What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Howard County, NE?

The following work is generally exempt: Buildings used for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of 20+ acres producing $1,000+/year in farm products (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-114.03); Work that does not involve the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or conversion of a structure (confirm with Planning and Zoning). Note: Exempt from zoning permit does not exempt a project from state-level requirements including Nebraska State Electrical Division inspections, Nebraska DWEE on-site wastewater permits, or NDEE stormwater NOI for disturbances of 1+ acres. Contact the Planning and Zoning Administrator at (308) 754-9121 to confirm whether a specific project requires a permit before commencing work.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Howard County, NE?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Nebraska State Electrical Division (electrical work only).

County Building Permits

Howard County, NE - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, Nebraska. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Nebraska Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Applies to all unincorporated territory of Howard County — all land outside the corporate limits of the City of St. Paul and the villages of Dannebrog, Elba, Farwell, and Rockville.

Department: Howard County Planning and Zoning Department
Address: 612 Indian Street, Suite 2, St. Paul, NE 68873
Phone: (308) 754-9121
Website: https://howardcounty.ne.gov/webpages/planning_zoning/planning_zoning.html

Application Process

Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Howard County, not within any incorporated municipality's corporate limits.
Download and review the 'Before You Build' guidance document to understand what triggers a permit.
Download the Zoning Permit Application PDF or obtain it in person at the Planning and Zoning office.
Consult the setbacks reference sheet and the 2016 Zoning Regulations to verify your proposed structure complies with setback and use requirements.
Complete the application and include a site plan showing the parcel, location of proposed structure, dimensions, and distances from property lines and road rights-of-way.
Submit the completed application in person at 612 Indian Street, Suite 2, St. Paul, NE 68873 and pay applicable fees.
The Zoning Administrator reviews the application for compliance with zoning regulations.
Permit is issued upon approval. Post the permit on-site and commence construction.

Typical processing time: Contact the Planning and Zoning office at (308) 754-9121 for processing time estimates.

Source: Howard County Planning and Zoning Department

General Requirements

Howard County requires a zoning permit prior to the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or conversion of any nonfarm building or structure in a zoned area of unincorporated Howard County. A Conditional Use Permit is separately required for conditional uses identified in the Zoning Regulations.

Required Documents

Completed Zoning Permit Application
Site plan showing parcel boundaries, proposed structure location, dimensions, and setbacks from property lines and road rights-of-way
Legal description of property

Permit validity: Contact Planning and Zoning at (308) 754-9121 for permit expiration rules.
Building code: Howard County does not enforce a residential structural building code. The county enforces zoning regulations (Howard County Planning and Zoning Regulation, Updated February 2016) for land-use compliance. Nebraska State Fire Marshal has jurisdiction over commercial and public buildings statewide.
Owner-builder: Owner-builders are subject to zoning permit requirements but are not subject to county building inspector structural review. Nebraska State Electrical Division licensing and inspection requirements apply to all electrical work regardless of builder type.
Contractor requirements: No county-level contractor registration required. Nebraska State Electrical Division licensing is required for electrical work. Nebraska Contractor Registration Act ($25/yr with workers' compensation certificate) applies to contractors with employees statewide.

Fees

Payment note: Fees are paid in person at 612 Indian Street, Suite 2, St. Paul, NE 68873. Contact the Planning and Zoning office at (308) 754-9121 for current fee amounts and payment options.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Howard County Planning and Zoning Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Nebraska State Electrical Division (electrical work only) (phone)

Typical inspection sequence: Howard County does not offer structural building inspections. State electrical inspections are coordinated through the Nebraska State Electrical Division. For electrical work: submit an inspection request through the NSED online system before concealing any wiring; a final electrical inspection is also required.

Additional Resources

Building code: Howard County does not enforce a residential structural building code. The county enforces zoning regulations (Howard County Planning and Zoning Regulation, Updated February 2016) for land-use compliance. Nebraska State Fire Marshal has jurisdiction over commercial and public buildings statewide.
Zoning information: View zoning info
Howard County Main Website
Howard County Contacts
Nebraska State Electrical Division
Nebraska Contractor Registration
FEMA Flood Maps
Nebraska Floodplain Interactive Maps
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 Howard County Planning and Zoning Department before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Howard County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, NE?: Howard County requires a zoning permit prior to the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or conversion of any nonfarm building or structure in a zoned area of unincorporated Howard County. A Conditional Use Permit is separately required for conditional uses identified in the Zoning Regulations.
How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, NE?: 1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Howard County, not within any incorporated municipality's corporate limits. 2. Download and review the 'Before You Build' guidance document to understand what triggers a permit. 3. Download the Zoning Permit Application PDF or obtain it in person at the Planning and Zoning office. 4. Consult the setbacks reference sheet and the 2016 Zoning Regulations to verify your proposed structure complies with setback and use requirements. 5. Complete the application and include a site plan showing the parcel, location of proposed structure, dimensions, and distances from property lines and road rights-of-way. 6. Submit the completed application in person at 612 Indian Street, Suite 2, St. Paul, NE 68873 and pay applicable fees. 7. The Zoning Administrator reviews the application for compliance with zoning regulations. 8. Permit is issued upon approval. Post the permit on-site and commence construction.
How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Howard County, NE?: Typical processing time is Contact the Planning and Zoning office at (308) 754-9121 for processing time estimates..
What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Howard County, NE?: The following work is generally exempt: Buildings used for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of 20+ acres producing $1,000+/year in farm products (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-114.03); Work that does not involve the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or conversion of a structure (confirm with Planning and Zoning). Note: Exempt from zoning permit does not exempt a project from state-level requirements including Nebraska State Electrical Division inspections, Nebraska DWEE on-site wastewater permits, or NDEE stormwater NOI for disturbances of 1+ acres. Contact the Planning and Zoning Administrator at (308) 754-9121 to confirm whether a specific project requires a permit before commencing work.
How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Howard County, NE?: Inspections can be scheduled via: Nebraska State Electrical Division (electrical work only).

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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