City of Alliance

A Building Permit is required for any construction project, with limited exemptions. A permit is required for any new construction, addition, alteration, repair, demolition, or change of occupancy. Permits are also required for electrical work (via Nebraska State Electrical Board), plumbing, mechanical (HVAC, water heater replacement), and signs.

• Exempt One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided overall height is less than 10 feet and floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (200 sq ft for residential lots; confirm current threshold with department).
• Exempt Fences not over 6 feet in height.
• Exempt Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or IIIA liquids.
• Exempt Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2:1.
• Exempt Sidewalks internal to the property that do not connect to the public sidewalk or public right-of-way.

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning requirements or applicable state agency requirements. Always confirm with the Community Development Department before assuming a project is exempt.

Building code

The City of Alliance has adopted building codes consistent with the Nebraska state baseline: IBC 2018 and IRC 2018. The city's adopted code suite and any local amendments should be confirmed with the Community Development Department. Energy code: 2018 IECC applies (Climate Zone 5B for the Nebraska Panhandle).

Permit validity

Confirm specific permit validity and expiration periods with the Community Development Department.

Owner-builder

Nebraska does not prohibit owner-builders from performing their own construction on their own property. Confirm with the Community Development Department whether owner-builders are required to hold a city contractor license. Electrical work requires an NSED owner-builder permit (nebraska.gov/sed/permits/).

Contractor requirements

Contractors and subcontractors performing construction work in Alliance are required to obtain a current City of Alliance Contractor's License. Only licensed contractors may obtain permits and call for inspections. License requirements include: completed application, proof of relevant work experience (references), copy of current liability insurance (Acord form), and proof of passing the applicable contractor test administered by the International Code Council (ICC). Nebraska Department of Labor contractor registration is also required statewide for contractors earning $2,000+ annually.

Source: City of Alliance Community Development Department (Building and Zoning Division) ↗

1. 01
   Determine the permit type needed (building, plumbing, mechanical, demolition, sign, etc.). For questions about permit requirements, consult the city's FAQ or contact the Community Development Department at (308) 762-5400.
2. 02
   Download the applicable permit application form from cityofalliance.net/203/Forms-Permit-Applications, or pick up forms in person at the Community Development Office, 324 Laramie Avenue.
3. 03
   Prepare required documents: completed permit application, site plan showing property boundaries and structure placement on the lot, and construction drawings as applicable (floor plan, wall section, roof detail, footing detail).
4. 04
   Confirm contractor licensing requirements; only licensed contractors may obtain permits and call for inspections in Alliance.
5. 05
   Submit completed application in person at the Community Development Office or by email to building@cityofalliance.net. Confirm current preferred submission method before submitting.
6. 06
   Pay permit fees as assessed by the department.
7. 07
   Await plan review and permit issuance. Confirm current processing time estimates with the department.
8. 08
   Post permit card at the job site before beginning construction.
9. 09
   Call for required inspections at appropriate construction stages.
10. 10
    Obtain final inspection sign-off and certificate of occupancy (if applicable) upon project completion.

Typical processing time: Confirm current processing time estimates with the Community Development Department at (308) 762-5400. Large commercial projects should contact the department early to confirm plan review requirements and timeline expectations.

Source: City of Alliance Community Development Department (Building and Zoning Division) ↗

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective Check the fee schedule PDF on the forms page for the current effective date.) before budgeting.

• (308) 762-5400 (phone)
• building@cityofalliance.net (email)

Scheduling deadline

Confirm current scheduling lead time requirements (same-day, next-day, 48-hour advance notice, etc.) with the department at time of permit issuance.

Inspection hours

Monday–Friday; confirm specific hours with Community Development Department at (308) 762-5400.

Time windows

Confirm available inspection windows with the department.

Typical sequence: Typical sequence for residential new construction: (1) Foundation / footing inspection (before pouring concrete), (2) Underground rough-in (plumbing/water lines and conduit before backfill), (3) Framing rough-in (structural framing, plumbing/mechanical/electrical rough-in complete before insulation or drywall), (4) Insulation inspection (before drywall, if required), (5) Drywall/sheathing nailing (if required), (6) Final inspection (all systems complete, site work substantially complete, before occupancy). Confirm required inspection checkpoints with the department when the permit is issued; specific sequences may vary by project type.

Source: City of Alliance Community Development Department (Building and Zoning Division) ↗