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

Yes—a county zoning permit is required before covered construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, moving, use or occupancy begins in unincorporated Colfax County's jurisdiction¹. The county rule establishes a zoning permit, not a separate general building-code permit¹. The application requires the Zoning Administrator's form and a surveyed site plan showing the lot, buildings, uses, and water and sanitary-sewer facilities¹. The lot and building location must be staked before construction¹. A written permit or denial is due within 15 days after application acceptance, and an unextended permit expires after 2 years if work remains incomplete¹. We could not confirm general building-code adoption or a structural-inspection schedule; ask Planning and Zoning what review applies beyond zoning approval⁶.

Colfax County Planning and Zoning is the first stop for zoning permits, applications, parcel zoning and setbacks⁶. Call 402-352-8505, email zoning@colfaxne.com, or visit 466 Road 10, Schuyler, NE 68661⁶. The official county page links to forms, permits, regulations and zoning FAQs⁶. Give the office the legal description and site address so it can identify the district and its permitted, conditional and prohibited uses^1,6. Setbacks differ by district, and the permit application must show them from the property lines³. Ask Planning and Zoning to distinguish the zoning permit from any structural-code, electrical, floodplain or road-access approval; general building-code adoption and inspections remain unconfirmed⁶.

Yes. Colfax County zoning covers unincorporated land except areas where a city or village has and exercises zoning jurisdiction¹. The published district matrix marks uses as permitted, conditional, temporary or not permitted, with additional district and supplemental standards¹. Minimum lot size varies by district, use and wastewater method; published examples include 5 acres for an A-1 single-family dwelling and 3 acres for a TA-1 single-family dwelling¹. Maximum lot coverage, setbacks and height also vary by district and use^1,3. One accessory dwelling may be conditionally allowed in A-1 and TA-1, subject to owner-occupancy, deed, access, utility, setback and height conditions¹. Setbacks in designated floodplains are stricter: permanent buildings, including seasonal dwellings, generally must sit at least 75 feet from a river, stream or creek³. A building within 150 feet of a dwelling district zone may not exceed 35 feet¹. Subdivision is regulated separately¹.

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment administers onsite-wastewater rules in Colfax County⁴. Most Nebraska onsite systems proceed under Authorization by Rule without a construction permit, while large systems and those involving non-domestic waste or siting issues require state permitting and site-specific evaluation^4,7. Every new or changed system must be registered⁴. Septic work and inspections must be done by specified certified or licensed professionals or someone under their direct supervision, but the record does not establish a routine government inspection for every system⁸. Colfax County's sewage rules require a compliant onsite system or a public sewer connection for any facility that generates wastewater, and cesspools, dry wells and seepage pits are prohibited⁸. Contact the DWEE Onsite Section at (402) 471-4285⁹. Only about 26.8% of Colfax County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so evaluate the drain-field area before fixing the house site¹⁰.

Colfax County's documented RV occupancy rule covers RV parks and campgrounds, not a general right to live in an RV on a private residential lot. An RV park or campground requires a conditional-use permit, and an RV or trailer there may be occupied for no more than 4 continuous months in a 12-month period¹. A tent may be added as auxiliary shelter at such a park for no more than 14 consecutive days¹. Ask Planning and Zoning for a written parcel-specific answer before occupying an RV outside a permitted park⁶. Site-built tiny homes have minimum room-size standards and may not be built in a floodplain; the county has no single total-floor-area minimum for them¹. A leased mobile home in a mobile home park needs at least 500 square feet of livable floor area, and a park needs at least 5 acres¹. Short-term rentals in unincorporated Colfax County may not be located in an accessory dwelling unit¹. Tiny homes built as RV, park-model or camper units must be on a single chassis and no larger than 400 square feet¹. Tiny-home villages use the planned-development-overlay process¹. An accessory building needs a certificate of occupancy before it can be used as a dwelling¹.

1. Ask Colfax County Planning and Zoning to confirm jurisdiction, zoning district, allowed residential use, lot standards and setbacks^1,6.

1. Prepare the county application and surveyed site plan showing buildings, uses, and existing and proposed water and sanitary-sewer facilities¹.

1. Obtain the zoning permit before beginning covered construction or occupancy¹.

1. Hire a state-certified onsite professional and determine whether the septic design fits Authorization by Rule or needs a state permit^7,9.

1. Obtain a separate county floodplain development permit before work in the regulated floodplain¹.

1. Obtain a state permit for a new, relocated or altered driveway connecting to a state highway¹¹.

1. Confirm any certificate-of-occupancy requirement before using an accessory building as a dwelling^1,6.

Confirm the zoning jurisdiction, district, allowed use, minimum lot area, lot coverage, setbacks and subdivision status before closing^1,3. Check the floodplain early because Colfax County requires a separate permit before floodplain development or substantial improvement¹. Reserve a workable septic area after professional evaluation: only about 26.8% of county soils lack severe limits for a conventional drain field¹⁰. For a private well, a licensed water-well contractor must register the well with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, though a universal preconstruction permit was not established, so ask the local natural resources district too¹². A county zoning permit is required before covered construction or connection to water or sewer facilities⁸. The effective property-tax rate is about 1.3%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $1,612¹⁰. Confirm legal road access; a driveway connecting to a state highway requires a state permit¹¹.