County Building Permits
Adams County, NE - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Adams County, Nebraska. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Covers all unincorporated land in Adams County outside the corporate limits of the City of Hastings and the incorporated villages (Juniata, Kenesaw, Holstein, Ayr, Roseland). Note: The City of Hastings exercises extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction for two miles beyond its corporate limits; property in that jurisdiction may require Hastings approval even though it is not within city limits.
- Department
- Adams County Planning and Zoning Department
- Address
- 500 N Denver Avenue, Hastings, NE 68901
- Phone
- (402) 461-7174
Application Process
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Adams County and outside the Hastings extraterritorial jurisdiction; contact the Planning and Zoning office at (402) 461-7174 if uncertain.
- Download or obtain the Zoning/Building Permit application from the county forms page or pick up in person at 500 N Denver Avenue.
- Prepare required documents: completed application, site plan showing proposed structure location, setbacks from property lines and road rights-of-way, and parcel legal description.
- Submit the completed application in person at 500 N Denver Avenue during office hours (Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM).
- County staff reviews for compliance with Adams County Zoning Regulations. Processing time is not publicly stated; contact the office for current estimates.
- Upon approval, a Zoning Permit or Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued.
- For construction that will disturb one or more acres, obtain a Nebraska NDEE Construction Stormwater Permit (NOI) before breaking ground.
- If the project includes onsite wastewater (septic), coordinate with NDEE or the local health authority.
- For driveway or utility work intersecting a county road, obtain a separate permit from the County Highway Department at 415 N Adams Central Ave, Juniata, (402) 461-7172.
- Nebraska State Electrical Division permits are required for all electrical work; contact NSED District 6 inspector Chris Slocum at (402) 710-6570.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated; contact (402) 461-7174 for current estimates.
General Requirements
A Zoning/Building Permit is required for the construction, placement, or substantial alteration of any building or structure in unincorporated Adams County subject to the zoning regulations. A Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued after inspection confirming compliance. Important: Buildings used for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of 20 or more acres that produces $1,000 or more of farm products per year are exempt from the permit requirement under Nebraska law.
Required Documents
- Completed Zoning/Building Permit application
- Site plan with structure footprint, dimensions, and setbacks
- Property legal description
- Contractor information as applicable
- Permit validity
- Not publicly specified; contact the Zoning Administrator at (402) 461-7174.
- Building code
- Adams County does not operate an active structural building code enforcement program separate from zoning permit functions. The Nebraska state building code (2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code) applies by default. Practical enforcement of structural code in unincorporated Adams County is limited, and code compliance is the responsibility of the property owner.
- Owner-builder
- No county structural inspections are identified; owner-builders must still comply with zoning setbacks and applicable state regulations (electrical, septic).
- Contractor requirements
- No county-level contractor registration identified beyond state requirements. All contractors with Nebraska employees must register with the Nebraska Department of Labor and provide a workers' compensation certificate.
Fees
- Payment note
- In-person at 500 N Denver Avenue. Contact the office at (402) 461-7174 for payment options and current fee amounts.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Buildings used for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of 20 or more acres that produces $1,000 or more of farm products per year (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-114.03)
Important: The agricultural building exemption is frequently claimed but not always valid. If a property does not genuinely meet the 20-acre and $1,000 farm product thresholds, a zoning permit is still required. Maintain documentation supporting any exemption claim. For other potential exemptions, contact the Zoning Department at (402) 461-7174.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (402) 461-7174 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: County structural inspections are not identified. The county issues zoning/land-use permits and may perform a Certificate of Zoning Compliance inspection for setback/placement compliance only. All electrical work is inspected by NSED District 6; contact inspector Chris Slocum at (402) 710-6570.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Adams County does not operate an active structural building code enforcement program separate from zoning permit functions. The Nebraska state building code (2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code) applies by default. Practical enforcement of structural code in unincorporated Adams County is limited, and code compliance is the responsibility of the property owner.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Nebraska State Fire Marshal
- Nebraska State Electrical Division District 6
- Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) Onsite Wastewater Program
- Nebraska Department of Labor - Contractor Registration
- License lookup guide: Nebraska Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Nebraska Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Nebraska hub: Nebraska Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Adams County Planning and Zoning Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adams County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Adams County, NE?
- A Zoning/Building Permit is required for the construction, placement, or substantial alteration of any building or structure in unincorporated Adams County subject to the zoning regulations. A Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued after inspection confirming compliance. Important: Buildings used for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of 20 or more acres that produces $1,000 or more of farm products per year are exempt from the permit requirement under Nebraska law.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Adams County, NE?
- 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Adams County and outside the Hastings extraterritorial jurisdiction; contact the Planning and Zoning office at (402) 461-7174 if uncertain. 2. Download or obtain the Zoning/Building Permit application from the county forms page or pick up in person at 500 N Denver Avenue. 3. Prepare required documents: completed application, site plan showing proposed structure location, setbacks from property lines and road rights-of-way, and parcel legal description. 4. Submit the completed application in person at 500 N Denver Avenue during office hours (Monday-Thursday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM). 5. County staff reviews for compliance with Adams County Zoning Regulations. Processing time is not publicly stated; contact the office for current estimates. 6. Upon approval, a Zoning Permit or Certificate of Zoning Compliance is issued. 7. For construction that will disturb one or more acres, obtain a Nebraska NDEE Construction Stormwater Permit (NOI) before breaking ground. 8. If the project includes onsite wastewater (septic), coordinate with NDEE or the local health authority. 9. For driveway or utility work intersecting a county road, obtain a separate permit from the County Highway Department at 415 N Adams Central Ave, Juniata, (402) 461-7172. 10. Nebraska State Electrical Division permits are required for all electrical work; contact NSED District 6 inspector Chris Slocum at (402) 710-6570.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Adams County, NE?
- Typical processing time is Not publicly stated; contact (402) 461-7174 for current estimates..
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Adams County, NE?
- The following work is generally exempt: Buildings used for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of 20 or more acres that produces $1,000 or more of farm products per year (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-114.03). Note: The agricultural building exemption is frequently claimed but not always valid. If a property does not genuinely meet the 20-acre and $1,000 farm product thresholds, a zoning permit is still required. Maintain documentation supporting any exemption claim. For other potential exemptions, contact the Zoning Department at (402) 461-7174.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Adams County, NE?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: (402) 461-7174.
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