Unincorporated Furnas County

A zoning permit is required for development in unincorporated Furnas County. Nebraska does not mandate statewide residential building code enforcement in rural unincorporated areas, but the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) and 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) apply by state default under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-6403.

• Exempt Agricultural building exemption: Structures used for agricultural purposes on farmsteads of 20 or more acres that produce $1,000 or more of farm products per year are exempt from county permit requirements under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-114.03. Documentation of acreage and farm production must be maintained to support the exemption.

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from setback requirements, floodplain regulations, electrical permits, or stormwater requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Furnas County Planning and Zoning Department before proceeding.

Building code

2018 International Building Code (IBC) and 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) by state default; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) mandatory statewide effective July 1, 2020.

Permit validity

Contact the Planning and Zoning Department for permit validity and expiration rules.

Contractor requirements

All contractors and subcontractors with Nebraska employees must register annually with the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) for $25 annually (workers' compensation certificate required). No state general contractor license exists in Nebraska.

Source: Furnas County Planning and Zoning Department ↗

1. 01
   Contact the Furnas County Planning and Zoning Department at (308) 268-5088 to verify the zoning district classification for your parcel and confirm the proposed use is permitted, conditional, or prohibited.
2. 02
   Obtain the Zoning Permit application from the Planning and Zoning Department or download it from the county website.
3. 03
   Prepare required documents: completed application, site plan showing structure location and dimensions, setbacks from property lines and road rights-of-way, and the parcel's legal description.
4. 04
   Submit the completed application with the applicable fee to the Planning and Zoning Department.
5. 05
   The Zoning Administrator reviews the application for compliance with the Furnas County Zoning Regulations.
6. 06
   For conditional uses, submit a Conditional Use Permit application, processed through the Furnas County Planning Commission with a public hearing.
7. 07
   For variances, submit an application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
8. 08
   For any construction disturbing one or more acres, obtain an NDEE Construction Stormwater General Permit (Notice of Intent) before breaking ground.
9. 09
   For onsite wastewater (septic) systems, contact NDEE or the county for applicable requirements.
10. 10
    Obtain Nebraska State Electrical Division (NSED) electrical permit for any electrical work — contact Gary Lofton, (308) 325-2219, gary.lofton@nebraska.gov.
11. 11
    For commercial or public-assembly projects, submit plans to the Nebraska State Fire Marshal (NSFM) for fire/life safety review at https://sfm.nebraska.gov/.

Typical processing time: Not publicly stated. Contact the Planning and Zoning Department for current estimates.

Source: Furnas County Planning and Zoning Department ↗

• Furnas County Planning and Zoning Department, (308) 268-5088 (phone)

Typical sequence: Furnas County does not operate a full structural building code enforcement program for unincorporated areas. Zoning compliance is verified at the permit stage. Electrical inspections are conducted by the Nebraska State Electrical Division (NSED). Fire/life safety inspections for commercial projects are conducted by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal (NSFM).