Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Plattsmouth, Nebraska

Plattsmouth’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, repairing, enlarging, demolishing or relocating buildings inside Plattsmouth city

  • No building permit is required for any structure that is 10 feet by 15 feet or less.
  • Applies also in the county area within one mile of the city limits.

  exempt structure size: <= 10 x 15 feet

  “no building permit shall be required for any structure that is 10 feet by 15 feet or less.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  All construction inside Plattsmouth city and its zoning jurisdiction

  • Code text lists IBC and IRC 2000 edition and IEBC 2009 edition, but states that whenever a new edition is published it becomes the applicable code.
  • Adopted by Ord. 1810, 6/21/2010.

  IRC edition listed: 2000 (newer editions automatically apply)

  “the current editions, and the latest additions published hereafter, of the following building codes are hereby adopted by the city of plattsmouth, nebraska for all construction within the city and its zoning jurisdiction:”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Plattsmouth city

  • Quoted text describes the building inspector's on-site inspection of the land when reviewing the permit application; later-stage inspections not separately quoted.

  “the application, plans and specifications so filed with the city clerk shall be checked and examined by the building inspector, who shall make an on-site inspection of the land involved in the proposed project”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Plattsmouth city limits (Cass County, NE)

  • City also exercises zoning jurisdiction beyond its limits (extraterritorial).

  “article four presents the "zoning district" regulations. zoning districts are established in the zoning ordinance to promote compatible land use patterns and to establish site development regulations appropriate to the purposes and specific nature of each district.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Plattsmouth city

  • Base districts: AG, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, MH, LC, UC, GC, CB, BP, GI, HI; overlays: MU, CCD, PUD, ED, HD, FP/FW, AV.

  “the following base districts and overlay districts are hereby established.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Urban Residential Low-Density District inside Plattsmouth city (AG and RR districts not read)

  • Flattened table: detached one-family lot area read as 7,500 sq ft with 75 ft width; other column values 6,000/5,000 sq ft and 45 ft per unit apply to other housing types.

  minimum lot area, one-family detached: >= 7500 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 75 feet

  “site area per housing unit 7,500 6,000 7,500 square 5,000 minimum lot area feet per unit 7,500 minimum lot width (feet) 75 45 per unit 75”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Urban Residential Low-Density District inside Plattsmouth city

  • Side yard subject to note 1; rear yard area computed as 20 percent of lot depth times lot width.

  front yard: >= 25 feet · side yard: >= 15 feet (note 1) · street side yard: >= 20 feet · rear yard: >= 20 feet (computed as 20 percent of lot depth times lot width)

  “minimum yards (feet) front yard 25 25 25 side yard (note 1) 15 15 15 street side yard 20 20 20 rear yard* 20 20 20”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Urban Residential Low-Density District inside Plattsmouth city

  maximum building coverage: <= 40 percent · maximum impervious coverage: <= 50 percent

  “maximum building coverage 40% 40% 40% maximum impervious coverage 50% 50% 50%”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Urban Residential Low-Density District inside Plattsmouth city

  maximum height: <= 36 feet

  “maximum height (feet) 36 36 36 maximum building coverage 40% 40% 40%”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Plattsmouth city where public sewer is not available

  • Permitted only where a public sanitary sewer is not available; state NDEE Title 124 design standards also apply.
  • City code states it does not interfere with additional state or federal requirements.

  “before commencing construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the utilities superintendent.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Plattsmouth city

  • Only where public sewer is not available.
  • No permit for subsurface soil absorption where the lot is less than 10,000 square feet.
  • Permit not effective until installation is completed to the superintendent's satisfaction.

  minimum lot area for subsurface absorption: >= 10000 square feet

  “no permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lost is less than 10,000 square feet.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Private sewage disposal systems inside Plattsmouth city

  • Inspection made within 24 hours of notice; only where public sewer unavailable.

  “in any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the utilities superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection and before any underground portions are covered.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic tanks and cesspools inside Plattsmouth city

  • Private systems allowed only where public sewer is not available, with permit (Sec. 7-237).
  • Where city sewer exists or is extended, private systems are declared a nuisance.

  “except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Buildings inside Plattsmouth city abutting a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sewer

  • Connection due within 90 days after official notice.
  • Applies only if the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.
  • Water hookup rule (Sec. 7-1xx 'mandatory hookup') listed in the code index but its text not opened.

  distance to public sewer: <= 100 feet · connection deadline: <= 90 days (after official notice)

  “to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this article within 90 days after the date of official notice to do so; provided that said public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications inside Plattsmouth city

  • Application filed with city clerk; reviewed by building inspector.
  • Fee and issuance details not read.

  “the application shall be in writing on a form to be furnished by the city clerk for that purpose.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Plattsmouth or Cass County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Plattsmouth city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Plattsmouth city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Plattsmouth city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Plattsmouth city
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Plattsmouth city

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.