Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Harvard, Nebraska

Harvard’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings inside Harvard city limits and within its one-mile extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction

  • Adopted edition is the 2003 International Building Code (appendix chapter C), with local revisions; the 2003 IRC, property maintenance, mechanical and plumbing codes are also adopted (ord. 783, passed 11-8-2005).
  • Applies to the extent it does not conflict with state statutes.

  International Building Code edition: 2003 (local revisions in § 150.015(b))

  “the international building code, 2003 edition, including appendix chapters c as published by the international code council, inc., is hereby adopted as the building code of the city”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Harvard city limits (Clay County, NE)

  • Zoning regulations are kept in pamphlet form on file with the city clerk; the pamphlet text was not found online in this pass.

  “the zoning regulations for the city, as prepared by charles l. leider, mcp, clark and enersen, olsson, burroughs and thomsen, and published in pamphlet form, have been adopted by ord. 262, passed 4-23-1968.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Manufactured homes inside Harvard city; district minimums for site-built homes not found

  • Residential-zone minimum square footage in the zoning pamphlet was not located.

  minimum floor area, manufactured home: >= 900 sq ft

  “the home shall have no less than 900 square feet of floor area.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in residential zones inside Harvard city

  • Must bear a HUD or Nebraska seal
  • Permanent perimeter foundation and permanent utility connections
  • Must meet setback, lot and minimum square footage requirements of the residential zone
  • At least 18-foot exterior width; roof pitch of at least 2.5 in 12; residential-comparable exterior and non-reflective roof; wheels, axles, lights and towing apparatus removed
  • Restrictive covenants of record are not superseded

  minimum floor area: >= 900 sq ft

  “the home shall have no less than 900 square feet of floor area.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Platting or subdividing land inside Harvard city or adjoining its limits

  • City council acceptance and approval of the plat is required; penalty of $50 per lot or part of lot sold in violation (§ 151.99).

  “without having first obtained the acceptance and approval of the plat, or map thereof by the city council.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New construction inside Harvard city
• Owner-builder exemption — Inside Harvard city
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Harvard city
• Certificate of occupancy — Inside Harvard city
• Zoning districts — Inside Harvard 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.