Bolthole Index

Chase County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Chase County, Nebraska

51Index Score / 100
#14 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Chase County, Nebraska requires a zoning permit before nonfarm construction in a zoned area, but farm buildings are exempt and the county does not issue a separate building-code permit.1 Chase County has county zoning, and the Planning and Zoning office publishes the zoning-permit forms.23 Most onsite wastewater systems proceed under Nebraska's Authorization by Rule without a state construction permit, while systems with unusual wastewater or site conditions need state review.45

At a glance

Building permit
Zoning permit required for nonfarm construction in zoned areas; no separate county building-code permit1
Zoning
Yes; county zoning applies outside incorporated places and other municipal zoning jurisdiction26
Septic
State onsite-wastewater program; most systems use Authorization by Rule, while some need a permit45
Owner-builder
Exempt from contractor registration when working on your own property, but not from other approvals78
RV living
Long-term occupancy rule not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning23
Tiny home
No specific occupancy rule confirmed; zoning and wastewater rules still apply29
Farm buildings
Exempt from the county zoning-permit requirement when the agricultural definition is met110

Who to call

Zoning

Chase County Planning and Zoning

County zoning questions and zoning, conditional-use, and rezoning applications

(308) 882-7503

[email protected]

PO Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033

Roads & driveways

Chase County Road Department

County-road and access questions

(308) 882-7520

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 28, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Chase County, Nebraska?

Chase County requires a zoning permit before erecting or constructing a nonfarm building within a zoned area, while farm buildings are exempt and there is no separate county building-code permit.1 Nebraska has adopted a state building code that can apply where a county, city, or village has not adopted an authorized local code, but the default rule excludes construction on a farm or for farm purposes.11 The county's adoption and administration of a separate local construction code could not be confirmed, so ask Planning and Zoning which code and inspections apply to the proposed structure before work begins.13

Who handles building and zoning permits in Chase County?

Chase County Planning and Zoning is the first stop for rural construction and land-use questions; the office publishes forms for zoning permits, conditional-use permits, and rezoning requests.3 Contact the office at (308) 882-7503 or [email protected], or mail project information to PO Box 1299, Imperial, NE 69033.3 No separate Chase County building department or confirmed certificate-of-occupancy process was identified, so ask this office whether the project needs inspections or another approval in addition to the zoning permit.13 For access from a county road, call the Chase County Road Department at (308) 882-7520 before placing the entrance.12

Does Chase County, Nebraska have zoning?

Chase County has adopted zoning regulations with mapped districts administered through its Planning and Zoning office and Planning Commission.2 Nebraska county zoning authority covers territory outside incorporated cities and villages and outside areas where a municipality is exercising granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction.6 County zoning may regulate structures, setbacks, yards, density, and uses of buildings and land, so the answer for a particular parcel depends on its mapped district and jurisdiction.6 Ask Planning and Zoning to identify the parcel's district and confirm setbacks, allowed uses, accessory structures, and any conditional-use process before choosing a building location.23

How do septic permits work in Chase County?

Nebraska's statewide onsite wastewater program governs septic systems in Chase County.4 Most systems are constructed under Authorization by Rule and do not require a state construction permit, but systems with wastewater quantity, wastewater quality, or site conditions outside those requirements need a permit.45 A dwelling that generates wastewater must use a Title 124-compliant onsite system or connect to public sewer or another wastewater works.9 Only 19.9% of mapped Chase County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make a professional site evaluation a purchase contingency.13 Any inspection must be performed or supervised by a qualified certified or licensed professional.14

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Chase County?

A specific Chase County rule for long-term residential RV occupancy on private land could not be confirmed, so ask Planning and Zoning about the parcel's district, temporary occupancy, setbacks, and wastewater before moving an RV onsite.23 Nebraska's restriction on camping along public highways, roadside areas, and parks does not answer whether an RV may be occupied on private land.15 A specific tiny-home occupancy rule also could not be confirmed; a small dwelling remains subject to the parcel's zoning and must have a compliant onsite wastewater system or public sewer connection when it generates wastewater.29 Nebraska's manufactured-home standards are a separate category and do not automatically answer the rules for a site-built tiny home.16

Building a home in Chase County: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Chase County Planning and Zoning to confirm the parcel's jurisdiction, zoning district, setbacks, permitted use, and required zoning application.23
  2. Confirm which building code and inspection process applies, because the county's zoning permit is not a separate county building-code permit.111
  3. Have a certified onsite-wastewater professional evaluate the homesite and determine whether Authorization by Rule applies or a state permit is needed.514
  4. Call the Road Department before constructing access from a county road.12 A new, relocated, or altered driveway connecting to a state highway requires a state permit.17
  5. Obtain a floodplain development permit if the site is in a Nebraska floodplain.18

What should you check before buying land in Chase County?

Confirm zoning, legal access, wastewater feasibility, water supply, and floodplain status before making the purchase unconditional. Chase County averages 18.9 inches of precipitation annually and has experienced severe drought in 24.6% of measured years, making a dependable water plan especially important.1920 Only 19.9% of mapped soils avoid severe conventional drain-field limits, although 72.4% of county land has a slope of 15% or less.1321 The median property-tax bill is $2,156 per year at an effective rate of about 1.2%, but confirm the particular parcel's assessment.2223 The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 162 miles from the county center, so contractor and material logistics deserve early planning.24

Watch-outs

  • A farm-building exemption is not a blanket rural exemption: the state definition concerns agricultural buildings on qualifying farmsteads, while nonfarm construction in a zoned area needs a Chase County zoning permit.110
  • Nebraska's owner-builder provision is an exemption from contractor registration, not from zoning permits, building codes, inspections, or other approvals.8
  • Only 19.9% of mapped Chase County soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field, so resolve septic feasibility before fixing the house location.13
  • A state-highway driveway requires a Nebraska transportation permit even when the county zoning questions are settled.17

Sources

  1. Chase County Planning and Zoning (2026 county census)
  2. Chase County Planning and Zoning (2026 county census)
  3. Chase County Planning and Zoning (chasecounty.nebraska.gov)
  4. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Permits, quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Permits, quoted and re-checked
  6. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (2026 county census)
  8. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Just for Homeowners (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114.03 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403: State building code; adopted; amendments (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chase County Road Department (chasecounty.nebraska.gov)
  13. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  14. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-15,248 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Nebraska Revised Statute 39-312 — Camping; permitted; where; violation; penalty (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Distance to the nearest metro area: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 28, 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.

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County locator

Chase County in Nebraska

51
County map
Chase County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Chase County scores

Seclusion85100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency23100% ev.
Admin Boringness59100% ev.
Durability40100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost72100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$226kTypical home
1.2%Property tax
$2,558Land / acre
18.9"Annual rain
24.6% of yrsSevere drought
19.6 / yr (+15.4)Mid-century 100°F days
26.7 daysMid-century dry spell
1.31" (+5.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.34×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,394Home insurance / yr
-2.3% / yrInsurance growth
2.25%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
3,167People within 30 min
149,051People within 2 hr
3,422Radius comparison (15 mi)
4.2People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
72.4%Land at 15% slope or less
19.9%Septic soil without severe limits
113,403 acWorkable land screen
0.3%Wooded land
60.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Chase County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Chase County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Chase County is a zoned county whose regulations require a zoning permit prior to erection/construction of any nonfarm building within a zoned area; farm buildings are exempt and there is no separate county building-code permit.

    Chase County Planning and Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Chase County has adopted county zoning regulations with mapped districts (e.g., Agricultural Residential) administered by a Planning & Zoning Director and Planning Commission.

    Chase County Planning and Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Nebraska rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property under Nebraska's Contractor Registration Act.

    • The exemption means the person is not a contractor for purposes of the Contractor Registration Act.
    • The exemption applies to work on the person's own property.
    • The statute separately states that a person earning less than five thousand dollars annually for construction services is also not a contractor for purposes of the Act.
    • The exemption does not exempt a contractor from withholding requirements under the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967.
    • This is a contractor-registration exemption and does not establish exemption from applicable building permits, inspections, building codes, electrical requirements, or other local or state approvals.

    annual construction-services earnings threshold: < 5000 USD (Separate statutory basis for not being a contractor under the Act; the own-property exemption has no stated dollar threshold.)

    “Any person who performs work or has work performed on his or her own property or any person who earns less than five thousand dollars annually for construction services is not a contractor for purposes of the Contractor Registration Act.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Nebraska's state building code, including state-owned or state-agency buildings and local jurisdictions as specified by Nebraska law.

    • The adopted code consists of the 2018 International Building Code with stated exceptions, the 2018 International Residential Code with stated exceptions, the 2018 International Existing Building Code with a stated exception, the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code, and minimum radon-resistant construction standards.
    • The state building code applies to all buildings and structures owned by the state or a state agency.
    • It applies in a county, city, or village that elects to adopt it as its local code.
    • It also applies in a county, city, or village that has not adopted an authorized local code within two years after an update to the state building code.
    • The default state-code rule does not apply to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.
    • A local jurisdiction may instead adopt a code that conforms generally with the state building code, subject to the requirements and exceptions in section 71-6406.

    International Building Code edition: 2018 (Except section 101.4.3 and chapter 29; section 305.2.3 applies to a facility having twelve or fewer children; section 310.4.1 applies to a care facility for twelve or fewer persons.) · International Residential Code edition: 2018 (Except section R313 and chapters 25 through 33.) · International Existing Building Code edition: 2018 (Except section 809.) · Uniform Plumbing Code edition: 2018 · local-code adoption deadline after state-code update: 2 years (If no authorized local code is adopted, the state building code applies, except to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.)

    “(1) There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference:”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Public availability of local Nebraska municipal codes that may contain zoning districts; this does not establish a single statewide zoning-district map or ordinance.

    • Not all communities have published municipal codes online.
    • Where codes are unavailable online, the official source directs users to contact local town or city offices or the county courthouse.
    • Local zoning districts and ordinances remain community-specific.
    “Not all communities have published their municipal codes online; it may be necessary to contact the local town or city offices, or the county courthouse to access their codes and ordinances.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes regulated under Nebraska county zoning authority.

    • The county board may impose the requirement; Nebraska law does not impose the 900-square-foot minimum on every dwelling statewide.
    • The manufactured home must bear an appropriate seal showing compliance with applicable manufactured-home, modular-housing, or HUD standards.
    • The county may require the same foundation, permanent utility-connection, setback, and minimum-square-footage standards applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot.
    • The statute also permits requirements for at least eighteen feet of exterior width, specified roof pitch, comparable exterior materials, nonreflective roof material, and removal of wheels, axles, transporting lights, and removable towing apparatus.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet (Manufactured homes; requirement is discretionary with the county board.)

    “The county board may also require that manufactured homes meet the following standards: (i) The home shall have no less than nine hundred square feet of floor area;”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping on state or county public highways, roadside areas, parks, and other property acquired for highway or roadside park purposes in Nebraska.

    • Camping is unlawful except at places designated as campsites by the Department of Transportation, the county, or another governmental entity owning or controlling the property.
    • The statute excludes certain lands transferred or leased to the Game and Parks Commission and other lands controlled by the Game and Parks Commission or a natural resources district, which are governed under separate statutes.
    • Camping includes temporary lodging out of doors in a sleeping bag, tent, trailer, station wagon, pickup camper, camper-bus, or other vehicle.
    • Violation is a Class V misdemeanor and may require reimbursement for campsite damage.

    penalty: Class V misdemeanor

    “It shall be unlawful to camp on any state or county public highway, roadside area, park, [...] except at such places as are designated campsites”
  • Who permits septicState

    Onsite wastewater systems serving properties in Chase County under Nebraska’s statewide onsite wastewater program.

    • Most systems use Authorization by Rule and do not require a state construction permit.
    • Some systems require a permit based on wastewater quantity or quality or site conditions that do not meet Authorization by Rule requirements.
    “Most onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska are constructed under “Authorization by Rule” which does not require a construction permit from the State of Nebraska.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Mixed (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska, including septic systems, holding tanks, lagoons, mound systems, and other decentralized systems.
      “Any local requirements (city, county) are separate from and in addition to the requirements found in Title 124 that apply statewide.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite wastewater systems statewide where system size, non-domestic waste handling, or siting issues require a site-specific evaluation and permitting; ordinary systems also remain subject to applicable Title 124 compliance and registration rules.

    • The official program page identifies permitting for systems requiring site-specific evaluation because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues.
    • A system constructed, reconstructed, altered, modified, or otherwise changed must be registered with the Department.
    • Local city or county requirements may apply separately.
    “Most onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska are constructed under “Authorization by Rule” which does not require a construction permit [...] However, some systems will require a permit”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater treatment facilities in Chase County.
      “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.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Inspection of private onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska.

    • Inspection must be carried out or supervised by a certified professional, a Nebraska-licensed professional engineer, or a Nebraska-registered environmental health specialist.
    • The statute allows the Director by contract to delegate onsite wastewater inspection and registration to a governmental subdivision with a sufficiently stringent program and enforcement authority.
    “A private onsite wastewater treatment system shall not be [...] inspected [...] unless the [...] inspection [...] is carried out or supervised by either a certified professional”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Off-grid wastewater sanitation using an onsite wastewater treatment system, including septic systems, holding tanks, lagoons, or mound systems, statewide in Nebraska.

    • The onsite system must comply with Title 124.
    • Only a properly certified professional may inspect, repair, pump, or install an onsite septic system.
    • The wastewater directed to the onsite system is limited to domestic wastewater.
    • Any local city or county requirements apply separately.
    “households depend on septic systems [...] for wastewater treatment. [...] the Nebraska Department [...] regulates these systems through Title 124”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Wastewater service for dwellings and non-dwellings generating wastewater statewide in Nebraska.

    • The property must have an onsite wastewater treatment system complying with Title 124, or be connected to a public sewer system or other wastewater works.
    • Local city and county requirements are separate from and in addition to statewide Title 124 requirements.
    “A dwelling or non-dwelling that generates wastewater must have an onsite wastewater treatment (OWT) system [...] or be connected to a public sewer system”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings on farmsteads of at least 20 acres producing at least $1,000 of farm products annually, in the context of county zoning regulations and permit requirements.

    • The farmstead must be at least twenty acres.
    • The farmstead must produce at least one thousand dollars of farm products each year.
    • The county board may decide whether buildings located on farmsteads used as residences are subject to county zoning regulations and permit requirements.
    • The statutory definition distinguishes agricultural buildings from nonfarm buildings for purposes of county zoning authority.

    minimum farmstead area: >= 20 acres · minimum annual farm-product production: >= 1000 USD per year

    “For purposes of this section and section 23-114.04, nonfarm buildings are all buildings except those buildings utilized for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of twenty acres or more which produces one thousand dollars or more of farm products each year.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision, platting, or laying out real estate in counties containing a city of the primary class, outside areas where a city or village is exercising subdivision jurisdiction.

    • Prior approval by the county board, or by the county planning commission or planning director when designated, is required before subdivision or platting.
    • A plat has no force or effect and may not be recorded unless approved by the authorized county body.
    • The county may not regulate subdivision when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres.
    • The county may require improvements, a sufficient bond guaranteeing installation of improvements, public improvement districts, and dedication of land for public purposes.

    smallest parcel exemption threshold: > 10 acres (The county has no power under this section to regulate when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres.)

    “Such a county shall have authority within the area described in this subsection (a) to regulate the subdivision of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or building development, except that the county shall have no power to regulate subdivision in those instances where the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres in area,”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New, relocated, or altered private driveways and commercial approach roads connecting to State Highway rights of way.

    • No permits will be issued for driveways or approach roads to private property where the Department has acquired all or portions of the rights of access.
    • Applications must use the Department-furnished form.
    • Hard-surfaced driveway and approach-road applications go to the Department of Roads; unsurfaced driveway applications go to the proper District Engineer's office.
    • The driveway or approach road must comply with permit conditions and must not alter highway drainage or side ditches.
    • A certified check is required as a guarantee; its amount is determined after application and based on the extent of proposed work.
    “Any person desiring to construct a new driveway or approach road or any person desiring to relocate or alter an existing driveway or approach road shall apply for a permit to do so.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All development in a Nebraska floodplain, administered through applicable local floodplain programs under state and federal standards.

    • All development in a floodplain requires a permit, including additions and new structures.
    • A new structure must meet existing Base Flood Elevation requirements.
    • An addition must meet Base Flood Elevation requirements when it is a substantial improvement.
    • Substantial improvement means reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement costing 50 percent or more of the structure's pre-improvement market value.
    • Development includes human-made changes to improved or unimproved real estate, including construction, modifications, repairs, temporary stream crossings, roads, bridges, school buildings, storage, dredging, paving, filling, and grading.
    • Permits must ensure compliance with National Flood Insurance Program requirements, city ordinances, and county resolutions.

    substantial improvement threshold: >= 50 percent of pre-improvement market value

    “All development in a floodplain, whether an addition or a brand new structure, requires a permit.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term lodging operations in Nebraska, including hotels, tourist homes, private homes rented in whole or in part, campgrounds, and RV pads or hookups.

    • A separate lodging tax permit is required for each hotel.
    • The permit is issued only after examination and approval.
    • The permit is not assignable and is valid only for the named operator, location, and transaction of business.
    • The permit must be conspicuously displayed.
    • Operating without a permit or after suspension is a misdemeanor; conviction may result in a fine up to $500 per day.
    • The cited state rule addresses lodging-tax permitting and does not establish statewide zoning approval for short-term rentals.

    maximum fine for operation without permit after conviction: <= 500 USD per day

    “Every person engaged in the business of operating a hotel in this state where the public may, for a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations, must file an application with the Nebraska Department of Revenue for a Nebraska lodging tax permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Nebraska DWEE air-quality construction permit applications.

    • The fee is non-refundable.
    • The fee is based on facility-wide potential to emit and the applicable pollutant thresholds.
    • Submit the fee with the completed construction permit application.
    • Payment must be by check or money order payable to the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment; electronic payments are not currently accepted.

    fee: 250 USD (Facility-wide PTE less than 50 tons per year of any listed air pollutant, or less than 2.5 tons per year of any single HAP, or less than 10 tons per year of any combination of HAPs.) · fee: 1500 USD (Facility-wide PTE is 50 or more but less than 100 tons per year of any listed air pollutant, or 2.5 or more but less than 10 tons per year of any single HAP, or 10 or more but less than 25 tons per year of any combination of HAPs.) · fee: 3000 USD (Facility-wide PTE is 100 tons or more per year of any listed air pollutant, or 10 tons or more per year of any single HAP, or 25 tons or more per year of any combination of HAPs.)

    “Chapter 3, Section 002.01 of Nebraska Administrative Code Title 129 – Nebraska Air Quality Regulations requires that each air quality construction permit application be accompanied by a non-refundable fee.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Nebraska DWEE environmental permitting, including construction, land-development, and septic-related projects.

    • The permit timeline depends on permit type, project complexity, application completeness and accuracy, applications ahead in queue, and possible 30- to 60-day public notice and comment periods.
    • Applicants are encouraged to contact DWEE early.
    “The time from submittal of your application to the issuance of the permit depends on the type of permit applied for, the complexity of your project, the completeness and accuracy of the submitted application, the number of applications ahead of yours, and possible issues that could arise from the 30- to 60-day public notice and comment periods.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Nebraska county boards adopting zoning resolutions for county territory outside incorporated cities and villages and outside areas where a city or village has been granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction and is exercising that jurisdiction.

    • The county board may adopt a zoning resolution having the force and effect of law.
    • The zoning resolution may regulate buildings, structures, lot coverage, setbacks, yards, population density, building uses, and land uses for agriculture, forestry, recreation, residence, industry, and trade in the unincorporated area of the county.
    • The powers may not be exercised within incorporated cities or villages or within an unincorporated area over which a city or village has been granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction and is exercising it.
    • A city or village zoning ordinance or amendment controlling an unincorporated area supersedes the county resolution or regulation.
    • If a zoning resolution or regulation affects the Niobrara scenic river corridor, the Niobrara Council must act as provided in section 72-2010.
    • A county board may not prohibit a qualifying manufactured home solely because it is manufactured, but may impose the listed installation and design standards and may not impose additional standards unless uniformly applied to all single-family dwellings in the zoning district.
    • Special districts or zones may be established in areas subject to seasonal or periodic flooding.
    “to adopt a zoning resolution, which shall have the force and effect of law;”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements for Chase County.
  • Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Chase County zoning districts.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land in unincorporated Chase County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Chase County.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Chase County.
1 more unanswered
  • Well permit

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.

Water rights & wells in Chase County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Nebraska’s water agency.

Over-appropriated / declining

The aquifer here is over-appropriated and declining. A domestic well is usually still permit-exempt, but long-term supply is a genuine risk.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Domestic/household wells are exempt from NRD construction permits and generally from basin well moratoriums (domestic is a preferred use), so a newcomer can still drill a household well even in over-appropriated basins — it must be registered with the state.

Limit: Wells ≤50 gpm (household/stock) need no NRD construction permit; all new wells must be registered with NeDNR

Central Platte NRD / Neb. Rev. Stat. 46-602 ↗
  • Republican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)majority of county

    Moratorium on new surface appropriations and NRD prohibition on developing new groundwater-irrigated acres for interstate Compact compliance. Domestic wells exempt.

    Nebraska DWEE — Republican River Basin / Compact ↗

Hybrid state (appropriation + riparian). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Nebraska state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Chase County, Nebraska

Is Chase County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Chase County scores 51/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: deep seclusion — about 3,167 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: thin water margin (18.9″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Chase County, Nebraska?

Chase County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Chase County, Nebraska?

Land in Chase County runs about $2,558 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Chase County?

Chase County gets about 18.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 24.6% of years. On water rights, Chase County lies in the Republican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed) — Moratorium on new surface appropriations and NRD prohibition on developing new groundwater-irrigated acres for interstate Compact compliance. Domestic wells exempt..

How remote is Chase County?

A representative private-land location has about 3,167 people within a 30-minute drive and 149,051 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Chase compares in Nebraska

Compare side-by-side →See all 93 Nebraska counties ranked →