Bolthole Index

Dawson County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Lexington, Nebraska

Lexington, Nebraska requires a residential construction application through the city Building Department, and the city administers zoning.12 Inside Lexington in Dawson County, private sewage disposal is subject to city approval and state wastewater requirements; qualifying properties must connect to public sewer.345

At a glance

Building permits
City residential application and plans required1
Zoning
City zoning; floodplain overlays add standards2
Septic
City private-system approval plus state requirements34
Public sewer
Connection required when the sewer rule applies5
Electrical permits
Nebraska State Electrical Division, per city residential instructions1
Owner-builder
Own-property contractor-registration exemption; city permit exemption unconfirmed6

Who to call

Building permits

Lexington Building Department

Residential building applications, plan review and zoning questions; ask the city to route floodplain and private-sewage questions.

308-324-2341

PO Box 70, Lexington, NE 68850

Septic permits

Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment - Onsite Wastewater Program

Statewide onsite wastewater standards, professional certification, subdivision review and permits for systems requiring site-specific evaluation

(402) 471-4285

[email protected]

245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68521

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Lexington, NE?

Lexington’s residential construction instructions require a permit application and detailed plans, including a floor plan.1 The city’s instructions cover remodels, additions, attached garages, attached roofs and decks as well as new residential construction.1 Ask the Lexington Building Department to identify the application and inspection requirements for your specific project before work begins.1 Lexington building-department permit fees are set by city council resolution, with the fee schedule available for public inspection at the department.7 Nebraska’s own-property contractor-registration exemption does not establish an exemption from Lexington building permits or inspections.6

Who handles building applications and inspections in Lexington?

Start with the Lexington Building Department using the city’s residential application; the application lists the department’s phone and mailing address.1 Lexington’s residential instructions direct electrical permits to the Nebraska State Electrical Division and say a certificate of occupancy will not be issued until the state electrical inspector completes a final inspection.1 Ask the city which additional final inspections your project needs.1 Driveway, curb-cut, sidewalk and related work on public streets and alleys requires a permit from the city building official and plans, so include access work in your initial conversation.8

Does Lexington have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs and tiny homes?

Lexington administers zoning inside city limits, and floodplain overlay standards apply in addition to the underlying zoning district’s standards.2 Lexington’s floodplain districts include the FW Floodway Overlay District and FF Flood Fringe Overlay District; those overlays do not replace the underlying district.9 Ask the Lexington Building Department to confirm the parcel’s district and whether your proposed home fits the applicable setbacks before designing the site plan.1 We could not confirm Lexington’s rules for living in an RV, tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwelling units; ask the city about your intended dwelling and duration of occupancy before buying.

How do septic permits and sewer connections work inside Lexington?

Lexington requires public-sewer connection for covered buildings where a public sanitary sewer is in the abutting street, alley or right-of-way and within 100 feet of the property line; new buildings must connect at construction, while existing covered properties must connect within 90 days after official notice.5 Lexington will not issue a private sewage disposal permit where lot area or soil conditions are inadequate for the proposed use.3 Nebraska’s statewide wastewater requirements apply in addition to city requirements, and altered or newly constructed onsite systems must be registered with the state.410 Ask the city about sewer availability first, then contact the state Onsite Wastewater Program about any proposed private system.511

What are the steps to building a home in Lexington?

  1. Ask the Lexington Building Department to confirm zoning and whether the project fits the parcel’s setbacks.1
  2. Confirm sewer service before selecting a private wastewater system: Lexington requires connection when its public-sewer rule applies.5
  3. Prepare the residential application, floor plan and detailed measurements; ask the department what site and construction details to submit.1
  4. Resolve floodplain approval before development in covered floodplain areas; Lexington’s city manager or designated representative issues the floodplain development permit.12
  5. Arrange electrical permitting with the Nebraska State Electrical Division and confirm final inspection requirements with the city before occupancy.1

What should you check before buying land in Lexington?

Lexington’s floodplain chapter requires a development permit in covered mapped floodplain areas, with additional standards for construction, subdivisions, manufactured homes and utilities.12 The city’s residential instructions also require an elevation certificate in a high-hazard flood area.1 Lexington regulates subdivision and replatting, with an exemption when the smallest parcel created is more than 10 acres; that exemption is specific to the subdivision chapter.13 For land outside Lexington, use the Dawson County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area zoning answers.14 We could not confirm private-well requirements inside Lexington; ask the city before assuming a well can replace municipal water service.

Watch-outs

  • Lexington’s residential instructions assign electrical permits to the Nebraska State Electrical Division; confirm the current electrical process with the city before installation.1
  • A Lexington private sewage disposal system must be abandoned and filled when public sewer becomes available and the connection rule applies.5
  • We could not confirm Lexington’s RV occupancy rules; ask the Building Department about residential use of an RV, including during construction.1

Sources

  1. Lexington Building Department (info.cityoflex.com)
  2. Sec. 105-68. - Floodplain districts established (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  3. library.municode.com (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 28-311. - Use of public sewers required (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  6. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 103-20. - Building department permit fees (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 103-49. - Permit—Required (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  9. Sec. 105-68. - Floodplain districts established (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  10. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment - Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  12. Sec. 105-8. - Lands to which chapter applies (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  13. library.municode.com (Lexington), quoted and re-checked
  14. Dawson County Planning & Zoning (2026 county census)

Written October 11, 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 Lexington

Lexington’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Electrical installations and city-issued permits for construction, plumbing, electrical, signs, fences, and change of occupancy inside Lexington city.

    • Electrical permit exceptions include minor repairs such as repairing switches, replacing fuses, changing lamp sockets and receptacles, taping bare joints, and repairing drop cords.
    “No person shall install any electrical apparatus within the city without first obtaining a permit therefor from the electrical inspector except for minor repair work, such as repairing flash and snap switches, replacing fuses, changing lamp sockets and receptacles, taping bare joints and repairing drop cords.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Property maintenance and related building regulation inside Lexington city.

    • The cited adoption is the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code; the source does not establish adoption of every construction code.
    “International Property Maintenance Code, 2009 edition, is hereby adopted in its entirety as a code to provide certain minimum standards, provisions and requirements for safe and stable design, construction, uses of materials, and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Electrical installations requiring permits and property-maintenance compliance inspections inside Lexington city.

    • Property-maintenance inspections occur upon complaint and request by specified occupants or officials, or when the code official has reasonable cause to believe a violation exists.
    • Electrical apparatus requiring a permit cannot be used until inspected and approved.
    “No electric apparatus for the installation of which a permit is required by the provisions of this article shall be used until the same has been inspected and approved by the electrical inspector.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Lexington city's limits; the city administers zoning, including underlying zoning districts referenced by its floodplain zoning chapter.

    • Floodplain overlay standards apply in addition to underlying zoning standards where applicable.
    “Within these districts, all uses not meeting the standards of this chapter and those standards of the underlying zoning district shall be prohibited.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Lexington city's zoning system, including the FW Floodway Overlay District and FF Flood Fringe Overlay District and their relationship to underlying zoning districts.

    • The cited districts are floodplain overlay districts; underlying zoning districts remain relevant.
    • The source does not provide the complete citywide zoning-district schedule.
    “the mapped floodplain areas are hereby divided into the two following districts: the FW Floodway Overlay District and the FF Flood Fringe Overlay District as identified in the flood insurance study and accompanying maps.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Lexington city; the city code regulates permits and requires compliance with state health recommendations.

    • The city code states that private-system type, capacity, location, and layout must comply with recommendations of the state department of health.
    “The type, capacities, location and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the state department of health. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system when there is insufficient lot area or improper soil conditions for adequate sewage disposal for the building or land use proposed.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal, septic tanks, cesspools, and similar systems inside Lexington city.

    • Private systems are subject to permit limitations, lot-area and soil conditions, state health recommendations, and mandatory public-sewer connection when the sewer rule applies.
    • Except as provided in the private sewage disposal provisions, construction or maintenance of a privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other sewage-disposal facility is unlawful.
    “The type, capacities, location and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all recommendations of the state department of health. No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system when there is insufficient lot area or improper soil conditions for adequate sewage disposal for the building or land use proposed.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings inside Lexington city where a public sanitary sewer is located in the abutting street, alley, or right-of-way and is within 100 feet of the property line.

    • Existing properties must connect within 90 days after official notice when the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.
    • Every building hereafter erected must connect at the time of construction.
    • When public sewer becomes available to a property served by private disposal, direct connection is required and the private system must be abandoned and filled.

    public sewer distance from property line: <= 100 feet · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days (For existing houses, buildings, or properties covered by the rule) · connection deadline for new buildings: at construction

    “within 90 days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that a public sewer is within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of the property line.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision or replatting of land inside Lexington city's jurisdiction.

    • The chapter applies to division into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels for sale or development, immediate or future.
    • Division where the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres is exempt from this chapter.

    exempt smallest parcel threshold: > 10 acres (The chapter otherwise applies to subdivision and replatting)

    “The regulations contained herein shall apply to the subdivision of a lot, tract, parcel of land into two or more lots, tracts, or other division of land for the purpose of sale or development, whether immediate or future, including the subdivision or replatting of land or lots, except that the division of land when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres in area shall be exempt from this chapter.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development on lands inside Lexington city's zoning jurisdiction mapped in numbered or unnumbered A zones or FW and FF floodplain districts.

    • No development is permitted in covered areas without a floodplain development permit issued by the city manager or designated representative.
    • Additional standards apply to construction, subdivisions, manufactured homes, utilities, sanitary facilities, and floodproofing.
    • The cited FIRM date is May 3, 2011.
    “In all areas covered by this chapter no development shall be permitted except upon the issuance of a floodplain permit to develop, granted by the city manager or his duly designated representative under such safeguards and restrictions as the city manager or the designated representative may reasonably impose for the promotion and maintenance of the general welfare, health of the inhabitants of the community and where specifically noted in article III of this chapter.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    City building-department permits inside Lexington city.

    • Fees are set by city council resolution.
    • The fee schedule is maintained in the city building department for public inspection.
    • For qualifying nonresidential construction under continuous supervision of qualified architects or engineers, the city manager may negotiate the fee based on actual inspection functions.
    “The permit fees shall be set by resolution of the city council and shall be on file in the city building department for public inspection at any reasonable time; provided that for nonresidential construction which shall be subject to continuous supervision of qualified architects or engineers, the city manager shall be authorized to negotiate the permit fee based upon actual inspection functions to be performed by the city.”
  • Permit processPartial

    City building, electrical, and driveway-related permits inside Lexington city.

    • Electrical permits are obtained from the electrical inspector before installation, except listed minor repairs.
    • Driveway, curb-cut, sidewalk, and related public-street work requires a permit from the city building official and plans.
    • Permit fees are set by resolution and available for public inspection in the building department.
    “No person shall begin to construct, reconstruct, repair, alter or grade any sidewalk, curb, curb cut, driveway or street on the public streets and alleys, without first obtaining a permit from the city building official, and providing plans therefor.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from construction permits inside Lexington city.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate-of-occupancy requirements for buildings inside Lexington city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Lexington city by residential zoning district.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Lexington city by residential or agricultural zoning district.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks inside Lexington city by zoning district.
8 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Lexington publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Dawson County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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