Bolthole Index

Custer County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Arnold, Nebraska

The Village of Arnold, Nebraska requires a zoning permit before erecting, moving, expanding or structurally altering a building; we could not confirm a separate building-permit requirement, so ask the village Zoning Administrator.1 Arnold administers its own zoning in Custer County and requires a zoning-compliance certificate before qualifying occupancy.23 Private sewage systems need village approval when public sewer is unavailable, alongside Nebraska’s statewide onsite-wastewater requirements.456

At a glance

Construction approval
Village zoning permit required; separate building permit unconfirmed1
Zoning
Village districts and official zoning map govern the parcel7
Septic
Village Superintendent approval plus statewide requirements46
RV living
Private residential RV occupancy unconfirmed; campground and temporary-use rules are limited8
Home size in R
Single-family dwellings: 900 sq ft; manufactured homes: 1,200 sq ft910
Lot area
R principal permitted uses have no minimum area, subject to other dimensions; AG homes need 5 acres1112
Occupancy approval
Certificate of zoning compliance required for qualifying new or changed use3

Who to call

Zoning

Village of Arnold Zoning Administrator

Village zoning permits, district questions and zoning-compliance certificates

(308) 530-1065

Also useful

Village of Arnold Clerk’s Office

Village office contact and routing for zoning, utility and construction questions

(308) 848-2228

[email protected]

209 West First Avenue

Septic permits

Village of Arnold Superintendent

Municipal private-sewage permits and inspections

(308) 636-8641

Septic permits

Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program

Statewide onsite wastewater standards, registration, professional certification, subdivision review and site-specific permits

(402) 471-4285

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Arnold, NE?

Arnold requires a zoning permit from the village Zoning Administrator before a building or other structure is erected, moved, added to, expanded or structurally altered.1 We could not confirm a separate Arnold building permit, adopted building-code edition or general building-inspection schedule; ask the Zoning Administrator at (308) 530-1065 before arranging construction.13

Nebraska’s state building code can apply when a village has not adopted an authorized local code within the statutory deadline, subject to the farm-construction exception.14 An owner working on the owner’s own property is exempt from contractor registration, but that exemption does not remove applicable construction approvals or code requirements.15

Who handles zoning approval in the Village of Arnold?

The village Zoning Administrator issues Arnold zoning permits and certificates of zoning compliance.13 Contact the Zoning Administrator at (308) 530-1065, or use the village office at (308) 848-2228 and [email protected] to route questions about your project.1316

Arnold’s fee schedule is posted in the Zoning Administrator’s office; the code provision does not state the amounts, and permit or certificate action waits until applicable fees are paid.17 Request the current schedule with your application rather than using Custer County’s fees for a village project.1718

Does the Village of Arnold have zoning and minimum lot sizes?

Arnold has village zoning districts and an official zoning map; determine the parcel’s district before choosing a house plan.7 In the R, Residential District, principal permitted uses have no minimum lot area, but a lot still needs marketable buildable area and must satisfy width, frontage, yards, parking and rear-yard-coverage requirements.11 That provision does not waive the remaining site standards.11

Arnold’s AG, Agricultural District requires a 5-acre minimum lot for a single-family dwelling, manufactured home or modular home.12 AG lot coverage, including driveways, parking, decks and patios, cannot exceed 50%.19 Ask the Zoning Administrator to review setbacks and the buildable footprint for the actual district.713

How do septic permits work inside the Village of Arnold?

Arnold permits private sewage disposal where public sewer is unavailable under the village code; choosing an off-grid home does not itself authorize a septic system.5 Before private-system construction, obtain a written permit signed by the Village Superintendent; the village code lists a $10 permit and inspection fee.4 Notify the Superintendent for final inspection before covering underground work.20

Nebraska’s onsite-wastewater requirements apply in addition to Arnold’s local approval.6 Most Nebraska systems use authorization by rule, while systems with size, waste-type or siting issues may need a state permit; constructed or changed systems must be registered.21 Contact the Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program at (402) 471-4285 about state requirements and the village Superintendent at (308) 636-8641 about municipal approval.2223

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Arnold?

We could not confirm permission to use a private lot in Arnold for residential RV occupancy; ask the village Zoning Administrator about the proposed use and duration before buying a trailer.13 Arnold’s AG district treats RV parks and campgrounds as conditional uses, and its temporary-use provision gives other customary temporary uses a 60-day limit; neither provision establishes unrestricted private RV living.8

Arnold’s R district requires at least 900 square feet of living/livable floor area for single-family dwellings and at least 1,200 square feet for manufactured homes.910 We could not confirm an Arnold-specific tiny-home occupancy provision; ask how the proposed unit will be classified and which district standards apply.13 Nebraska’s park-model RV classification describes temporary recreational or seasonal quarters, not a permanent dwelling approval.24

Building a home in the Village of Arnold: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the village Zoning Administrator to identify the parcel’s official zoning district and review the proposed residential use.7
  2. Prepare scaled plans showing lot dimensions, existing and proposed structures, their locations and dimensions, uses, easements and other required information.1
  3. Resolve public-sewer availability with the village Superintendent; where private sewage disposal is allowed, obtain the municipal written permit and meet statewide onsite requirements.546
  4. Pay applicable fees and obtain the zoning permit before construction or structural changes.171
  5. Arrange private-sewage final inspection before burying underground work and obtain the zoning-compliance certificate before qualifying use or occupancy.203

What should you check before buying land in the Village of Arnold?

Confirm that the parcel falls under Arnold’s village zoning rather than county jurisdiction; municipal jurisdiction displaces county zoning, and the Custer County guide addresses land outside village jurisdiction.18 For an AG-district home, the lot must front on or have access to an eligible public roadway; access solely by a minimum-maintenance road requires improvements to county road standards before county acceptance for maintenance.25

We could not confirm Arnold’s specific floodplain-development procedure or private-well approval process; ask the village office to identify the responsible offices before committing to a site plan.16 Nebraska’s statewide floodplain guidance requires approval for floodplain development, so resolve flood exposure before construction.26

Watch-outs

  • Arnold’s R-district absence of a minimum lot area does not remove frontage, yard, parking or buildable-area requirements.11
  • Arnold’s zoning-compliance certificate is required before qualifying use or occupancy, not just before construction.3
  • The village’s private-sewage permit supplements Nebraska’s onsite-wastewater requirements.46

Sources

  1. § 153.148 Zoning Permits Required (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 153: Zoning (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  3. § 153.149 Certificate of Zoning Compliance (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  4. §§ 53.025–53.029 Private Sewage Disposal (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  5. codelibrary.amlegal.com (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  6. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 153: Zoning (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  8. § 153.082 Temporary Uses (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 153.044 R, Residential District (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  10. § 153.044 R, Residential District (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  11. § 153.044 R, Residential District (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  12. § 153.043 AG, Agricultural District (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Arnold Zoning Administrator (arnoldne.org)
  14. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403: State building code; adopted; amendments (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Village of Arnold Clerk’s Office (arnoldne.org)
  17. § 153.151 Schedule of Fees and Charges (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  18. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. § 153.043 AG, Agricultural District (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  20. § 53.026 Permit Required (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  21. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  23. Village of Arnold Superintendent (arnoldne.org)
  24. Housing and Recreational Vehicle (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. § 153.043 AG, Agricultural District (Village of Arnold), quoted and re-checked
  26. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 12, 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 Village of Arnold

Village of Arnold’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of a building or premises inside Arnold village after creation, erection, change, conversion, alteration or enlargement of use.

    • The certificate is a certificate of zoning compliance issued by the Zoning Administrator.
    • The certificate must conform to Chapter 153 unless a variance is authorized.
    • A nonconforming use generally cannot receive a certificate except when converted to a permitted or authorized nonconforming use.
    • Deferred landscaping is available for requests made between November 1 and April 30 if the stated landscaping-plan conditions are met.
    “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises [...] until a certificate of zoning compliance shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Arnold village; the village code contains Chapter 153, Zoning, and establishes village zoning districts.

    • The code is hosted by American Legal Publishing and states that it contains state legislation through October 1, 2025; the code disclaimer advises consulting the official printed copy.
    “153.036 Zoning Districts created [...] 153.043 AG, Agricultural District [...] 153.044 R, Residential District [...] 153.148 Zoning permits required [...] 153.149 Certificate of zoning compliance (occupancy permit)”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Arnold village.

    • The code lists AG, R, C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2 and WPO districts and provides for an official zoning map.
    • The applicable district for a parcel must be determined from the official zoning map.
    “153.036 Zoning Districts created [...] 153.037 Official zoning map [...] 153.043 AG, Agricultural District [...] 153.044 R, Residential District”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R, Residential District inside Arnold village.

    • The dwelling must also contain at least a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living/dining space and laundry.

    minimum living/livable floor area: >= 900 square feet

    “Single-family, detached and attached (zero-lot line) dwellings all having 900 square feet minimum living/livable floor area”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings, manufactured homes and modular homes in the AG, Agricultural District inside Arnold village.

    • If state soil-percolation or maximum-slope standards are not met, the code states that a minimum three-acre area shall be required for proper septic-system sizing and location.
    • Conditional uses must be at least two acres.

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres (Three-acre area may be required under the stated state soil-percolation/slope condition.) · minimum lot area for conditional uses: >= 2 acres

    “The minimum lot area for a single-family dwelling unit, manufactured home or modular home shall be five acres”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • None — Principal permitted uses in the R, Residential District inside Arnold village.
      “The minimum lot area for uses listed in division (B) above shall be unrestricted”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in the AG, Agricultural District inside Arnold village.

    • Covered area includes buildings, structures, decks, patios, accessory buildings, driveways and parking areas.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

    “The maximum area of any lot, which is occupied by buildings, structures, decks, patios, accessory buildings, driveways and parking areas shall not exceed 50% of the lot area.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Structures and buildings in the R, Residential District inside Arnold village.

    • The code contains separate height exceptions in § 153.064.

    maximum height: <= 40 feet (Height exceptions may apply under § 153.064.)

    “The maximum height for any structure or building shall be 40 feet.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary uses and camping-related uses inside Arnold village; agricultural-district recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds are conditional uses, while other temporary uses are subject to district rules and time limits.

    • Temporary uses customary and commonly associated with allowed primary uses are conditional.
    • Other temporary uses have a 60-day limit.
    • The AG district lists recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds as conditional uses subject to conditional-use procedures.
    • The code does not establish unrestricted private camping.

    other customary temporary use limit: 60 days

    “Other temporary uses customary to and commonly associated with the primary uses permitted in each zoning district | 60 days”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes in the AG, Agricultural District inside Arnold village.

    • The home must meet the code definition and performance standards for manufactured homes.
    • The use requires a building/zoning permit and/or certificate of zoning compliance.
    • The lot must meet the AG district's five-acre minimum and dimensional requirements.

    minimum lot area: >= 5 acres (A three-acre area may be required if state soil-percolation or slope standards are not met, as stated in the code.)

    “Single-family residential dwellings, including manufactured homes meeting the definition for such homes and the performance standards for such homes as are defined in § 153.004”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Manufactured homes in the R, Residential District inside Arnold village.
      “Manufactured homes, which must meet 1,200 square feet minimum floor area”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction of a private sewage-disposal system inside Arnold village when public sewer is unavailable.

    • A written permit signed by the Village Superintendent is required before construction.
    • The application is by written letter to the municipality and may require plans, specifications and other information.
    • The permit and inspection fee is $10.
    • No permit is issued for subsurface soil-absorption facilities on a lot smaller than 1,250 square feet.
    • State Department of Health and Human Services recommendations and additional health-officer requirements apply.

    permit and inspection fee: 10 USD · minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption: < 1250 square feet (No permit shall be issued where the lot area is less than this amount.)

    “Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Superintendent.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage-disposal construction inside Arnold village.

    • The Superintendent may inspect at any stage.
    • The applicant must notify the Superintendent for final inspection before underground portions are covered.
    • Inspection must be made within 24 hours after notice.

    inspection response time: 24 hours

    “The inspection shall be made within 24 hours of the receipt of notice by the Superintendent.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal inside Arnold village only where public sewer is unavailable under § 53.013.

    • Septic tanks, cesspools and similar facilities are prohibited except as provided in the private-sewage-disposal subchapter.
    • A written municipal permit, inspection, state-health recommendations and any additional health-officer requirements apply.
    “Where a public sanitary or combined sewer is not available under the provisions of § 53.013, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this subchapter.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Single-family dwellings and manufactured homes in the AG, Agricultural District inside Arnold village.

    • The lot must front on or have access to an existing public village, county or state roadway other than a county-classified minimum-maintenance road.
    • If access is only by a minimum-maintenance road, the owner must improve the road or connecting portion to county road standards before county acceptance for maintenance.
    • This claim concerns zoning access requirements, not a separate driveway-construction permit.
    “The lot on which such dwelling unit is to be located shall front on or have access to an existing public village, county or state roadway other than a roadway, classified by the County Board of Commissioners, as a minimum maintenance road”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning permits, certificates of zoning compliance, rezoning, conditional-use and variance applications inside Arnold village.

    • The fee schedule is posted in the Zoning Administrator's office.
    • Fees may be amended only by Village Board action.
    • No action is taken on a permit or certificate until all applicable fees are paid.
    • The reviewed provision does not state the fee amounts.
    “A schedule of fees and charges shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Administrator”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning-permit process for structures inside Arnold village.

    • A zoning permit is required before erection, movement, addition, expansion or structural alteration.
    • Applications must include scaled plans showing lot dimensions, existing and proposed structures, locations and dimensions, proposed uses, number of families or rental units, conditions, easements and other information required by the Zoning Administrator.
    • The permit must conform to Chapter 153 unless a variance is granted.
    • The reviewed material did not establish the full building-permit process.
    “No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, expanded or structurally altered without a zoning permit authorizing such activity issued by the Zoning Administrator.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Arnold or Custer County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Arnold village.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Arnold village.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Arnold village.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Arnold village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Arnold village.
5 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Village of Arnold publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Custer County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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