Bolthole Index

Howard County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in St. Paul, Nebraska

St. Paul, Nebraska requires a zoning permit to erect, construct, enlarge, move or use a building or structure over 25 square feet.1 St. Paul sets its own zoning rules and inspects construction inside city limits in Howard County.23 When public sewer is unavailable, private septic construction requires a city permit from the Superintendent, alongside applicable state wastewater requirements.45

At a glance

Building approval
City zoning permit for structures over 25 square feet1
Zoning
City districts govern uses and dimensions6
Septic
City Superintendent permit when public sewer is unavailable; state requirements also apply45
RV living
We could not confirm dwelling occupancy; ask City Planning2
Tiny homes
We could not confirm a specific tiny-home rule; accessory residential buildings need conditional-use approval7
Occupancy approval
Certificate of Zoning Compliance for covered new or changed buildings and premises8

Who to call

Building permits

St. Paul City Office / Planning Department

City zoning applications and referrals to the Zoning Administrator, Municipal Building Inspector and City Superintendent.

308-754-4483

[email protected]

704 6th Street 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 October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in St. Paul 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 St. Paul, NE?

St. Paul calls its principal construction approval a zoning permit: erecting, constructing, enlarging, moving or using a building or structure over 25 square feet requires that approval.1 St. Paul also requires municipal inspections of buildings repaired, altered, built or moved, so zoning approval is only part of the construction process.3

For covered new or changed buildings and premises, St. Paul requires a Certificate of Zoning Compliance before use or occupancy.8 Ask the City Office which application and inspections match your project; the zoning application fee is due when the completed application is submitted.1

Who handles building and zoning applications in St. Paul?

Start with the St. Paul City Office at 308-754-4483, at 704 6th Street St Paul, NE 68873.1 The St. Paul Planning Commission recommends approval or denial of zoning applications, and the City Council makes the final determination.9 St. Paul zoning-related fees are established by City Council resolution and posted in the City Clerk’s office.10

Ask the City Office for the current fee schedule and the Municipal Building Inspector’s inspection arrangements before setting a construction date.13 The City Superintendent, rather than the planning approval alone, signs the city’s private sewage-disposal permit.11

Does St. Paul have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

St. Paul has its own zoning ordinance and official zoning map, with Agricultural Residential, residential, mobile-home, commercial and industrial districts.6 Ask City Planning to identify the parcel’s mapped district before choosing a house location or assuming a use is allowed.26

For dwellings and uses having water and sewer in the AGR Agricultural Residential District, the stated minimum lot area is 3 acres, excluding road right-of-way, with a conditional-use exception for shared/community utility service.12 The same AGR category has front, side and rear yards of 35, 15 and 25 feet respectively, plus additional yard requirements including a 200-foot separation from the high-water mark of designated waterways.13 Those AGR dimensions should not be applied to a parcel in another district.126

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in St. Paul?

St. Paul’s sewer-connection rule applies to properties abutting a street, alley or right-of-way containing a public sanitary or combined sewer when the sewer is within 300 feet of the property line; connection is at the owner’s expense and required within 90 days after official notice.14 A property already using a private system must connect within 60 days after public sewer becomes available.14

When public sewer is unavailable, obtain the City Superintendent’s written private sewage-disposal permit before construction; the stated permit and inspection fee is $25.4 St. Paul bars subsurface soil-absorption systems on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet.15 Notify the Superintendent for final inspection before covering underground work.16

Nebraska also requires registration of constructed or changed onsite wastewater systems.5 Most ordinary systems covered by Authorization by Rule do not need a state construction permit, but that does not remove St. Paul’s city permit requirement.174

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in St. Paul?

We could not confirm a St. Paul rule authorizing long-term RV dwelling occupancy, temporary camping on private land, or a specific tiny-home occupancy standard; ask the City Planning Department about your proposed dwelling and parcel before buying.

St. Paul’s R-M Residential Mobile Home District permits mobile-home dwellings within a mobile-home park, while the park itself is a conditional use subject to district standards.18 That provision addresses mobile-home parks and does not establish permission for an RV dwelling on an individual lot.18 A separate building behind a main building on the same lot needs City Council conditional-use approval before residential use, with adequate vehicular access and the applicable conditional-use criteria.7 We could not confirm a minimum dwelling-floor-area rule or an owner-builder exemption from city construction approvals; ask City Planning about both.

Building a home in St. Paul: what are the steps?

  1. Ask City Planning to confirm the parcel’s zoning district, allowed dwelling use and whether subdivision approval is needed; St. Paul’s subdivision rules require plat approval and tie building/zoning approval to platting.619
  2. Confirm sewer availability with the City Office, then arrange the City Superintendent’s private sewage-disposal approval if public sewer is unavailable.14
  3. Submit the city zoning application and fee for review and City Council determination.19
  4. Arrange municipal construction inspections and complete the project within 1 year of zoning-permit issuance.39
  5. Obtain the Certificate of Zoning Compliance before covered use or occupancy.8

For land outside St. Paul’s jurisdiction, use the Howard County guide for the county’s building and zoning application process.20 St. Paul’s zoning approval checks flood-hazard requirements; ask City Planning about the parcel’s flood status before designing the home.21

Watch-outs

  • A small lot can meet a district’s development standards yet be unsuitable for private sewage disposal: St. Paul prohibits subsurface absorption systems on lots under 10,000 square feet.15
  • State Authorization by Rule does not waive St. Paul’s city private sewage-disposal permit.174
  • We could not confirm city requirements for a private well or driveway-access approval; ask the City Office before committing to either.1

Sources

  1. St. Paul City Office / Planning Department (stpaulnebraska.com)
  2. St. Paul Zoning Ordinance (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  3. City of St. Paul Municipal Code (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  4. City of St. Paul Municipal Code (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  5. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Onsite Wastewater Program (dwee.nebraska.gov)
  6. St. Paul Zoning Ordinance (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  7. St. Paul Zoning Ordinance (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  8. St. Paul Zoning Regulations (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  9. stpaulnebraska.com (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  10. St. Paul Zoning Regulations (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of St. Paul Municipal Code (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  12. stpaulnebraska.com (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  13. stpaulnebraska.com (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  14. City of St. Paul Municipal Code (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of St. Paul Municipal Code (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  16. City of St. Paul Municipal Code (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  17. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Permits, quoted and re-checked
  18. St. Paul Zoning Ordinance (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  19. St. Paul Subdivision Regulations (St. Paul), quoted and re-checked
  20. Frequently Asked Questions – Howard County, quoted and re-checked
  21. St. Paul Zoning Ordinance (St. Paul), 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 St. Paul

St. Paul’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings repaired, altered, built, or moved inside St. Paul city limits.

    • The Municipal Building Inspector inspects as often as necessary to ensure compliance and may order work stopped for violations.
    “He shall inspect all buildings repaired, altered, built, or moved in the Municipality as often as necessary to insure compliance with all Municipal ordinances.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of a building or premises created, erected, changed, converted, altered, or enlarged inside St. Paul city limits.

    • The certificate is issued by the Zoning Administrator; it must conform to the ordinance unless a Board of Adjustment variance authorizes the relevant attribute; nonconforming uses are excluded except as specified.
    “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 St. Paul city limits.

    • The Planning Commission recommends permit, zoning district, rezoning, conditional-use, and subdivision matters; the City Council makes final determinations.
    “The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply within the one mile planning jurisdiction of St. Paul, Nebraska as established on the map entitled “Official Zoning Map”.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside St. Paul city limits.

    • The ordinance contains AGR Agricultural Residential, R-1 Residential, R-2 Residential, R-3 Residential, R-M Residential Mobile Home, commercial, industrial, and other district provisions; the zoning map is maintained as an official City record.
    “ZONING MAP shall mean the map or maps officially enacted by the City Council, as part of this Ordinance showing the boundaries of a zoning district or districts”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile/manufactured-home occupancy inside St. Paul city limits.

    • The R-M Residential Mobile Home District permits mobile-home dwellings within a mobile-home park; mobile-home parks are conditional uses subject to district standards.

    R-M permitted-use minimum lot area: 7500 square feet · R-M maximum lot coverage: 25 percent · R-M maximum building height: 35 feet

    “Mobile home dwellings within a mobile home park. [...] Mobile Home Park, subject to regulations in Section 5.5.05 through 5.5.08 of this Section.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    A separate accessory building used for residential purposes inside St. Paul city limits.

    • A building in the rear of a main building on the same lot may not be used for residential purposes unless approved by the City Council by conditional-use permit; adequate vehicular access and Article 6 criteria are required.
    “No building in the rear of a main building on the same lot may be erected or modified for residential purposes, unless approved by the city council by conditional use permit.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal systems inside St. Paul city limits.

    • The City Superintendent issues the private sewage-disposal permit and may impose additional requirements; the system must also comply with Nebraska Department of Public Health recommendations.
    “the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Superintendent.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction of a private sewage disposal system inside St. Paul city limits when public sewer is unavailable.

    • A written permit signed by the Superintendent is required before construction; the application may require plans, specifications, and other information; a $25 permit and inspection fee is due when filed.

    permit and inspection fee: 25 USD

    “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 system installation inside St. Paul city limits.

    • The applicant must notify the Superintendent for final inspection before underground portions are covered; inspection is to be made within 24 hours after notice.

    inspection timing: 24 hours (after receipt of notice)

    “the applicant for the permit shall notify the Superintendent when the work is ready for final inspection, and before any underground portions are covered.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal inside St. Paul city limits where public sanitary or combined sewer is unavailable.

    • Private sewage disposal must comply with the municipal article and state health recommendations; subsurface absorption systems are barred on lots under 10,000 square feet; septic tanks and cesspools may not discharge to a natural outlet.

    minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption: >= 10000 square feet

    “No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing subsurface soil absorption facilities when the area of the lot is less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Houses, buildings, and properties inside St. Paul city limits that abut a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a public sanitary or combined sewer.

    • Connection is at the owner's expense; the public sewer must be within 300 feet of the property line; connection is required within 90 days after official notice; if a private system is already used, connection is required within 60 days after public sewer becomes available.

    public sewer distance: <= 300 feet (from property line) · connection deadline after notice: 90 days · connection deadline after sewer becomes available to private-system property: 60 days

    “a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer within sixty (60) days in compliance with this Article”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside St. Paul city limits and the City's stated jurisdiction.

    • A division creating a smallest parcel over 10 acres is exempt; otherwise plats require Planning Commission recommendation and City Council approval; no building/zoning permit may issue unless the lot has been platted.

    exemption threshold: > 10 acres (smallest parcel created must be more than 10 acres)

    “the division of land when the smallest parcel created is more than 10 acres in area shall be exempt from this Ordinance.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Structures and land uses subject to St. Paul's zoning jurisdiction and flood-hazard requirements.

    • A zoning permit is required for structures over 25 square feet and is used to verify compliance with yard, flood-hazard, and other applicable zoning requirements.

    structure area threshold: > 25 square feet

    “building or structure over 25 square feet [...] to verify compliance with yard, flood hazard and other applicable requirements of the zoning regulations.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    City zoning, certificate-of-zoning-compliance, and private-sewage permit applications inside St. Paul city limits.

    • Zoning-related fees are established by City Council resolution and posted in the City Clerk's office; the private sewage permit and inspection fee is $25.

    private sewage permit and inspection fee: 25 USD

    “A Fee Schedule shall be posted in the Office of the City Clerk”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning-permit process inside St. Paul city limits.

    • Applications are reviewed by the Planning Commission and decided by the City Council; the project must be completed within one year after issuance.

    completion period: 1 year (from zoning-permit issuance)

    “The St. Paul Planning Commission will recommend approval or denial of the application, and forward the application to the City Council for final determination.”

Rules another office applies inside St. Paul

St. Paul does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Dwellings and uses having water and sewer in the AGR Agricultural Residential District.

    • The AGR table states three acres, excluding road right-of-way; one acre is allowed with a conditional-use permit when served by a shared/community drinking-water system and/or shared community sanitary-sewer system.

    minimum lot area: 3 acres (one acre minimum with conditional-use permit and shared/community water and/or sanitary sewer)

    “Dwellings & uses having water & sewer 3 acres**** 150' 35' 15' 25' 35'”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Dwellings and uses having water and sewer in the AGR Agricultural Residential District.

    • The AGR table gives 35-foot front, 15-foot side, and 25-foot rear yards; additional yard requirements apply, including a 200-foot separation from the high-water mark of designated waterways.

    front setback: 35 feet · side setback: 15 feet · rear setback: 25 feet · waterway separation: >= 200 feet (from high-water mark of designated waterways)

    “Dwellings & uses having water & sewer 3 acres**** 150' 35' 15' 25' 35'”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Permitted and conditional uses in the R-M Residential Mobile Home District.

    • Accessory uses have separate standards; a cul-de-sac lot may have 45 feet minimum frontage at the property line.

    maximum lot coverage: 25 percent

    “Max. Lot Coverage (%) [...] Permitted Uses 7,500 70* 30 25 8 25 35”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Dwellings and uses having water and sewer in the AGR Agricultural Residential District.

    • The AGR general requirements table states a 35-foot height limit.

    maximum height: 35 feet

    “Dwellings & uses having water & sewer 3 acres**** 150' 35' 15' 25' 35'”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Residential District.
      “Building and structures shall not exceed two and one half (2.5) stories in height.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask St. Paul or Howard County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from construction permitting inside St. Paul city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside St. Paul city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of an RV as a dwelling on land inside St. Paul city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside St. Paul city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside St. Paul city limits.
4 more unanswered
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 St. Paul publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Howard County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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