Bolthole Index

Howard County, Nebraska

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

45Index Score / 100
#53 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Howard County, Nebraska requires building and zoning permits through the county before construction1. Howard County administers zoning, while Nebraska's Onsite Wastewater Program regulates septic systems and reserves permits for systems requiring site-specific evaluation234. The county office also handles floodplain development permits5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required through Howard County before construction1
Zoning
Yes; the county administers zoning and publishes district maps26
Septic
State-administered; site-specific systems may require a state permit34
RV living
Private-land occupancy was not confirmed; ask county Planning and Zoning2
Tiny home
No specific occupancy or minimum-size rule was confirmed; county zoning applies2
Owner-builder
Exempt from state contractor registration on one's own property, but not from permits71
Floodplain work
County floodplain development permit required for projects in the floodplain5
Conventional septic soils
18.8% of mapped soils lack severe drain-field limitations8

Who to call

Building permits

Howard County Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department

Howard County zoning permits, variances, conditional uses, rezoning, subdivision matters and floodplain development permits

(308) 754-9121

[email protected]

612 Indian St. #2, St. Paul, NE 68873

Septic permits

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

Nebraska onsite-wastewater rules, professional certification, system registration, subdivision review and site-specific permits

(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 September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Howard County, Nebraska?

Yes. Howard County requires building and zoning permits to be obtained through the county before construction1. The county's published materials confirm that Planning and Zoning issues zoning permits, but the county's formal building-code adoption status and a general building-inspection program were not confirmed9. Nebraska has a state building code subject to rules about local adoption and an exception for construction on a farm or for farm purposes10. An owner may work or have work performed on the owner's property without being treated as a contractor under the state Contractor Registration Act, but that exemption does not remove county permits, codes or other approvals71.

Who handles Howard County building permits and zoning?

Howard County's Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department is the first local stop for building and zoning approval19. Call (308) 754-9121, email [email protected], or visit 612 Indian St. #2 in St. Paul9. The department receives, reviews and issues zoning permits and processes variances, conditional uses, rezoning and subdivision matters9. The same appointed administrator serves as the County Floodplain Administrator and reviews floodplain development permits9. Before commissioning plans, ask the department to confirm the parcel's jurisdiction and district, the correct application, the current fee, applicable building-code requirements, and every inspection or final approval the project will need9.

Does Howard County have zoning?

Yes. Howard County administers zoning regulations and uses its Comprehensive Plan as a guide to future development11. The county publishes an Official Zoning Map and separate zoning maps for Boelus, Cotesfield, Cushing, Dannebrog, Elba, Farwell and St. Libory, so the correct district depends on the parcel location6. Nebraska county zoning authority generally applies outside incorporated cities and villages and outside areas where a city or village is exercising granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction12. In the county's A-1, A-2 and A-3 districts, residential and farm side yards are 10 feet, rear yards are 40 feet, and residential structures must be 25 feet from another residential structure; other setbacks vary by use and district13.

How do septic permits work in Howard County?

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment's Onsite Wastewater Program administers septic rules in Howard County3. Contact the program at (402) 471-4285 or [email protected]14. Nebraska reserves site-specific permits for systems affected by large size, non-domestic wastewater or siting issues; other systems remain subject to state design, registration and authorization requirements4. A dwelling or non-dwelling generating wastewater must use a compliant onsite system or connect to public sewer or other wastewater works15. Howard County's setback sheet places a leach field 25 feet from a property line and a well 100 feet from the leach field13. Only 18.8% of mapped county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so evaluate the septic area before fixing the home site8.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Howard County?

We could not confirm a Howard County rule that specifically allows or prohibits long-term RV occupancy on private land, temporary camping on private land or tiny-home occupancy. Howard County has zoning, so ask Planning and Zoning how the parcel's district classifies an RV, a tiny house on wheels or a small foundation-built dwelling before buying or placing one29. Nebraska's public-property camping rule addresses designated campsites on highways, roadside areas, parks and similar public property; it does not answer private-land occupancy16. Nebraska law permits a county board to impose a 900-square-foot minimum on manufactured homes, but that authority is discretionary and does not establish a minimum for every Howard County dwelling17.

Building a home in Howard County: the steps in order

  1. Ask Howard County Planning, Zoning and Floodplain to identify the parcel's jurisdiction, zoning district and permitted residential use69.
  1. Confirm the required setbacks and lay out the home, well and leach field without assuming one standard fits every district13.
  1. Obtain the county building and zoning permits before construction, and ask which building code and inspections apply19.
  1. Have a state-certified onsite professional determine the compliant septic design, registration path and whether site-specific state permitting is needed184.
  1. If the site is in a floodplain, obtain the county floodplain development permit5.
  1. If access connects to a state highway, obtain the separate state permit before constructing, relocating or altering the driveway19.

What should you check before buying land in Howard County?

Confirm zoning jurisdiction, the mapped district, allowed use, setbacks, floodplain status, legal access, water and wastewater feasibility before closing65. Test the proposed septic area early because only 18.8% of Howard County soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field8. A new, relocated or altered driveway onto a state highway needs a state permit19. Water planning deserves attention because Howard County averages 27.1 inches of precipitation annually and has experienced severe drought in 21.7% of years2021. For budgeting context, farmland averages about $4,372 per acre, the effective property-tax rate is about 1.1%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $2,314222324.

Watch-outs

  • Howard County issues zoning permits, but the county's formal building-code adoption status and a general building-inspection program were not confirmed; ask Planning and Zoning what applies before construction9.
  • Private-land RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy and a countywide minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed; obtain a parcel-specific answer from Howard County Planning and Zoning29.
  • Floodplain development needs a county permit, and access onto a state highway needs a separate state driveway permit519.

Sources

  1. Howard County, Nebraska - Planning and Zoning (2026 county census)
  2. Planning, Zoning and Floodplain – Howard County (2026 county census)
  3. Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  5. Planning, Zoning and Floodplain – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  6. Planning and Zoning Maps – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  7. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  9. Howard County Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department (howardcounty.ne.gov)
  10. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403: State building code; adopted; amendments (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Planning, Zoning and Floodplain – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  12. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Setbacks for Zoning Permit Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  14. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  15. Onsite Wastewater Program, quoted and re-checked
  16. Nebraska Revised Statute 39-312 — Camping; permitted; where; violation; penalty (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Nebraska Revised Statute 81-15,248 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Farmland value per acre (USDA census): Bolthole Index county data
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Howard County in Nebraska

45
County map
Howard County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Howard County scores

Seclusion69100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency21100% ev.
Admin Boringness47100% ev.
Durability39100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost67100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$292kTypical home
1.1%Property tax
$4,372Land / acre
27.1"Annual rain
21.7% of yrsSevere drought
12.2 / yr (+10.3)Mid-century 100°F days
23.7 daysMid-century dry spell
1.54" (+3.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.55×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,538Home insurance / yr
0.6% / yrInsurance growth
2.73%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
9,144People within 30 min
549,442People within 2 hr
7,643Radius comparison (15 mi)
11.5People / sq mi
0.4%Federal land
82.2%Land at 15% slope or less
18.8%Septic soil without severe limits
67,445 acWorkable land screen
6.1%Wooded land
11.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
50.1°FAvg temp

Scout Howard County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Howard County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Answers from the rulebook for Howard County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Howard County rules

  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Howard County zoning regulations.

    • The county administers zoning regulations through its Planning and Zoning Department.
    • Specific district, municipal, village, floodplain, and conditional-use rules may apply.
    “The Planning and Zoning Department is responsible for enforcing the Comprehensive Plan as a guide to the future and for administering zoning regulations to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the current and future residents of Howard County.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Howard County's published zoning-map materials and village zoning maps.

    • The county publishes an Official Zoning Map and separate zoning maps for listed villages.
    • The applicable district must be determined from the property location and zoning map.
    “Official Zoning Map [...] Boelus [...] Cotesfield [...] Cushing [...] Dannebrog [...] Elba [...] Farwell [...] St. Libory [...] Howard Co. Villages zoning Maps 11×17”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    County zoning districts A-1, A-2, and A-3, plus listed village districts and special situations.

    • Residential and farm side-yard setbacks are 10 feet from the property line in A-1, A-2, and A-3.
    • Front, intersection, rear, accessory-structure, railroad, grain-bin, septic, well, and utility-line requirements vary by use and district.
    • Village setbacks are separately listed for Cushing and other village districts.

    leach field setback: 25 feet (from property line) · well separation from leach field: 100 feet · residential side yard setback A-1/A-2/A-3: 10 feet (from property line) · rear yard setback A-1/A-2/A-3: 40 feet (measured from property line) · residential structure separation: 25 feet (to another residential structure)

    “Leach field – 25’ from property line Well has to be 100’ from the leach field”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development and construction within Howard County floodplain areas.

    • The County Floodplain Administrator reviews and issues floodplain development permits for projects within the floodplain.
    • River or creek-bed work requires a 404 permit or a letter stating one is unnecessary, together with a floodplain permit.
    • The zoning application states that an elevation certificate is needed if the structure is in the flood zone.
    “Reviews and issues floodplain development permits for projects within the floodplain;”
  • Building permitRequired

    Howard County's Planning, Zoning and Floodplain Department administers building and zoning permits, which must be applied for through the county before construction.

    Howard County, Nebraska - Planning and Zoning ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Nebraska rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property under Nebraska's Contractor Registration Act.

    • The exemption means the person is not a contractor for purposes of the Contractor Registration Act.
    • The exemption applies to work on the person's own property.
    • The statute separately states that a person earning less than five thousand dollars annually for construction services is also not a contractor for purposes of the Act.
    • The exemption does not exempt a contractor from withholding requirements under the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967.
    • This is a contractor-registration exemption and does not establish exemption from applicable building permits, inspections, building codes, electrical requirements, or other local or state approvals.

    annual construction-services earnings threshold: < 5000 USD (Separate statutory basis for not being a contractor under the Act; the own-property exemption has no stated dollar threshold.)

    “Any person who performs work or has work performed on his or her own property or any person who earns less than five thousand dollars annually for construction services is not a contractor for purposes of the Contractor Registration Act.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Nebraska's state building code, including state-owned or state-agency buildings and local jurisdictions as specified by Nebraska law.

    • The adopted code consists of the 2018 International Building Code with stated exceptions, the 2018 International Residential Code with stated exceptions, the 2018 International Existing Building Code with a stated exception, the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code, and minimum radon-resistant construction standards.
    • The state building code applies to all buildings and structures owned by the state or a state agency.
    • It applies in a county, city, or village that elects to adopt it as its local code.
    • It also applies in a county, city, or village that has not adopted an authorized local code within two years after an update to the state building code.
    • The default state-code rule does not apply to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.
    • A local jurisdiction may instead adopt a code that conforms generally with the state building code, subject to the requirements and exceptions in section 71-6406.

    International Building Code edition: 2018 (Except section 101.4.3 and chapter 29; section 305.2.3 applies to a facility having twelve or fewer children; section 310.4.1 applies to a care facility for twelve or fewer persons.) · International Residential Code edition: 2018 (Except section R313 and chapters 25 through 33.) · International Existing Building Code edition: 2018 (Except section 809.) · Uniform Plumbing Code edition: 2018 · local-code adoption deadline after state-code update: 2 years (If no authorized local code is adopted, the state building code applies, except to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.)

    “(1) There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference:”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes regulated under Nebraska county zoning authority.

    • The county board may impose the requirement; Nebraska law does not impose the 900-square-foot minimum on every dwelling statewide.
    • The manufactured home must bear an appropriate seal showing compliance with applicable manufactured-home, modular-housing, or HUD standards.
    • The county may require the same foundation, permanent utility-connection, setback, and minimum-square-footage standards applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot.
    • The statute also permits requirements for at least eighteen feet of exterior width, specified roof pitch, comparable exterior materials, nonreflective roof material, and removal of wheels, axles, transporting lights, and removable towing apparatus.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet (Manufactured homes; requirement is discretionary with the county board.)

    “The county board may also require that manufactured homes meet the following standards: (i) The home shall have no less than nine hundred square feet of floor area;”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping on state or county public highways, roadside areas, parks, and other property acquired for highway or roadside park purposes in Nebraska.

    • Camping is unlawful except at places designated as campsites by the Department of Transportation, the county, or another governmental entity owning or controlling the property.
    • The statute excludes certain lands transferred or leased to the Game and Parks Commission and other lands controlled by the Game and Parks Commission or a natural resources district, which are governed under separate statutes.
    • Camping includes temporary lodging out of doors in a sleeping bag, tent, trailer, station wagon, pickup camper, camper-bus, or other vehicle.
    • Violation is a Class V misdemeanor and may require reimbursement for campsite damage.

    penalty: Class V misdemeanor

    “It shall be unlawful to camp on any state or county public highway, roadside area, park, [...] except at such places as are designated campsites”
  • Who permits septicState

    Onsite wastewater systems in Howard County and statewide Nebraska.

    • The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers the state onsite-wastewater rules.
    • Systems must comply with state requirements or connect to public sewer or other wastewater works.
    “The Nebraska Onsite Wastewater Program administers regulations meant to protect surface water and groundwater as well as public health and welfare through the use of standardized design requirements, the certification of onsite professionals, the review of plans for subdivision development and the permitting of systems that because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues require a site specific evaluation.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Mixed (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska, including septic systems, holding tanks, lagoons, mound systems, and other decentralized systems.
      “Any local requirements (city, county) are separate from and in addition to the requirements found in Title 124 that apply statewide.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Onsite wastewater systems statewide where system size, non-domestic waste handling, or siting issues require a site-specific evaluation and permitting; ordinary systems also remain subject to applicable Title 124 compliance and registration rules.

    • The official program page identifies permitting for systems requiring site-specific evaluation because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues.
    • A system constructed, reconstructed, altered, modified, or otherwise changed must be registered with the Department.
    • Local city or county requirements may apply separately.
    “Most onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska are constructed under “Authorization by Rule” which does not require a construction permit [...] However, some systems will require a permit”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems serving property in Howard County.
      “the permitting of systems that because of large size, handling of non-domestic wastes, or siting issues require a site specific evaluation.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Inspection of private onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska.

    • Inspection must be carried out or supervised by a certified professional, a Nebraska-licensed professional engineer, or a Nebraska-registered environmental health specialist.
    • The statute allows the Director by contract to delegate onsite wastewater inspection and registration to a governmental subdivision with a sufficiently stringent program and enforcement authority.
    “A private onsite wastewater treatment system shall not be [...] inspected [...] unless the [...] inspection [...] is carried out or supervised by either a certified professional”
  • Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

    Off-grid wastewater sanitation using an onsite wastewater treatment system, including septic systems, holding tanks, lagoons, or mound systems, statewide in Nebraska.

    • The onsite system must comply with Title 124.
    • Only a properly certified professional may inspect, repair, pump, or install an onsite septic system.
    • The wastewater directed to the onsite system is limited to domestic wastewater.
    • Any local city or county requirements apply separately.
    “households depend on septic systems [...] for wastewater treatment. [...] the Nebraska Department [...] regulates these systems through Title 124”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — Off-grid sanitation through an onsite wastewater treatment system.
      “A dwelling or non-dwelling that generates wastewater must have an onsite wastewater treatment system that complies with state regulations or be connected to a public sewer system or other wastewater works.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Wastewater service for dwellings and non-dwellings generating wastewater statewide in Nebraska.

    • The property must have an onsite wastewater treatment system complying with Title 124, or be connected to a public sewer system or other wastewater works.
    • Local city and county requirements are separate from and in addition to statewide Title 124 requirements.
    “A dwelling or non-dwelling that generates wastewater must have an onsite wastewater treatment (OWT) system [...] or be connected to a public sewer system”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural buildings on farmsteads of at least 20 acres producing at least $1,000 of farm products annually, in the context of county zoning regulations and permit requirements.

    • The farmstead must be at least twenty acres.
    • The farmstead must produce at least one thousand dollars of farm products each year.
    • The county board may decide whether buildings located on farmsteads used as residences are subject to county zoning regulations and permit requirements.
    • The statutory definition distinguishes agricultural buildings from nonfarm buildings for purposes of county zoning authority.

    minimum farmstead area: >= 20 acres · minimum annual farm-product production: >= 1000 USD per year

    “For purposes of this section and section 23-114.04, nonfarm buildings are all buildings except those buildings utilized for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of twenty acres or more which produces one thousand dollars or more of farm products each year.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision, platting, or laying out real estate in counties containing a city of the primary class, outside areas where a city or village is exercising subdivision jurisdiction.

    • Prior approval by the county board, or by the county planning commission or planning director when designated, is required before subdivision or platting.
    • A plat has no force or effect and may not be recorded unless approved by the authorized county body.
    • The county may not regulate subdivision when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres.
    • The county may require improvements, a sufficient bond guaranteeing installation of improvements, public improvement districts, and dedication of land for public purposes.

    smallest parcel exemption threshold: > 10 acres (The county has no power under this section to regulate when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres.)

    “Such a county shall have authority within the area described in this subsection (a) to regulate the subdivision of land for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or building development, except that the county shall have no power to regulate subdivision in those instances where the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres in area,”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New, relocated, or altered private driveways and commercial approach roads connecting to State Highway rights of way.

    • No permits will be issued for driveways or approach roads to private property where the Department has acquired all or portions of the rights of access.
    • Applications must use the Department-furnished form.
    • Hard-surfaced driveway and approach-road applications go to the Department of Roads; unsurfaced driveway applications go to the proper District Engineer's office.
    • The driveway or approach road must comply with permit conditions and must not alter highway drainage or side ditches.
    • A certified check is required as a guarantee; its amount is determined after application and based on the extent of proposed work.
    “Any person desiring to construct a new driveway or approach road or any person desiring to relocate or alter an existing driveway or approach road shall apply for a permit to do so.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term lodging operations in Nebraska, including hotels, tourist homes, private homes rented in whole or in part, campgrounds, and RV pads or hookups.

    • A separate lodging tax permit is required for each hotel.
    • The permit is issued only after examination and approval.
    • The permit is not assignable and is valid only for the named operator, location, and transaction of business.
    • The permit must be conspicuously displayed.
    • Operating without a permit or after suspension is a misdemeanor; conviction may result in a fine up to $500 per day.
    • The cited state rule addresses lodging-tax permitting and does not establish statewide zoning approval for short-term rentals.

    maximum fine for operation without permit after conviction: <= 500 USD per day

    “Every person engaged in the business of operating a hotel in this state where the public may, for a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations, must file an application with the Nebraska Department of Revenue for a Nebraska lodging tax permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Nebraska DWEE air-quality construction permit applications.

    • The fee is non-refundable.
    • The fee is based on facility-wide potential to emit and the applicable pollutant thresholds.
    • Submit the fee with the completed construction permit application.
    • Payment must be by check or money order payable to the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment; electronic payments are not currently accepted.

    fee: 250 USD (Facility-wide PTE less than 50 tons per year of any listed air pollutant, or less than 2.5 tons per year of any single HAP, or less than 10 tons per year of any combination of HAPs.) · fee: 1500 USD (Facility-wide PTE is 50 or more but less than 100 tons per year of any listed air pollutant, or 2.5 or more but less than 10 tons per year of any single HAP, or 10 or more but less than 25 tons per year of any combination of HAPs.) · fee: 3000 USD (Facility-wide PTE is 100 tons or more per year of any listed air pollutant, or 10 tons or more per year of any single HAP, or 25 tons or more per year of any combination of HAPs.)

    “Chapter 3, Section 002.01 of Nebraska Administrative Code Title 129 – Nebraska Air Quality Regulations requires that each air quality construction permit application be accompanied by a non-refundable fee.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Nebraska DWEE environmental permitting, including construction, land-development, and septic-related projects.

    • The permit timeline depends on permit type, project complexity, application completeness and accuracy, applications ahead in queue, and possible 30- to 60-day public notice and comment periods.
    • Applicants are encouraged to contact DWEE early.
    “The time from submittal of your application to the issuance of the permit depends on the type of permit applied for, the complexity of your project, the completeness and accuracy of the submitted application, the number of applications ahead of yours, and possible issues that could arise from the 30- to 60-day public notice and comment periods.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Nebraska county boards adopting zoning resolutions for county territory outside incorporated cities and villages and outside areas where a city or village has been granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction and is exercising that jurisdiction.

    • The county board may adopt a zoning resolution having the force and effect of law.
    • The zoning resolution may regulate buildings, structures, lot coverage, setbacks, yards, population density, building uses, and land uses for agriculture, forestry, recreation, residence, industry, and trade in the unincorporated area of the county.
    • The powers may not be exercised within incorporated cities or villages or within an unincorporated area over which a city or village has been granted or ceded zoning jurisdiction and is exercising it.
    • A city or village zoning ordinance or amendment controlling an unincorporated area supersedes the county resolution or regulation.
    • If a zoning resolution or regulation affects the Niobrara scenic river corridor, the Niobrara Council must act as provided in section 72-2010.
    • A county board may not prohibit a qualifying manufactured home solely because it is manufactured, but may impose the listed installation and design standards and may not impose additional standards unless uniformly applied to all single-family dwellings in the zoning district.
    • Special districts or zones may be established in areas subject to seasonal or periodic flooding.
    “to adopt a zoning resolution, which shall have the force and effect of law;”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits.
  • Building height — County building-height limits.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy.
2 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings

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.

Living off-grid in Howard County, Nebraska

Is Howard County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Howard County scores 45/100 on the Bolthole Index, a marginal county profile. Its strengths: sparse surroundings — about 9,144 people within a 30-minute drive and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (27.1″/yr rainfall) and elevated current hazard exposure.

Do you need a building permit in Howard County, Nebraska?

Howard County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE / DWEE) - Onsite Wastewater Program. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Howard County, Nebraska?

Land in Howard County runs about $4,372 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Howard County?

Howard County gets about 27.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 21.7% of years.

How remote is Howard County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,144 people within a 30-minute drive and 549,442 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Howard County 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.

How Howard compares in Nebraska

Compare side-by-side →See all 93 Nebraska counties ranked →