Seward County, NE - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Unincorporated areas of Seward County only. Areas within any city or village corporate limit or within a municipality's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction are NOT governed by this office. The City of Seward exercises a two-mile ETJ under Nebraska law; the City of Milford exercises a one-mile ETJ as a city of the second class; villages exercise a one-mile ETJ. Confirm zoning jurisdiction on any parcel near a municipal boundary before applying.

Department

Seward County Regional Planning Department (Zoning Administrator)

Address

320 South 14th Street, Seward, NE 68434

Phone

402-643-4493

Website

https://sewardcountyne.gov/planning-and-zoning/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine your parcel's zoning district. Contact the Zoning Administrator at 402-643-4493 or use the county GIS to confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated county territory or within a city/village ETJ.
2. Visit the County Clerk's Office (529 Seward Street) to check for easements, deed restrictions, or other notes on the property.
3. Contact the Zoning Administrator to discuss your project and which permits are required.
4. Obtain the applicable permit application form from the county website or in person at 320 S. 14th Street.
5. Complete the application in writing, supplying all required information.
6. Submit application with plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, along with payment of applicable fees.
7. The Zoning Administrator must issue a written permit or written denial with stated reasons within 20 days of accepting a complete application.
8. Approved permits expire in 90 days if work has not begun. The permit further expires if work is not completed within one year. Extensions must be obtained in writing from the Zoning Administrator prior to expiration.
9. If a conditional use permit is required (e.g., LFO expansion, certain commercial uses in A-1), a public hearing before the Planning Commission is required prior to Board of Commissioners action.
10. For floodplain development (FW/FF overlay zones), a separate floodplain development permit from the Board of Commissioners or its designee is required before any construction or land disturbance.
11. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Zoning Administrator upon satisfactory completion of inspections and verification that the use conforms to the approved permit.

Typical processing time: Zoning Administrator must act within 20 days of a complete submission. Conditional use permit process adds time for public notice and Planning Commission/Board hearings.

Source: Seward County Regional Planning Department (Zoning Administrator)

General Requirements

A zoning permit is required before commencing any excavating, erecting, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, or moving of any building or structure, or before any change in use or occupancy of land or buildings, or any connection to water or sewer facilities. Routine maintenance such as painting, papering, re-roofing (like-for-like), and minor repairs does not require a permit.

Required Documents

• Completed written application on prescribed county forms
• Plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing: actual shape and dimensions of the lot; exact location of existing and proposed buildings/structures; intended use of each building; number of families or housekeeping units if residential; location of existing and proposed water and sanitary sewer facilities
• Lot staked on the ground before construction starts
• Legal description of the property

Permit validity

90 days to begin work; one year to complete. Extensions available in writing from the Zoning Administrator.

Building code

No building code has been adopted for unincorporated areas. Seward County zoning resolution governs use, setbacks, lot sizes, and density but does not regulate structural construction methods or materials.

Owner-builder

No specific owner-builder restriction in the county zoning resolution. Note that Nebraska does not require a state general contractor license, but contractors must be registered under the Nebraska Contractor Registration Act.

Contractor requirements

All contractors must be registered under the Nebraska Contractor Registration Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-2101 et seq.) with the Nebraska Department of Labor. Registration fee: $25/year. Contractors must provide proof of workers' compensation insurance or a verified statement of exemption.

Fees

Permit fee formula

Fees are adopted by the County Board of Commissioners by separate Resolution and are not printed in the Zoning Resolution itself (Section 3.35). The current fee schedule must be confirmed directly with the Zoning Administrator's office at 402-643-4493.

Payment note

Per § 3.35, all fees must be paid prior to issuance or investigation of any permit or action request. No work should begin in anticipation of fee waiver.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Agricultural buildings on qualifying farmsteads (20+ acres, $1,000+ annual farm products)
• Routine maintenance: painting, papering, re-roofing (like-for-like), minor repairs

Important: Agricultural exemption must be verified with documentation that the claimed agricultural use and acreage/income thresholds are met. The burden is on the property owner to establish eligibility under § 23-114.03.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• ()

Typical inspection sequence: County inspections are limited to verifying that the use, location, setbacks, and lot coverage of new construction conform to the approved permit. The county does not inspect structural, mechanical, plumbing, or electrical work under a building code because no building code has been adopted for unincorporated areas.

Additional Resources

• Building code: No building code has been adopted for unincorporated areas. Seward County zoning resolution governs use, setbacks, lot sizes, and density but does not regulate structural construction methods or materials.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Nebraska Contractor Registration
• Nebraska State Electrical Division (NSED)
• NDEE On-Site Wastewater
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• Nebraska Floodplain Interactive Map
• License lookup guide: Nebraska Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Nebraska Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Nebraska hub: Nebraska Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Seward County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Seward County, NE?

A zoning permit is required before commencing any excavating, erecting, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, or moving of any building or structure, or before any change in use or occupancy of land or buildings, or any connection to water or sewer facilities. Routine maintenance such as painting, papering, re-roofing (like-for-like), and minor repairs does not require a permit.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Seward County, NE?

Fees are calculated as: Fees are adopted by the County Board of Commissioners by separate Resolution and are not printed in the Zoning Resolution itself (Section 3.35). The current fee schedule must be confirmed directly with the Zoning Administrator's office at 402-643-4493..

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Seward County, NE?

1. Determine your parcel's zoning district. Contact the Zoning Administrator at 402-643-4493 or use the county GIS to confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated county territory or within a city/village ETJ. 2. Visit the County Clerk's Office (529 Seward Street) to check for easements, deed restrictions, or other notes on the property. 3. Contact the Zoning Administrator to discuss your project and which permits are required. 4. Obtain the applicable permit application form from the county website or in person at 320 S. 14th Street. 5. Complete the application in writing, supplying all required information. 6. Submit application with plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, along with payment of applicable fees. 7. The Zoning Administrator must issue a written permit or written denial with stated reasons within 20 days of accepting a complete application. 8. Approved permits expire in 90 days if work has not begun. The permit further expires if work is not completed within one year. Extensions must be obtained in writing from the Zoning Administrator prior to expiration. 9. If a conditional use permit is required (e.g., LFO expansion, certain commercial uses in A-1), a public hearing before the Planning Commission is required prior to Board of Commissioners action. 10. For floodplain development (FW/FF overlay zones), a separate floodplain development permit from the Board of Commissioners or its designee is required before any construction or land disturbance. 11. A Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Zoning Administrator upon satisfactory completion of inspections and verification that the use conforms to the approved permit.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Seward County, NE?

Typical processing time is Zoning Administrator must act within 20 days of a complete submission. Conditional use permit process adds time for public notice and Planning Commission/Board hearings..

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

The following work is generally exempt: Agricultural buildings on qualifying farmsteads (20+ acres, $1,000+ annual farm products); Routine maintenance: painting, papering, re-roofing (like-for-like), minor repairs. Note: Agricultural exemption must be verified with documentation that the claimed agricultural use and acreage/income thresholds are met. The burden is on the property owner to establish eligibility under § 23-114.03.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: .