Bolthole Index

Antelope County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and septic in Village of Clearwater, Nebraska

Village of Clearwater, Nebraska requires building-permit applications through the Village Clerk for construction and other regulated building work.1 Clearwater has its own zoning in Antelope County, and RV living on residential lots or other unapproved locations is prohibited.23 Private sewage systems need a permit from the Village Utilities Superintendent plus compliance with Nebraska’s statewide onsite-wastewater rules.45

At a glance

Building permits
Apply through the Village Clerk; specified maintenance work is exempt.1
Zoning
Village zoning regulates uses, yards, height and density.2
Septic
Village Utilities Superintendent permit plus Nebraska Title 124 compliance.4
RV living
Prohibited on residential lots and locations not approved for occupancy.3
Manufactured-home size
At least 900 square feet inside corporate limits.6
Building inspections
Foundation, frame and final inspections; written approval before proceeding.7

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Clearwater Clerk

Contact for village building-permit applications and referral to the Zoning Administrator and Utilities Superintendent.

(402) 485-2365

[email protected]

Building permits

Village of Clearwater Building-Permit Administration

Village Board review and Clerk issuance of building permits; application fee and sidewalk agreement.

Septic permits

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program

State onsite-wastewater rules, certified professionals, registration, subdivision review and site-specific permits

(402) 471-4285

[email protected]

245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68521

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Clearwater means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Village of Clearwater, NE?

Clearwater requires a building-permit application for erecting, constructing, repairing, enlarging, demolishing or relocating a building or dwelling, with specified exemptions for some maintenance and minor work.1 Clearwater has adopted the 2021 or later International Building Code insofar as it does not conflict with Nebraska statutes; a digital copy is available at the Village Clerk’s office.8 Even otherwise exempt changes in a floodplain must be submitted to the village for review and approval.1 Do not treat a maintenance exemption as approval for a new dwelling or a change in land use: Clearwater separately regulates land uses through its zoning ordinance.2

Who handles building-permit applications in Village of Clearwater?

File Clearwater building-permit applications with the Village Clerk, whose village contact number is (402) 485-2365 and email is [email protected].910 Applications identify the legal description, proposed use or occupancy, principal dimensions, estimated cost, and owner, architect and contractor information.9 The Village Board reviews the application and authorizes the Clerk to issue the building permit.11 The application fee is $10.00, payable in full when submitted, and the applicant must agree to repair or replace sidewalks damaged or removed during construction.11 For a proposed lot split, Clearwater requires a preliminary discussion with the Zoning Administrator before subdivision.12

Does Village of Clearwater have zoning and setback rules?

Clearwater has village zoning that regulates land use, building height, yards and density; the district matters when laying out a home.2 In the R-1 Residential Single-Family District, single-family residential yards are 25 feet in front, 20 feet at the rear, 10 feet at the side and 25 feet on the street side.13 Maximum building coverage for that R-1 use is 45%.14 The A-1 Agricultural District instead specifies 50-foot front and street-side yards, a 100-foot rear yard and a 25-foot side yard.15 Ask the Village Clerk for referral to the Zoning Administrator to identify the parcel’s district before designing the footprint.10

How do septic permits work inside Village of Clearwater?

Where public sewer is unavailable in Clearwater, private sewage disposal is allowed subject to a village permit and Nebraska Title 124.16 Obtain the written private-sewage permit from the Village Utilities Superintendent before construction; the Superintendent inspects the installation.4 Notify the Superintendent before covering underground portions and when the system is ready for final inspection; the code requires inspection within 48 hours after notice.17 Nebraska also requires registration of constructed or changed onsite systems, while larger, non-domestic or difficult-site systems may need state permitting.18 Contact the state Onsite Wastewater Program at (402) 471-4285 for state requirements.19 When public sewer becomes available, Clearwater requires connection within 60 days and abandonment of the private system under Title 124.16

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Village of Clearwater?

Clearwater prohibits using recreational equipment for living, sleeping or housekeeping on residential lots or in locations not approved for that use.3 Residential RV storage is generally restricted to rear yards with visibility restrictions; the Village Board may allow specified storage deviations through a conditional-use permit where rear-yard access is impossible.3 That storage provision does not establish residential occupancy approval.3 Clearwater requires mobile/manufactured homes inside corporate limits to have at least 900 square feet of floor area; that is not a verified minimum for every single-family dwelling.6 We could not confirm a Clearwater rule specifically approving tiny-home or accessory-dwelling occupancy; ask the Village Clerk to arrange zoning and building review for the proposed unit.10

Building a home in Village of Clearwater: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Village Clerk for the parcel’s zoning contact, and establish the district and permitted use before committing to a design.102
  2. Resolve sewer availability with the Utilities Superintendent; if private sewage is allowed, obtain the local permit and address state requirements.16418
  3. Submit the building-permit application through the Clerk with the required property and project information, fee and sidewalk agreement.911
  4. Arrange foundation, frame and final building inspections, and obtain written approval before progressing beyond each inspection point.7

For land outside Clearwater’s village jurisdiction, consult the Antelope County guide: Nebraska county zoning authority excludes incorporated villages and areas where a municipality exercises granted zoning jurisdiction.20

Watch-outs

  • Clearwater’s otherwise exempt floodplain property changes still need village review and approval.1
  • We could not confirm Clearwater-specific private-well approval, driveway-access requirements or an agricultural building-permit exemption; ask the Village Clerk which approvals the proposed project needs.10
  • Nebraska’s own-property contractor-registration exemption does not waive applicable building permits, inspections or other approvals.21

Sources

  1. § 9-201 Application (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  2. § 10-101 Zoning Regulations Adopted (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  3. § 3-1.11 Recreational Vehicle Storage (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  4. § 7-319 Private Sewage Disposal; Permit (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 3-1.12 Mobile/Manufactured Homes (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  7. § 9-101 Powers and Authority; § 9-104 Time of Inspection (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  8. § 9-401 Building Code; Adopted by Reference (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 9-201 Application (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Clearwater Clerk (clearwaterne.com)
  11. Village of Clearwater Building-Permit Administration (clearwaterne.com)
  12. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  13. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  14. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  15. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  16. § 7-319 Private Sewage Disposal; Permit (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  17. § 7-319 Private Sewage Disposal; Permit (Village of Clearwater), quoted and re-checked
  18. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  20. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Clearwater

Village of Clearwater’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, construction, repair, enlargement, demolition, or relocation of any building or dwelling in Clearwater village.

    • The code lists exemptions including some roofing, siding, window, fencing, tree, existing-line, slab, sprinkler, and free-standing dog-kennel work.
    • Floodplain changes otherwise exempt from a permit must still be submitted for village review and approval.
    “Any person desiring to commence or proceed to erect, construct, repair, enlarge, demolish or relocate any building or dwelling or cause the same to be done shall file with the Village Clerk an application for a building permit.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings throughout Clearwater village and throughout its zoning jurisdiction.

    • The adopted IBC applies insofar as it does not conflict with Nebraska statutes.
    • A digital copy must be available at the Village Clerk’s office.

    IBC edition: 2021 or later (insofar as it does not conflict with state statutes)

    “the 2021 or later edition of the International Building Code (IBC) published by the International Code Council and available in book or pamphlet form, is hereby incorporated by reference as though printed in full herein insofar as said code does not conflict with the statutes of the state.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted building construction in Clearwater village.

    • Foundation, frame, and final inspections are required; work may not proceed beyond each inspection point without written approval.
    • The final inspection occurs when the building is completed and ready for occupancy.
    “Foundation inspection shall be made after trenches are excavated and the necessary forms erected; [...] Frame inspection shall be made after the roof, framing, fire-blocking and backing is in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete; [...] Final inspection shall be made after the building is completed and ready for occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Clearwater village and its stated zoning jurisdiction.

    • The ordinance states its purpose includes regulation of land uses, building height, yards, density, and zoning districts.
    “There is hereby adopted “Zoning Regulations for the Village of Clearwater” which shall be designated as the zoning regulations for the village and hereafter referred to as “the Clearwater Zoning Ordinance,” “these zoning regulations” or “this chapter.””
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Clearwater village zoning districts.

    • The code index identifies A-1, TA, LLR, R-1, M-U, C-1, C-2, Airport, and floodplain zoning provisions.
    “Article 1: A-1 Agricultural District [...] Article 2: TA Transitional Agriculture District [...] Article 3: LLR Large Lot Residential District [...] Article 4: R-1 Single-Family Residential District [...] Article 5: M-U Mixed Use Development District [...] Article 6: C-1 General Commercial District [...] Article 7: C-2 Highway Commercial District”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes inside Clearwater village corporate limits.

    • The 900-square-foot minimum is specific to mobile/manufactured homes; no general single-family dwelling minimum was located.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 sq ft (mobile/manufactured homes)

    “The home shall have no less than 900 square feet of floor area.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District.

    • Agricultural structures may be of any height, subject to the stated exception in the A-1 table.

    front yard: 50 feet · rear yard: 100 feet · side yard: 25 feet · street side yard: 50 feet

    “Front yard | 50 | 50 [...] Rear yard | 100 | 100 [...] Side yard | 25 | 25 [...] Street side yard | 50 | 50”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Residential Single-Family District, residential single-family use.
      “Front yard | 25 [...] Rear yard | 20 [...] Side yard | 10 [...] Street side yard | 25”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Residential Single-Family District, residential single-family use.

    maximum building coverage: <= 45 percent

    “Maximum building coverage | 45% | 45% | 45%”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Living, sleeping, or housekeeping in recreational vehicles parked on residential lots or unapproved locations inside Clearwater village.

    • Recreational equipment may be stored in a residential district only in a rear yard, subject to visibility restrictions.
    • The Village Board may issue a conditional-use permit for specified deviations where rear-yard access is impossible.
    “No such recreational equipment shall be utilized for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes when parked on a residential lot or in any location not approved for such use.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage systems inside Clearwater village.

    • The Village Utilities Superintendent issues the local private-sewage permit and inspects the installation.
    • System design must comply with Nebraska Title 124.
    • Additional health-officer and state or federal requirements may apply.
    “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Utilities Superintendent. [...] The type, capacities, location and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with the State Department of Environmental Quality Title 124 Rules and Regulations [...] No statement contained in this section shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the health officer.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Clearwater village.

    • The Utilities Superintendent may inspect at any construction stage.
    • The applicant must notify the Superintendent before underground portions are covered and when ready for final inspection.
    • Inspection must occur within 48 hours after notice.

    inspection response time: 48 hours

    “A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction of the Utilities Superintendent. He or she shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection and before any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made within 48 hours of the receipt of notice by the Superintendent.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Clearwater village where public sewer is unavailable.

    • A village permit is required.
    • The system must comply with Nebraska Title 124 and any additional health-officer, state, or federal requirements.
    • Connection to public sewer is required within 60 days after availability.
    “Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions herein, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this article.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Properties inside Clearwater village served by private sewage disposal when public sewer becomes available.

    • Where public sewer is unavailable, private sewage disposal is allowed subject to permit and Title 124.
    • When public sewer becomes available, direct connection is required within 60 days and the private system must be abandoned under Title 124.

    connection deadline: 60 days

    “At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance with this chapter within 60 days and the private sewage system shall be abandoned in accordance with Nebraska Administrative Code Title 124 as provided in division (D) above.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Clearwater village.

    • Pre-application discussion with the Zoning Administrator is required.
    • Five copies of the preliminary plat and supplemental material must be submitted at least ten days before the Planning Commission meeting.
    • Village-determined fees apply.

    preliminary plat copies: 5 copies · submission lead time: >= 10 days

    “Prior to the subdivision of any land, the subdivider or subdivider’s agent shall prepare a sketch plan and shall discuss informally with the Zoning Administrator the property proposed for subdivision, with reference to these subdivision regulations and procedures, zoning regulations and controls and the village’s comprehensive and major street plans.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications inside Clearwater village.

    • Applications are filed with the Village Clerk.
    • The application must identify the legal description, use or occupancy, principal dimensions, estimated cost, and owner, architect, and contractor information, plus other requested information.
    “Every such application shall set forth the legal description of the land upon which the construction or relocation is to take place, the nature of the use or occupancy, the principal dimensions, the estimated cost, the names of the owner, architect and contractor and such other information as may be requested thereon.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Clearwater or Antelope County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Clearwater village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Clearwater village.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Clearwater village.
  • Well permit — Private wells inside Clearwater village.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural buildings and uses inside Clearwater village.
1 more unanswered
  • Driveway access

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Clearwater publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Antelope County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Antelope County: county rules, score and offices