway other than a roadway designated by the Saline County Board of Commissioners as a minimum maintenance road or other unimproved roadway”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Saline County planning and zoning applications.

    • The page also lists a $75 late fee when an application is not received by the application date.

    building permit: 30 USD · subdivision application per parcel: 25 USD · zoning change: 100 USD · variance: 100 USD · late fee: 75 USD (Not received by application date.)

    “Building Permit | $30.00 Subdivision Application (per parcel) $25.00 | Zoning Change $100.00 Variance $100.00 | Late fee (not received by application date) add $75.00”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — Published Saline County planning and zoning fees.
      “Building Permit | $30.00 Subdivision Application (per parcel) $25.00 | Zoning Change $100.00 Variance $100.00 | Late fee (not received by application date) add $75.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning-permit applications.

    • Applications use Board-prescribed forms and include a plot plan.
    • The application includes applicant information and information necessary to assess conformance, including water supply, sewage disposal, erosion control, soil conditions, and permeability.
    • A permit expires if work is not initiated within one year or completed within two years.
    “All applications for a zoning permit shall be made on forms prescribed for such application by the Board of Commissioners. Such forms shall have incorporated a place for drawing of a plot plan showing the actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon, the sizes and locations of all existing and proposed parking areas, water supply and sewage disposal facility locations, and such other information as may be pertinent to said application.”

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) — Construction, remodeling, alteration, or renovation of a detached one- to four-family dwelling in Nebraska, including an owner-built residence, for purposes of the Engineers and Architects Regulation Act.
      “The construction, remodeling, alteration, or renovation of a detached single-family through four-family dwelling of less than five thousand square feet of above grade finished space.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

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

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

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

    “(1) There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted — The Nebraska state building code, including its potential application in Saline County.
      “(1) There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference: (a) The International Building Code (IBC), 2018 edition, except section 101.4.3 and chapter 29, published by the International Code Council, except that (i) section 305.2.3 applies to a facility having twelve or fewer children and (ii) section 310.4.1 applies to a care facility for twelve or fewer persons; (b) The International Residential Code (IRC), 2018 edition, except section R313 and chapters 25 through 33, published by the International Code Council; (c) The International Existing Building Code, 2018 edition, except section 809, published by the International Code Council; and (d) The Uniform Plumbing Code, 2018 edition, designated by the American National Standards Institute as an American National Standard.”
  • 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 serving dwellings and non-dwellings in Saline County.

    • Systems must comply with Nebraska regulations or be connected to public sewer or other wastewater works.
    • Some systems require site-specific state permitting.
    • Systems constructed, reconstructed, altered, modified, or otherwise changed must be registered with DWEE.
    “The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers regulations meant to protect surface water and groundwater as well as public health and welfare through the use of standardized design requirements, the certification of onsite professionals, the review of plans for subdivision development and the permitting of systems that because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues require a site specific evaluation.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State — Onsite wastewater systems serving Saline County, subject to any separate local requirements.
      “The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers regulations meant to protect surface water and groundwater as well as public health and welfare through the use of standardized design requirements, the certification of onsite professionals, the review of plans for subdivision development and the permitting of systems that because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues require a site specific evaluation.”
    • State (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska, including Saline County.
      “The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers regulations meant to protect surface water and groundwater as well as public health and welfare through the use of standardized design requirements, the certification of onsite professionals, the review of plans for subdivision development and the permitting of systems that because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues require a site specific evaluation.”
    • 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 Saline County subject to Nebraska DWEE rules.

    • A permit is required for systems handling flows of 1,000 gallons per day or more.
    • A permit is required for non-household wastewater.
    • A permit is required for systems not covered by Authorization by Rule.
    • Systems covered by Authorization by Rule do not require the state construction permit, but registration and other requirements may apply.
    • Construction and operating permits are required where the system is subject to the permit process.

    design-flow threshold: >= 1000 gallons per day (Systems covered by Authorization by Rule are treated separately.) · construction/operating permit application fee: 450 USD (For one system; additional state fees or local requirements may apply.)

    “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).”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems in Saline County requiring state site-specific review.
      “The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers regulations meant to protect surface water and groundwater as well as public health and welfare through the use of standardized design requirements, the certification of onsite professionals, the review of plans for subdivision development and the permitting of systems that because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues require a site specific evaluation.”
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska, including Saline County.
      “The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers regulations meant to protect surface water and groundwater as well as public health and welfare through the use of standardized design requirements, the certification of onsite professionals, the review of plans for subdivision development and the permitting of systems that because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues require a site specific evaluation.”
    • 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”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Off-grid sanitation for dwellings or non-dwellings generating wastewater in Saline County.
      “A dwelling or non-dwelling that generates wastewater must have an onsite wastewater treatment (OWT) system that complies with Title 124 or be connected to a public sewer system or other wastewater works.”
    • Limited — Onsite sanitation for wastewater-generating dwellings and non-dwellings in Nebraska, including Saline County.
      “must have an onsite wastewater treatment 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”
  • 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 Saline 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.

  • Living in an RV
  • Accessory dwellings

Still unanswered

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

  • Local zoning — Zoning administered by incorporated municipalities or other subordinate local governments within Saline 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.

Living off-grid in Saline County, Nebraska

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

Saline County scores 48/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and more administrative friction around building and land use. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (30.1″/yr rainfall).

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

Saline 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 (DWEE), Onsite Wastewater Program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Saline County, Nebraska?

Land in Saline County runs about $5,669 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Saline County?

Saline County gets about 30.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 17.2% of years.

How remote is Saline County?

A representative private-land location has about 21,534 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,828,450 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 Saline compares in Nebraska

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