Bolthole Index

Dodge County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Fremont, Nebraska

Fremont, Nebraska requires a city building permit for home construction and regulated alterations.1 Fremont sets its own zoning inside city limits in Dodge County.2 Septic work requires a Fremont septic-system permit as well as compliance with Nebraska’s statewide wastewater requirements.34 Living in a trailer on an ordinary private lot outside an approved trailer camp is prohibited, subject to specified exceptions.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required through the City of Fremont1
Zoning
City Unified Development Code; standards vary by district267
Septic permits
City permit plus separate statewide requirements84
RV living
Prohibited on ordinary private lots outside approved trailer camps; specified exceptions apply5
Accessory dwellings
Conditional; detached units capped at 800 square feet9
Owner-builder
Resident homeowners may do their own work; building permits still required10

Who to call

Building permits

Fremont Building Permits/Inspections

City building inspections and applications for building, septic, floodplain, sidewalk/approach and water/sewer work

402.727.2636

[email protected]

400 E Military Ave 2nd Floor Fremont , NE 68025

Zoning

Fremont Planning & Development

City zoning, subdivision and site development review

402-459-2225

400 E Military Ave 3rd Floor Fremont , NE 68025

Septic permits

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

State onsite wastewater requirements, registration and professional certification

(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 Fremont means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Fremont, NE?

Fremont requires an application to the building official and the required building permit before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or a change of occupancy.1 Regulated electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work also falls under the city’s permit requirement.1 Painting, tiling, carpeting and certain small free-standing decks are examples the city lists as exempt work; ask Building Permits/Inspections about the exact scope of a proposed project.1

Fremont homeowners who reside in a house can perform their own work, but building permits are still required.10 Nebraska’s own-property contractor-registration exemption does not waive applicable building permits, inspections or local approvals.11

Who issues building permits and schedules inspections in Fremont?

Fremont Building Permits/Inspections is the city counter for building work; the city publishes separate applications for septic systems, floodplain development, water/sewer work and other project types.12 Contact Building Permits/Inspections at 402.727.2636 or [email protected].13 Fremont Planning & Development handles zoning, subdivision and site development regulations; call 402-459-2225 to discuss the parcel’s zoning and proposed use.14

Fremont work requiring a building permit is subject to inspection and must remain accessible and exposed until approved.15 The inspection hotline is 402.727.2657.13 Inspection requests need the permit number, address, inspection type, desired date and time, and special instructions, so keep the approved project information available when scheduling.15

Does Fremont have zoning, minimum lot sizes and setbacks?

Fremont’s Unified Development Code establishes city zoning districts.2 For single-family detached use in R-1 Low Density Residential, the minimum lot is 8,000 square feet with 55 feet of width.7 R-1 minimum setbacks for that use are 25 feet front, 15 feet street-side, 7 feet interior-side and 20 feet rear.16

Fremont’s R-A Acreage Residential district instead requires at least 3 acres and 250 feet of lot width.6 R-A minimum setbacks are 100 feet front and street-side, 15 feet interior-side and 50 feet rear.17 R-A caps building coverage at 5% and impervious surface coverage at 10%, so acreage alone does not establish how much of a site can be developed.18 Ask Fremont Planning & Development to identify the applicable district before drawing the house footprint.14

How do septic permits work inside Fremont?

Fremont’s Building Department administers a city septic-system permit for onsite septic work inside city limits.8 The city application covers full systems, septic fields and septic tanks, requires a perk test result, and requires detailed drawings for review before permit issuance.3 Fremont septic inspections must be requested as outlined on the permit card.19

Nebraska’s Onsite Wastewater Program requirements apply separately from city requirements: systems constructed, reconstructed, altered or otherwise changed must be registered with the state, and systems with specified size, waste or siting issues require site-specific permitting.20 In Fremont’s R-L Lake and River Residential district, new development may use City sewer, private sewer or septic/holding tanks, but the septic option depends on adequate lot size and separation from wells.21 Ask the city about the parcel’s sewer option before treating septic as an available alternative.21

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Fremont?

Fremont prohibits parking or occupying a trailer on an occupied dwelling’s premises or another private lot outside an approved trailer camp, subject to the ordinance’s specified exceptions.5 The allowance for an unoccupied trailer in an accessory garage or rear yard does not allow maintaining living quarters in the stored trailer.5

A small permanent accessory dwelling has a different path where Fremont’s zoning permits that use: detached accessory dwellings are capped at 800 square feet and require a permanent foundation, dedicated parking and similar architectural features.9 The principal or accessory dwelling must be the owner’s primary residence.9 We could not confirm a general Fremont tiny-home occupancy rule or minimum dwelling floor area; ask Planning & Development about the proposed unit and Building Permits/Inspections about construction approval.1413

Building a home in Fremont: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Ask Fremont Planning & Development to confirm the zoning district and proposed use before committing to a house layout; the city administers zoning and site development regulations.14
  2. Plan the driveway with the parcel’s street classification in mind: Fremont single-family, duplex and rowhouse uses may not take access from collector or arterial streets.22
  3. Establish the wastewater route; Fremont’s city septic permit requires drawings and a perk test result, while state wastewater requirements apply separately.34
  4. Submit the Fremont building application with the work description, land identification, use and occupancy, construction documents, valuation and signature.12
  5. Schedule city inspections and leave permitted work accessible and exposed until approved.15

What should you check before buying land in Fremont?

Confirm the municipal boundary and responsible zoning office with Fremont Planning & Development; Nebraska county zoning authority excludes incorporated cities and areas where a city exercises granted zoning jurisdiction.1423 For land outside Fremont’s jurisdiction, use the Dodge County guide for the county building and zoning answer.24

Nebraska requires a floodplain development permit for development in a floodplain, including additions, construction, filling and grading; Fremont publishes a floodplain application through Building Permits/Inspections.2513 Ask that office about floodplain review before planning site work.13 We could not confirm the private-well approval requirements inside Fremont; ask the city building office about the proposed water supply.13 We also could not confirm a general city agricultural exemption, so ask Fremont Planning & Development and Building Permits/Inspections before assuming a farm building avoids city review.1413

Watch-outs

  • Fremont’s city septic permit is separate from Nebraska wastewater registration and other statewide requirements.820
  • An unoccupied trailer storage allowance in Fremont does not authorize living in the stored trailer.5
  • Fremont’s R-A acreage rules and R-1 single-family detached rules have different lot sizes and setbacks; identify the district before designing a home.671716

Sources

  1. Permits & Inspections (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  2. Planning & Development (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic System Permit Application (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 10-803. Trailer camps; location of trailers outside of camps (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  6. Ordinance No. 5730 — Unified Development Code (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  7. fremontne.gov (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  8. Septic System Permit Application (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  9. fremontne.gov (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Permits & Inspections Department (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  11. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Permits & Inspections (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  13. Fremont Building Permits/Inspections (fremontne.gov)
  14. Fremont Planning & Development (fremontne.gov)
  15. Permits & Inspections (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  16. fremontne.gov (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  17. fremontne.gov (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  18. Ordinance No. 5730 — Unified Development Code (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  19. Septic System Permit Application (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  20. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Ordinance No. 5730 — Unified Development Code (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  22. fremontne.gov (Fremont), quoted and re-checked
  23. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6406 — County, city, or village; building code; adopt; amend; enforce; copy; fees (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Fremont

Fremont’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work inside Fremont city limits.

    • Painting, tiling, carpeting, and certain small free-standing decks are listed by the City as examples of work not requiring a permit.
    “Anyone intending to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by codes and ordinances of the City, or to cause any such work to be done, must first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Homeowners residing in a house inside Fremont city limits who perform their own work.

    • Permits are still required.
    • The City page states that contractors doing work for hire must be registered.
    “Homeowners who reside in a house can do their own work, but permits are still required.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building work inside Fremont city limits.

    • The City also adopted local amendments, including Ordinance 5579.
    “The Ordinance adopted various building code editions, appendices and reference standards, provided for local amendments, and established licensing and examination requirements for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing contractors, and onsite wastewater treatment professionals.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or work for which a Fremont permit is required.

    • The work must remain accessible and exposed until approved.
    • Inspection requests require the permit number, address, inspection type, desired date and time, and special instructions.
    “Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work must remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Fremont city limits.

    • The City adopted Ordinance No. 5730, a Unified Development Code, effective December 10, 2025.
    “The Zoning Districts set forth below are hereby established.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached use in the R-1 Low Density Residential District.

    • R-1 duplex/attached single-family lots use separate standards and the duplex/attached single-family minimum is 5,000 square feet per unit.

    minimum lot area: >= 8000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 55 ft

    “Lot Area (sq ft) 8,000 5,000 [2] 10,000 Lot Width (ft) 55 35 [2] 50”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family detached use in the R-1 Low Density Residential District.

    • Front, street-side, interior-side, and rear setbacks are minimums.

    front setback: >= 25 ft · street-side setback: >= 15 ft · interior-side setback: >= 7 ft · rear setback: >= 20 ft

    “Front (ft) 25 25 25 Street Side (ft) 15 15 15 Interior Side (ft) 7 10 [3] 10 Rear (ft) 20 20 20”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — All uses in the R-A Acreage Residential District.
      “Front (ft) 100 Street Side (ft) 100 Interior Side (ft) 15 Rear (ft) 50”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single-family detached use in the R-1 Low Density Residential District.

    • The table separately limits building coverage and impervious surface coverage.

    building coverage: <= 45 percent · impervious surface coverage: <= 55 percent

    “Building Coverage 45 45% 40% Impervious Surface Coverage 55% 55% 60%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    All uses in the R-A Acreage Residential District.

    • The R-A table lists height as a maximum.

    maximum building height: <= 35 ft

    “Building Standards (Maximum) Height (ft) 35 Building Coverage 5% Impervious Surface Coverage 10%”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Parking or occupying trailers and motor homes on private land inside Fremont city limits outside an approved trailer camp.

    • One unoccupied trailer may be stored in an accessory private garage or rear yard.
    • A trailer coach or motor home may park on a residence front driveway from April 1 through November 1 if it does not create a safety hazard.
    • Temporary stopping or parking on streets is limited to one and one-half hours, or four hours in specified circumstances.
    • Approved trailer camps and specified temporary business or school uses are exceptions.
    “No person shall park or occupy any trailer on the premises of any occupied dwelling, or on any lot which is not a part of the premises of any occupied dwelling, either of which is situated outside an approved trailer camp, except, the parking of only one (1) unoccupied trailer in an accessory private garage building or in a rear yard in any district is permitted; provided, that no living quarters shall be maintained or any business practiced in such trailer while such trailer is so parked or stored;”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Detached or attached accessory dwellings where the UDC permits them inside Fremont city limits.

    • A detached accessory dwelling is limited to 800 square feet.
    • A standalone detached accessory dwelling is limited to 16 feet or the principal dwelling height, whichever is less.
    • A detached or attached accessory dwelling requires at least one dedicated parking space, similar architectural features, and a permanent foundation.
    • The principal dwelling or accessory dwelling must be the property owner's primary residence.
    • In the WP-O District, the dwelling must be within city limits and connected to City water and sewer.

    maximum detached accessory dwelling size: <= 800 sq ft · maximum standalone detached accessory dwelling height: <= 16 ft (or the height of the principal dwelling, whichever is less)

    “The maximum size of a detached accessory dwelling shall be eight hundred (800) square feet.”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    Onsite septic work inside Fremont city limits.

    • The City Building Department administers a City septic-system permit and requires review before issuance.
    “SEPTIC SYSTEM PERMIT APPLICATION 400 East Military Ave Fremont NE 68025 402-727-2636 402-727-2659 Fax www.fremontne.gov [email protected]”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Full septic systems, septic fields, and septic tanks inside Fremont city limits.

    • The application requires a completed perk test result or states that the result must be included.
    • Detailed drawings are reviewed before a permit is issued.
    “You must provide detailed drawings of what is being done and it will be reviewed before a permit is issued.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic work performed under a Fremont septic permit.

    • The permit application states inspections must be requested as outlined on the permit card.
    “All work will be performed in compliance with all codes and ordinances of the City of Fremont, and inspections requested as outlined on the front side of the yellow permit card.”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    New development in the R-L Lake and River Residential District.

    • A private sewer system or septic/holding tank is allowed as alternatives to City sewer.
    • For septic or holding tanks, the lot must be adequate and meet the distance-from-wells requirement.
    “New R-L Districts must be connected to City sewer, a private sewer system, or have a septic/holding tank if the lot size is adequate for septic system and distance from wells”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New development in Fremont's R-L Lake and River Residential District.

    • New R-L development may use City sewer, a private sewer system, or a septic/holding tank only if the lot is adequate for the septic system and the required well separation distance is met.
    “New R-L Districts must be connected to City sewer, a private sewer system, or have a septic/holding tank if the lot size is adequate for septic system and distance from wells”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision, platting, or replatting of land inside Fremont city limits.

    • The City publishes administrative subdivision, preliminary plat, final plat, amending plat, replat, and subdivision improvement applications.
    “As part of a comprehensive rewrite of the City's zoning and subdivision ordinances, Ordinance No. 5427, adopted November 28, 2017, also repealed and replaced the previous subdivision ordinance, incorporating subdivision regulations into FMC, Chapter 11.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Single-family detached, duplex, and rowhome uses inside Fremont city limits.

    • A single slab or ribbon driveway and one curb cut are permitted per 70 feet of single-family residential frontage.
    • Single-family, duplex, and rowhouse uses may not take access from collector or arterial streets.
    • Other residential parcels accessing collector or arterial streets must share driveways.
    • A paved-street driveway must conform to City Engineer requirements and City Council approval.

    maximum curb cuts per 70 feet of frontage: 1 curb cut (single-family residential lot) · maximum single-slab driveway width: <= 32 ft (at property line) · minimum garage access drive length: >= 20 ft (from garage doors to property line)

    “A single slab or ribbon driveway from the property line to legal, off-street parking shall be provided and shall be in conformance with the following criteria.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building, zoning, subdivision, site-development, floodplain, septic, water, and sewer permit processes inside Fremont city limits.

    • Building permit applications must identify the work, land, use and occupancy, construction documents, valuation, signature, and other requested information.
    • The City publishes separate applications for zoning, subdivision, site development, floodplain, septic, and water/sewer work.
    “To obtain a permit, an applicant must first file an application with the building official. Such application must include:”

Still unanswered

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

  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling units inside Fremont city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Fremont city limits.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Fremont city limits.
  • Well permit — Private water wells inside Fremont city limits.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or agricultural uses inside Fremont city limits.
1 more unanswered
  • 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 Fremont publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Dodge County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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