Bolthole Index

Cedar County, Nebraska

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Randolph, Nebraska

Randolph, Nebraska (Cedar County) runs its own zoning under Chapter 153 of the city code, with AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2 and I-1 districts1. We could not confirm a general city building-permit process; the one city permit we confirmed is the written permit under the energy standard2. Septic systems fall under the state Title 124 program, not the city3.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the City of Randolph has its own zoning code with seven districts1
Building permit
A written permit is confirmed for buildings under the city energy standard; the general process is unconfirmed2
Septic
State program run by Nebraska DWEE; most systems need no state construction permit4
Sewer hook-up
Required within 300 feet of a city sewer main after written notice5
Minimum lot, AG district
100,000 sq ft with septic, 50,000 sq ft on city sewer6
Minimum lot, R-1 district
10,500 sq ft for a single-family home7
Height limit
35 feet for homes in AG and R-189

Who to call

Zoning

City of Randolph (City Administrator/Clerk)

City hall contact for Randolph zoning, the official zoning map and city permits

402-337-0567

[email protected]

212 E Broadway, Randolph, NE 68771

Septic permits

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Section

State onsite wastewater (septic) program for every address in Cedar County, city or not

(402) 471-4285

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

Zoning

Cedar County Zoning Administrator

Zoning and building permits for unincorporated Cedar County, outside Randolph city limits

402-254-6870

101 S. Broadway, Hartington, NE 68739

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Randolph, Nebraska have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The City of Randolph administers its own zoning code, Chapter 153, with AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2 and I-1 districts1. The official zoning map is held in the office of the city administrator, so ask there which district a specific lot sits in1.

The rules change by district. In the AG Agricultural Residential District, a single-family lot needs 100,000 sq ft with a septic system, 120,000 sq ft with a lagoon, or 50,000 sq ft when connected to city sewer, and 150 feet of width in all three cases6. AG setbacks are 35 feet front, 20 feet side and 35 feet rear10, and homes may not exceed 35 feet in height8.

In the R-1 Residential District, a single-family lot needs 10,500 sq ft and 75 feet of width7, with 25 feet front, 5 feet side and 30 feet rear setbacks11. Total structures on an R-1 lot may cover no more than 33% of the lot12.

Mobile homes inside Randolph are allowed in the AG district only as a farm residence for relatives or farm workers13. We could not confirm Randolph's rules for living in an RV or a tiny home, so ask the City Administrator before you plan around either.

Do you need a building permit in Randolph, and who issues it?

Inside Randolph city limits, the city, not Cedar County, handles zoning and permits. We confirmed one city permit: buildings covered by the city energy standard need a written permit from the chief building inspector after plans are filed with the city clerk2. Residential buildings are exempt from the lighting efficiency standards, and mobile homes and modular units are exempt from the energy standard altogether2.

The city reviews those plans within 30 days of filing14, and the filing fee is $30 for a residential building15. We did not find a general building-permit application process or fee schedule for other construction, so call the Randolph City Administrator before you start work.

Nebraska's state building code applies in a city that adopts it, or that has not adopted an authorized local code within two years after a state update16. We could not confirm which construction code Randolph has adopted17.

How do septic permits work inside Randolph?

Septic permits in Randolph come from the state, not the city. The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers Title 1243, and most systems need no state construction permit, though a permit is required where wastewater quantity, quality or site conditions fall outside authorization by rule4. The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) Onsite Section is the office to ask18.

If your lot is near a city sewer line, septic may not be an option. Every building erected in Randolph must be connected to the sewer system at the time of construction5, and the owner of any premises within 300 feet of a sewer main must connect after written notice from the sewer commissioner5. Sewer connection starts with a written application to the city clerk19.

Statewide, a system on a lot smaller than 3 acres in a new development area needs DWEE subdivision review first20.

Building a home in Randolph: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Randolph City Administrator which zoning district the lot is in; the official zoning map is kept in that office121.
  2. Check the district's lot size, setbacks and height limits against your plans67.
  3. Ask the city which building permits apply to your project; the energy-standard permit goes through the city clerk and chief building inspector2.
  4. Apply in writing to the city clerk for a sewer connection if a city main serves the lot19.
  5. If no sewer reaches the lot, contact the state DWEE Onsite Section about a septic system18.

What stays with Cedar County, and what to check before you buy in Randolph

Land outside Randolph city limits is a different question. The Cedar County zoning regulations require a building permit for buildings erected, moved or structurally altered in the county zoning area, with exceptions for agricultural nonresidential buildings in AG districts and small improvements22. Those county rules cover unincorporated Cedar County; see the Cedar County page for that land, and the23 office for county permits.

Before you buy inside the city, confirm the district, the sewer status of the lot, and whether the lot sits in a mapped flood hazard area; we could not confirm Randolph's floodplain rules. For wells, the state requires a permit in a groundwater management area unless an exemption applies24, and we could not confirm well rules inside city limits. Cedar County's median property tax bill is $1,827 a year25.

Watch-outs

  • Randolph's online code may not reflect the most recent ordinances, so confirm current rules with the City Administrator before relying on any figure here1.
  • Minimum lot sizes in the AG district are far larger than in R-1, so a lot's district decides what you can build6.
  • We could not confirm Randolph's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, certificates of occupancy, driveways, floodplain development or owner-builder permits; the City Administrator is the office to ask2.

Sources

  1. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  2. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 150 National Construction Codes (§150.35-150.39) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  3. Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  4. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Permits (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  5. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 52 Sewers (§52.02-52.10) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  6. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  7. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  8. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  9. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  10. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  11. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  12. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  13. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 153 Zoning Code (sections 153.019-153.050, 153.051) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  14. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 150 National Construction Codes (§150.35-150.39) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  15. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 150 National Construction Codes (§150.35-150.39) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  16. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403: State building code; adopted; amendments (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 150 National Construction Codes (§150.35-150.39) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  18. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Section (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  19. Randolph, NE Code of Ordinances - Chapter 52 Sewers (§52.02-52.10) (Randolph), quoted and re-checked
  20. Title 124 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, quoted and re-checked
  21. City of Randolph (City Administrator/Clerk) (randolphne.com)
  22. Cedar County Zoning Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  23. Cedar County Zoning Administrator (cedarcountyne.gov)
  24. Nebraska Revised Statute 46-735, quoted and re-checked
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Randolph

Randolph’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    New buildings, renovations and additions covered by the city's lighting and thermal standards (§150.39), inside Randolph city limits

    • Applies only to buildings covered by §150.39; residential buildings are exempt from lighting efficiency standards (§150.39(e)(7)); mobile homes and modular units are exempt (§150.39(e)(4)-(5)).
    • A written permit is required from the chief building inspector after plan filing with the city clerk (§150.39(g)).
    • General building permit requirements for other construction were not found in the Chapter 150 pages reviewed.
    “he or she shall issue a written permit, which the prime contractor shall display in a conspicuous place on the premises”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    New and altered buildings inside Randolph city limits and its zoning jurisdiction

    • §150.35 is titled 'building code' but incorporates the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code, as do §150.36 (housing), §150.37 (plumbing), §150.38 (electrical); the excerpt reviewed names no IBC/IRC edition, so the scope of adopted construction codes is only partly confirmed.
    • Adoption is subject to state statutes (Neb. RS 17-1001, 18-132, 19-902 cited).
    “the 2018 international property maintenance code is hereby incorporated by reference, in addition to all amended editions as though printed in full herein insofar as said code does not conflict with the state statutes.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Buildings covered by the energy standard in §150.39 inside Randolph city limits

    • Inspections are periodic during construction and are aimed at energy-standard compliance only (§150.39(f)(2)); the chief building inspector is appointed for a two-year term by the mayor with council approval (§150.39(c)).
    • General building inspection requirements for other construction were not found.
    “during construction, the chief building inspector or persons designated by him or her shall make periodic inspections to assure compliance with this section.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Randolph city limits: Randolph city administers its own zoning code (Chapter 153) with AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2 and I-1 districts

    • Code is the American Legal Publishing copy, supplement current through ordinance no. 756, passed 9-10-2025 per the code overview page; the publisher warns the online copy may not reflect the most current legislation.
    • Zoning district boundaries are kept on an official zoning map dated 2014 held in the office of the city administrator (§153.037).
    “for the purpose of this chapter, there are hereby created zoning districts, as named and described in §§ 153.050 through 153.057 of this chapter.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts inside Randolph city limits

    • District list is published in the code; the official zoning map itself is not shown on the code page and is kept in the city administrator's office (§153.037(b)).
    • Section history for §153.036 cites ord. 667, passed 12-3-2014.
    “(a) ag agricultural residential district; (b) r-1 residential district; (c) r-2 residential district; (d) r-3 residential/commercial district; (e) c-1 commercial business district; (f) c-2 highway commercial district; and (g) i-1 industrial district.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    AG Agricultural Residential District inside Randolph city limits (single-family dwelling); the district's main single-family residential standard. Minimum lot area depends on the sewage system used.

    • Minimum lot area is 100,000 sq ft if a septic system is used, 120,000 sq ft if a lagoon system is used, and 50,000 sq ft if connected to city sewer (§153.050(f)(1)).
    • Lot width is 150 feet in all three cases.
    • Section history: ord. 667 passed 12-3-2014; ord. 685 passed 1-3-2018; ord. 731 passed 9-7-2022 (passage dates, not stated effective dates).

    minimum lot area, septic system: 100000 sq ft (if septic system used) · minimum lot area, lagoon system: 120000 sq ft (if lagoon system used) · minimum lot area, city sewer connection: 50000 sq ft (if city sewer connection) · minimum lot width: 150 ft

    “lot area (sq. ft.) lot width required front yard required side yard required rear yard height if septic system used 100,000 150’ 35’ 20’ 35’ 35’ for residential structures if lagoon system used 120,000 150’ 35’ 20’ 35’ 35’ for residential structures if city sewer connection 50,000 150’ 35’ 20’ 35’ 35’ for residential structures”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    AG Agricultural Residential District inside Randolph city limits

    • Front yard 35 ft, side yard 20 ft, rear yard 35 ft for residential structures in all three septic/lagoon/city-sewer cases (§153.050(f)(1)).
    • No building or structure is permitted within 200 feet of the center of an intersection of any public street, road or highway (§153.050(h)).
    • Setbacks for non-residential structures are not separately stated in the table excerpt reviewed.

    front yard setback: 35 ft · side yard setback: 20 ft · rear yard setback: 35 ft · intersection setback: 200 ft (from center of intersection)

    “lot area (sq. ft.) lot width required front yard required side yard required rear yard height if septic system used 100,000 150’ 35’ 20’ 35’ 35’ for residential structures if lagoon system used 120,000 150’ 35’ 20’ 35’ 35’ for residential structures if city sewer connection 50,000 150’ 35’ 20’ 35’ 35’ for residential structures”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Residential District inside Randolph city limits (accessory uses and structures on the lot)

    • Structures on the lot (existing and proposed) together may occupy no more than 33% of the lot area.
    • Accessory structures together may not exceed 1,064 sq ft or 7% of lot area up to 2,500 sq ft, whichever is greater (§153.051(c)(2)(b)).
    • An R-1 approved dwelling must exist before accessory building construction (§153.051(c)(1)(c)).

    maximum lot coverage, all structures: <= 33 percent of lot area · maximum accessory structure area: <= 1064 sq ft (or 7% of lot area up to 2,500 sq ft, whichever is greater)

    “collectively, the area(s): a. occupied by all existing and proposed structures do not exceed 33% of the entire lot area; and b. of all accessory structures shall not exceed 1,064 square feet or 7% of the lot area up to 2,500 square feet, whichever is greater.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    AG Agricultural Residential District inside Randolph city limits, residential structures

    • Maximum height for residential structures is 35 feet; non-residential structures have no height limit except under airport zoning regulations (§153.050(f)(2)).

    maximum height, residential structures: <= 35 ft (non-residential structures: no height limit except airport zoning)

    “the maximum height for residential structures is 35 feet; however, non-residential structures shall have no height limitations except in conformance with airport zoning regulations.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile homes as farm residences in the AG Agricultural Residential District inside Randolph city limits only

    • Permitted as an accessory use only as a farm residence or adjacent farm residence for relatives of consanguinity and marriage or farm workers (§153.050(c)(3)).
    • Not shown as permitted for general residential use in the R-1 district, which lists single-family dwellings as principal uses (§153.051(b)).
    “(3) residences including mobile homes for farm residence or adjacent farm residence for relatives of consanguinity and marriage or farm workers;”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New or existing homes on premises inside Randolph city limits within 300 feet of a city sewer main

    • Every building hereafter erected must be connected to the sewer system at the time of construction (§52.05(a)).
    • Sewer service within city limits is furnished where premises abut a street or alley with a commercial main (§52.04).
    • Connection requires written application to the city clerk (§52.03) and two sewer commissioner inspections (§52.08).
    • If the owner fails to connect within ten days of notice, the city may connect and assess the cost against the property (§52.05(a)).

    distance to sewer main triggering mandatory hook-up: <= 300 feet (within 300 feet of any sewer main, upon written notice)

    “upon written notice by the sewer commissioner, the property owner, occupant, or lessee of any premises within 300 feet of any sewer main shall, without delay, cause the said building to be connected with the sewer system”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Plan filing for the energy-standard permit (§150.39) for buildings inside Randolph city limits

    • Fee applies to buildings covered by §150.39 only; no general building permit fee schedule was found.
    • Sewer tap fee is set as the assessment against the property recorded by the city clerk (§52.09), not a published schedule in the excerpt reviewed.

    energy permit filing fee, residential buildings: 30 USD · energy permit filing fee, other buildings: 0.01 USD per gross sq ft (other buildings only)

    “the person filing the application for a permit shall, at the time of such filing, pay to the city the sum of $30 for residential buildings and $0.01 per gross square foot for any other building.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Energy-standard building permit process (§150.39) inside Randolph city limits

    • Plans and specifications are filed with the city clerk, who notifies the chief building inspector (§150.39(g)(1)).
    • Approval or disapproval within 30 days of filing; disapprovals are given in writing (§150.39(g)(1)).
    • General permit application process for other construction was not located.

    plan review period: <= 30 days

    “the chief building inspector shall, within 30 days of the filing, approve or disapprove the plans and specifications.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Rules another office applies inside Randolph

Randolph does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite (septic) wastewater systems on land inside Randolph city limits

    • Most systems need no state construction permit (authorization by rule); a permit is required where wastewater quantity or quality or site conditions fall outside authorization-by-rule requirements.
    • Permit applications and fee schedule are published by NDEE on the onsite wastewater permits page.
    “however, some systems will require a permit as a result of the quantity or quality of the wastewater generated or site conditions that do not meet “ authorization by rule ” requirements.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building their own house inside Randolph city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Randolph city limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area for a single-family home inside Randolph city limits
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of a recreational vehicle as a residence inside Randolph city limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Randolph city limits
10 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Randolph publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cedar County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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