Bolthole Index

Johnson County, Nebraska

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

58Index Score / 100
#6 of 93 in Nebraska

Unincorporated Johnson County, Nebraska requires a zoning permit before a new structure is built, moved, added to or structurally altered; this is zoning approval, not a separate building-code permit1. The Johnson County Zoning Administrator issues those zoning permits for the rural and unincorporated planning jurisdiction, not for every incorporated community1,2. Septic permits and registration for every address in the county, town or country, run through Nebraska's Onsite Wastewater Program3.

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

In Johnson County's rural and unincorporated planning jurisdiction, a zoning permit must be issued before a structure is built, moved, added to or structurally altered.

In Johnson County's rural and unincorporated planning jurisdiction, a zoning permit must be issued before a structure is built, moved, added to or structurally altered1,2. The county material establishes zoning review, not a separate building-code permit1. The Zoning Administrator may inspect land uses and building locations for zoning compliance, but that authority is not a general structural building-inspection program2.

We could not confirm whether Johnson County adopted a local construction code, so ask the Zoning Administrator what code and approvals apply to the project1. Nebraska's state building code applies where a county, city or village has not adopted an authorized local code after the statutory update period, except to construction on a farm or for farm purposes7. Agricultural structures are exempt from county height limits, but not categorically from zoning permits2.

Who issues building and zoning permits in Johnson County, Nebraska?

The Johnson County Zoning Administrator is the first call for county zoning and building-permit questions.

The Johnson County Zoning Administrator is the first call for county zoning and building-permit questions1,2. A zoning-permit application requires a plot plan showing structures, lot lines, proposed uses, building lines, parking, site improvements and other information the administrator requires2. The Zoning Administrator must approve or disapprove an application within 30 days; a written appeal to the Board of Adjustment is due within 10 days after the determination is filed2.

The zoning fee schedule is posted in the Zoning Administrator's office and may be changed by the County Board, but current amounts were not confirmed2. Contact the office at 402-335-7065 or mdavison@tecumsehne.com, or use 1369 Eastridge Drive, Tecumseh, NE 684501.

Does Johnson County, Nebraska have zoning?

Johnson County zoning applies within the rural and unincorporated planning jurisdiction shown on official zoning maps, not inside every incorporated community.

Johnson County zoning applies within the rural and unincorporated planning jurisdiction shown on official zoning maps, not inside every incorporated community2. Lot sizes, setbacks and heights vary by district2. In the AGR Agricultural Residential District, a single-family dwelling generally requires a 3-acre lot adjoining an improved all-weather county road above a minimum-maintenance road2. Under stated special-use and wastewater or shared-utility conditions, some parcels may be reduced to 1 acre2.

The AGR front yard is 58 feet from the road center, with a 15-foot rear yard and 10-foot side yard subject to road-frontage alternatives2. The AGR maximum for ordinary structures is 35 feet, while nonresidential and agricultural exceptions apply2. Have the Zoning Administrator identify the parcel's jurisdiction, mapped district and exact standards before siting improvements1.

How do septic permits work in Johnson County, Nebraska?

The Nebraska DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program administers Title 124 in Johnson County, while any local requirements are separate and additional.

The Nebraska DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program administers Title 124 in Johnson County, while any local requirements are separate and additional3. A state permit is required for systems handling at least 1,000 gallons per day, non-household wastewater or systems outside Authorization by Rule; most other systems may proceed under Authorization by Rule if they meet state requirements and are registered4. Permitted systems require engineer-prepared plans, a construction permit before building and an operating permit before use4.

State approval is required before developing an area with onsite systems on lots smaller than 3 acres, and a qualified professional must prepare the layout4. The mapped share of Johnson County soils without severe limitations for a conventional drain field is 0%, so arrange a certified site evaluation before fixing a homesite8. Call Nebraska DWEE at (402) 471-4285 for registration and permit guidance6.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Johnson County, Nebraska?

Johnson County's rules treat premises with at least 2 camping units as a campground, and campgrounds in the AGR Agricultural Residential District require a special-use permit.

Johnson County's rules treat premises with at least 2 camping units as a campground, and campgrounds in the AGR Agricultural Residential District require a special-use permit2. That rule does not establish a general right to long-term residential RV occupancy on private land, and we could not confirm such a right or a specific county rule for tiny-home occupancy. Give the Zoning Administrator the unit type, number of units, proposed utilities, occupancy duration and parcel before buying or moving onto the site1,2.

Off-grid does not mean sanitation-free: any dwelling or non-dwelling generating wastewater needs a state-compliant onsite treatment system or a connection to sewer or other wastewater works6. A manufactured home outside a mobile-home park must carry the required Nebraska seal and still comply with its zoning district and permit requirements2.

What are the steps to build a home in Johnson County, Nebraska?

Ask the Johnson County Zoning Administrator to confirm county jurisdiction, the mapped district, permitted use, lot size, setbacks, height limit and road qualification.

  1. Ask the Johnson County Zoning Administrator to confirm county jurisdiction, the mapped district, permitted use, lot size, setbacks, height limit and road qualification1,2.
  1. Prepare the plot plan and supporting documents for zoning review, then confirm the current fee with the office2.
  1. Determine which building code applies; county material establishes zoning review but not a separate building-code permit, while the state code supplies the default outside an authorized local code subject to the farm exception1,7.
  1. Have a properly certified onsite professional plan the wastewater system and determine whether it qualifies for Authorization by Rule or requires state construction and operating permits4,9.
  1. Resolve highway access and floodplain approvals before site work; all floodplain development needs a permit, and the county ordinance adds a district-specific high-water-mark siting rule2,10,11.

What should you check before buying land in Johnson County, Nebraska?

Start with a jurisdiction and zoning review: confirm the parcel's mapped district, allowed residence type, lot size, setbacks, height limit and legal road access with the Johnson County Zoning Administrator.

Start with a jurisdiction and zoning review: confirm the parcel's mapped district, allowed residence type, lot size, setbacks, height limit and legal road access with the Johnson County Zoning Administrator1,2. For an AGR homesite, verify the 3-acre standard and adjacency to an improved all-weather county road above minimum maintenance2. Check flood mapping before choosing a pad: floodplain development requires a permit, and the county ordinance restricts structures within the high-water mark in designated flood-hazard areas unless the base or footings are at least 1 foot above it2,11.

Budget for site-specific wastewater work: 0% of mapped county soils are rated without severe limitations for conventional drain fields8. Confirm the water source and ask the appropriate water authority about well approvals because we could not confirm a general Johnson County well-permit rule. The effective property-tax rate is about 1.5%, and the median annual bill is about $1,993; verify the specific parcel with the assessor8.

Watch-outs

  • Do not treat the agricultural height exemption as a blanket permit exemption; new structures in the county planning jurisdiction still require zoning permits1,2.
  • Conventional septic conditions may be difficult because 0% of mapped soils are rated without severe drain-field limitations; use a properly certified onsite professional early8,9.
  • Long-term private-land RV living and tiny-home occupancy remain unconfirmed, while a campground in the AGR district requires special-use approval; ask the Johnson County Zoning Administrator before committing to a plan1,2.
  • An off-grid building that generates wastewater still needs a state-compliant onsite system or connection to sewer or other wastewater works6.

Sources

11 official pages, each quoted and re-checked · written October 9, 2026

  1. Zoning Administrator - Johnson County, Nebraska
  2. Zoning Administrator - Johnson County, Nebraska
  3. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Permits
  4. Onsite Wastewater Professional Certification, Registration, and Permit Fees
  5. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule)
  6. Onsite Wastewater Program
  7. Nebraska Revised Statute 71-6403
  8. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  9. Title 124 - Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
  10. Title 410, Chapter 2 - Driveway and Approach Road Permits (Nebraska statewide rule)
  11. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule)

Written October 9, 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Johnson 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.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 5 of its 6 neighbors, Johnson County requires a building permit only in limited cases.

RuleJohnson CountyPawnee CountyOtoe CountyNemaha CountyGage CountyRichardson CountyCass County
Building permitLimitedRequiredLimitedRequiredRequiredNot requiredRequired
County zoningYesYesYesNoYesNoYes
Septic permitsNE Dept. of Env. & EnergyNDEENDEENDEENDEENDEENDEE

County locator

Johnson County in Nebraska

58
County map
Johnson County highlighted among the Nebraska counties · colored by Index score

How Johnson County scores

58 / 100 · #6 of 93 in Nebraska · six factors, land price, tax, rain and climate

Seclusion50100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency40100% ev.
Admin Boringness59100% ev.
Durability48100% ev.
Property Autonomy53100% ev.
Carry Cost68100% 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 →

$218kTypical home
1.5%Property tax
$4,389Land / acre
32.6"Annual rain
9.5% of yrsSevere drought
15.2 / yr (+11.6)Mid-century 100°F days
19.4 daysMid-century dry spell
1.75" (+2.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.64×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,263Home insurance / yr
2.7% / yrInsurance growth
1.75%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
15,241People within 30 min
1,966,216People within 2 hr
9,768Radius comparison (15 mi)
13.8People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
97.7%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
0 acWorkable land screen
10.1%Wooded land
37.4 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51.9°FAvg temp

Scout Johnson 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 Johnson County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Sell land in Johnson County? Be the only seller on this page →

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.

Cities and towns in Johnson County

Inside a city, town or township here, that government usually sets zoning and may issue its own building permits; the county’s rules above cover land outside them.

Not yet covered: Village of Cook · Village of Crab Orchard · Village of Elk Creek · Village of Sterling

Answers from the rulebook for Johnson County

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

Johnson County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    New structures and structural alterations subject to Johnson County zoning.

    • A zoning permit is required for all new structures.
    • The source does not establish a separate building-code permit requirement.
    “No zoning or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a zoning permit first having been issued by the Zoning Administrator.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • InspectionsLimited

    County zoning-compliance inspections of land uses and building locations.

    • The ordinance assigns inspections to the Zoning Administrator for compliance with the zoning resolution; it does not establish a general building-code inspection program.
    “Conduct inspections of uses of land and locations of buildings and structures to determine compliance with the provisions of this resolution.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Inspections of land uses and building or structure locations for compliance with Johnson County zoning regulations
      “Conduct inspections of uses of land and locations of buildings and structures to determine compliance with the provisions of this resolution.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    New structures and land uses subject to Johnson County zoning regulations.

    • All new structures to be built in Johnson County require a zoning permit.
    • Use, construction, occupancy, and structural alteration must conform to the zoning regulations for the applicable district.
    • Municipal, state, or federal standards that are more restrictive apply where applicable.
    • The regulations identify AG, RC, AGR, C, I, and AG-WP zoning districts.
    “The provisions of this Resolution shall apply within the planning jurisdiction of Johnson County as established on the maps entitled The Official Zoning Maps of Johnson County, Nebraska. The planning jurisdiction for Johnson County includes the rural and unincorporated areas of the County.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    County zoning regulations within Johnson County's rural and unincorporated areas.

    • The county zoning resolution applies within the Johnson County planning jurisdiction established by the Official Zoning Maps.
    • The source expressly limits the identified planning jurisdiction to the rural and unincorporated areas of Johnson County.
    • The county zoning administrator administers the zoning ordinance affecting Johnson County.
    “The provisions of this Resolution shall apply within the planning jurisdiction of Johnson County as established on the maps entitled The Official Zoning Maps of Johnson County, Nebraska. The planning jurisdiction for Johnson County includes the rural and unincorporated areas of the County.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — County zoning in Johnson County's rural and unincorporated planning jurisdiction
      “The provisions of this Resolution shall apply within the planning jurisdiction of Johnson County as established on the maps entitled The Official Zoning Maps of Johnson County, Nebraska. The planning jurisdiction for Johnson County includes the rural and unincorporated areas of the County.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    County zoning districts and official zoning map.

    • The official map is dated January 1, 2006 in the ordinance text.
    • The ordinance lists AG, RC, AGR, C, I, AG-WP, and UV districts.

    official zoning map date: January 1, 2006

    “The boundaries of the district are shown upon maps, which is made a part hereof by reference, which map(s) are designated as the Johnson County Zoning Maps, dated January 1, 2006”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residential development in the AGR Agricultural Residential District and other county zoning districts with district-specific requirements.

    • In the AGR district, single-family dwellings require a 3-acre lot and adjacency to an improved all-weather county road above minimum maintenance road.
    • Rural subdivisions with individual parcels less than 5 acres are listed as special uses in the AGR district; the manual states that, under specified wastewater or shared-water/sewer conditions, individual parcels may be reduced to 1 acre.

    single-family dwelling lot size in AGR district: 3 acres (Dwellings must be adjacent to an improved all-weather county road above minimum maintenance road.) · reduced parcel size under stated AGR special-use conditions: 1 acre (Applies where the stated Title 124/DHHS or shared/community water and sanitary sewer conditions are met.)

    “Lot Size: 3 acres. Dwellings shall be adjacent to an improved all weather county road (above minimum maintenance road).”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Lots in Johnson County zoning districts with district-specific minimum lot requirements.
      “Yards or lots created after the effective date of this resolution shall meet the minimum requirements established by this resolution.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Setbacks for structures and related improvements in Johnson County zoning districts.

    • The AGR district has a 58-foot front yard measured from the road center, a 15-foot rear yard, and a 10-foot side yard, with 58-foot alternatives when abutting an improved county road, state, or federal highway.
    • Countywide rural-right-of-way rules require a 25-foot setback for buildings and specified other improvements from rural rights-of-way; shelter belts require 30 feet.

    AGR front yard: 58 feet (Measured from the center of the road.) · AGR rear yard: 15 feet (58 feet when abutting an improved county road, state, or federal highway, measured from the road center.) · AGR side yard: 10 feet (58 feet when abutting an improved county road, state, or federal highway, measured from the road center.) · rural right-of-way setback: 25 feet (Applies to buildings, solid fences, walls, hedges, sewage lagoons, and livestock waste control facilities.) · shelter-belt setback: 30 feet (Measured from the rural or highway right-of-way.)

    “Front Yard: There shall be a minimum front yard of not less than a depth of fifty-eight (58) feet measured from the center of the road in conformance with Section 8.7.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — District-specific yard and setback requirements under Johnson County zoning.
      “All buildings and sight impairing or “solid” fences, walls and hedges, sewage lagoons and livestock waste control facilities shall have a minimum set back of twenty-five (25) feet measured from rural right-of-ways.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Building-height controls in Johnson County zoning districts.

    • The AGR district maximum height is 35 feet; nonresidential uses have no height limitation except under community airport zoning regulations.
    • The C Commercial District table lists a 35-foot height, unless more regulated by state or federal authorities.
    • Height exceptions apply to specified appurtenances and agricultural structures.

    AGR maximum height: 35 feet (Nonresidential uses have no height limitations except in conformance with community Airport Zoning Regulations.) · C Commercial District height: 35 feet (Unless more regulated by state or federal authorities.)

    “MAXIMUM HEIGHT: Thirty-five (35) feet; however, non-residential structures shall have no height limitations except in conformance with the community Airport Zoning Regulations.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Building heights under Johnson County zoning districts.
      “MAXIMUM HEIGHT: Thirty-five (35) feet; however, non-residential structures shall have no height limitations except in conformance with the community Airport Zoning Regulations.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RV or other camping-unit occupancy as a campground in Johnson County's rural and unincorporated planning jurisdiction.

    • The zoning regulations define a campground as premises where two or more camping units are parked or placed for camping purposes, or premises supplying camping space for two or more camping units.
    • The definition includes vehicles and accommodation of transient campers; it does not establish a general right to long-term residential RV occupancy on private land.
    • Campgrounds are listed as a permitted special use in the AGR Agricultural Residential District only if a special permit has been obtained under Article 6.
    • Other zoning districts and municipal jurisdictions may have different controls.

    minimum camping units for campground definition: >= 2 units (The definition also covers premises supplying the public with camping space for two or more camping units.)

    “5.34 PERMITTED SPECIAL USES: A building or premises may be used [...] if a special permit for such use has been obtained [...] 5. Camp grounds;”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes located outside mobile-home parks in Johnson County.

    • The home must bear any seal required by Nebraska Revised Statutes section 71-1555 et seq.
    • The manual does not establish unrestricted occupancy; other district and zoning-permit requirements still apply.
    “All manufactured homes located outside mobile home parks shall have upon it any required seal as set forth in Section 71-1555, et. seq., Revised Statutes of Nebraska.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Agricultural structures under Johnson County zoning height and land-use regulations.

    • Agricultural structures are exempt from the zoning manual's height limitations under section 8.5.
    • This is not a general exemption from the county zoning-permit requirement for all new structures.
    “The height limitations contained in the permissible heights for the various District Regulations shall not apply to spires, belfries, cupolas, antennas, water tanks, ventilators, chimneys, or other appurtenances usually required to be placed above the roof level and not intended for human occupancy and agricultural structures.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Access and road-adjacency requirements for dwellings and structures under Johnson County zoning rules.

    • AGR single-family dwellings must be adjacent to an improved all-weather county road above minimum maintenance road.
    • The zoning manual also imposes rural-right-of-way setbacks and prohibits specified structures and obstructions within rural-road or state/federal highway rights-of-way.
    “Dwellings shall be adjacent to an improved all weather county road (above minimum maintenance road).”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Structures in designated Special Flood Hazard Areas under Johnson County zoning regulations.

    • No structure may be placed within the high-water mark of waterways in a designated district identified by the Flood Insurance Rate Map dated 04/17/2006 unless the base or footings are at least one foot above the high-water mark.
    • The cited rule is district-specific and tied to the referenced FIRM.

    minimum elevation above high-water mark: >= 1 foot (Applies to base or footings where a structure is otherwise within the high-water mark in the designated district.) · FIRM date: 04/17/2006

    “No structure shall be placed within the high water mark of waterways in designated district, as identified by the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) dated 04/17/2006 as Special Flood Hazard Areas unless the base or footings to such structure are at least one (1) foot above such high water mark.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Johnson County zoning-permit and zoning-application fees.

    • The fee schedule is posted in the zoning administrator's office.
    • The County Board may alter or amend the schedule.
    • All applicable fees, charges, and expenses must be paid before action is taken on an application or appeal.
    • The reviewed source does not state the current fee amounts.
    “The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Administrator and may be altered or amended only by the County Board.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Fees for Johnson County zoning resolutions, permits, applications, and appeals.
      “The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Administrator and may be altered or amended only by the County Board.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Johnson County zoning-permit application and decision process.

    • Applications must include a plot plan showing the location, ground area, height and bulk of structures, lot dimensions and shape, proposed uses, building lines, and other information required by the Zoning Administrator.
    • The Zoning Administrator must approve or disapprove an application within 30 days of receipt.
    • Approval requires receipt of required fees; disapproval must state reasons in writing.
    • Appeals to the Board of Adjustment must be made in writing within 10 days after the determination is filed.

    application decision period: 30 days (Measured from receipt of the application.) · appeal period: 10 days (After the Zoning Administrator's determination is filed.)

    “The Zoning Administrator shall examine all applications for zoning permits, including plans, specifications and documents filed therewith and shall either approve or disapprove such application within thirty (30) days of receipt of same.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Johnson County zoning-permit applications, approvals, disapprovals, and appeals.
      “The Zoning Administrator shall examine all applications for zoning permits, including plans, specifications and documents filed therewith and shall either approve or disapprove such application within thirty (30) days of receipt of same.”

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.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Available — Contractor registration under Nebraska's Contractor Registration Act, including an owner performing work or having work performed on the owner's own property in Johnson County.
      “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:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted — Nebraska's statewide building code, including its potential application in counties that have not adopted an authorized local code.
      “(1) There is hereby created the state building code. The Legislature hereby adopts by reference:”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Occupancy permits for newly constructed buildings and facilities for first occupancy, alterations of existing buildings and facilities used by the public, and newly constructed covered multifamily dwellings subject to Nebraska accessibility standards.

    • The State Fire Marshal must adopt standards, specifications, and exclusions consistent with the current federal ADA guidelines for buildings and facilities newly constructed for first occupancy and alterations of existing buildings and facilities used by the public.
    • The State Fire Marshal must adopt standards and specifications consistent with the current federal Fair Housing Act guidelines, as adopted by Nebraska, for newly constructed covered multifamily dwellings.
    • The enforcing authority cannot approve or authorize an occupancy permit unless the building, facility, or dwelling complies with those standards and specifications.
    • An unauthorized departure may be corrected by full compliance within 180 days after discovery; failure to correct results in denial or revocation of the occupancy permit.

    correction period after discovery of unauthorized departure: 180 days (Full compliance with the State Fire Marshal's standards and specifications is required within this period.)

    “No official of any governing body of the state government or its political subdivisions responsible for such enforcement shall approve or authorize an occupancy permit”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Manufactured homes regulated by a Nebraska city of the primary class within its corporate limits or extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction.

    • The city may impose the 900-square-foot minimum; the statute does not make that minimum mandatory in every city.
    • The manufactured home must bear an appropriate seal showing compliance with the Uniform Standard Code for Manufactured Homes and Recreational Vehicles, the Nebraska Uniform Standards for Modular Housing Units Act, or United States Department of Housing and Urban Development standards.
    • The city may also require the same foundation-system, permanent-utility-connection, setback, and minimum-square-footage standards applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot.
    • The city may not require additional standards unless uniformly applied to all single-family dwellings in the zoning district.
    • Valid restrictive covenants of record are not superseded.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet (manufactured homes subject to city standards) · minimum exterior width: >= 18 feet (manufactured homes subject to city standards)

    “(i) The home shall have no less than nine hundred square feet of floor area;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Manufactured homes regulated under Nebraska county zoning authority.
      “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;”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Nebraska's statewide statutory delegation of lot-coverage regulation through a county zoning resolution, in the unincorporated area of a county.

    • A county board must adopt a zoning resolution; the statute authorizes, but does not itself state, a statewide maximum lot-coverage percentage.
    • The county authority cannot be exercised within an incorporated city or village, or an area where a city or village has been granted and is exercising zoning jurisdiction.
    • A city or village zoning ordinance or amendment supersedes a county resolution or regulation when the city or village exercises control over the unincorporated area.
    “The zoning resolution may regulate and restrict: [...] (b) the percentage of lot areas which may be occupied;”
  • 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”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny houses produced or sold in Nebraska and classified as manufactured homes, modular housing units, or recreational vehicles, including park model recreational vehicles.

    • The Nebraska Public Service Commission states that tiny houses can be built as either a manufactured home, modular housing unit, or recreational vehicle.
    • For a park model recreational vehicle under current Nebraska law, the unit must be designed and marketed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use; must not be permanently affixed to real property for use as a permanent dwelling; must be built on a single chassis mounted on wheels; must have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet in the setup mode; and must be certified by the manufacturer as complying with ANSI A119.5, 2025 edition.
    • LB1147 enacted the 400-square-foot park-model limit and specified the 2020 ANSI A119.5 edition; its emergency clause states that the act takes effect when passed and approved according to law.
    • State classification or construction compliance does not establish unrestricted land-use occupancy. County zoning resolutions may regulate the location, size, and uses of structures including house trailers and automobile trailers, and may regulate uses of buildings and land in unincorporated areas.
    • County zoning powers do not apply within incorporated cities or villages, or areas where a city or village has been granted and is exercising zoning jurisdiction. Local zoning, building, utility, health, and other requirements may therefore impose additional conditions.

    park model gross trailer area: <= 400 square feet (Measured in the setup mode.) · park model chassis: single chassis mounted on wheels · park model permanent-affixation: false (The unit must not be permanently affixed to real property for use as a permanent dwelling.)

    “(16) Park model recreational vehicle means a vehicular unit which meets the following criteria: (a) Is designed and marketed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use; (b) Is not permanently affixed to real property for use as a permanent dwelling; (c) Is built on a single chassis mounted on wheels with a gross trailer area not exceeding four hundred square feet in the set up mode; and (d) Is certified by the manufacturer as complying with the ANSI A119.5 Park Model Recreational Vehicle Standard of the American National Standards Institute, 2025 edition;”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater systems in Johnson County governed by Nebraska Administrative Code Title 124.

    • Local requirements may be separate and may be different from Title 124 requirements.
    • The Title 124 construction and operating permit sequence applies when a permit application is required.
    “Title 124 Construction Permit issued by NDEE, date:”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • State (with conditions) — Onsite wastewater systems in Johnson County under Nebraska's statewide program.
      “Any local requirements (city, county) are separate from and in addition to the requirements found in Title 124 that apply statewide.”
    • 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 in Johnson County.

    • A permit is required for systems handling flows of 1,000 gallons per day or more, managing non-household wastewater, or not covered under Authorization by Rule.
    • Plans must be prepared by a professional engineer.
    • A construction permit is required before building and an operating permit before system use.
    • Most other systems may proceed under Authorization by Rule, subject to state requirements and registration.

    flow threshold: >= 1000 gallons per day (Permit triggers also include non-household wastewater and systems not covered by Authorization by Rule) · permit application fee: 450 USD (Covers both construction and operating permits)

    “A permit is required for onsite wastewater systems that: Handle flows of 1,000 gallons per day or more; Manage non-household wastewater; Are not covered under “Authorization by Rule” (Title 124, Chapter 3, Section 002)”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Onsite wastewater systems in Johnson County when a Title 124 permit application is required.
      “When a permit application is required, Title 124 requires a construction permit prior to any onsite system construction and an operating permit prior to wastewater discharge to or any use of the onsite system.”
    • Limited — 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.
      “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”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Inspection of private onsite wastewater systems in Nebraska, including Johnson County

    • Only a certified professional, professional engineer, registered environmental health specialist, or person under direct supervision may engage in inspection and related onsite wastewater activities.
    • Direct supervision requires the supervising person to be physically present at the site and have control over, responsibility for, and professional knowledge of the work.
    • The certification requirement does not apply to a private onsite wastewater system at an electric generation facility site owned by a district organized under Nebraska Revised Statutes, Chapter 70, article 6.
    • A Journeyman Installer may inspect only under the stated employment and responsible-supervisor restrictions.
    • A person inspecting a private onsite wastewater system must have an Inspector, Master Installer, professional engineer, or registered environmental health specialist responsible for the work physically present at the site.
    “Only a certified professional, a professional engineer, a registered environmental health specialist, or a person under their direct supervision may engage in the inspection, pumping, siting, layout, construction, reconstruction, alteration, modification, repair, closure or otherwise changing of an onsite wastewater treatment system.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Inspection of private onsite wastewater treatment systems statewide in Nebraska.
      “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
    • Limited — Off-grid wastewater sanitation for dwellings or non-dwellings generating wastewater.
      “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.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Construction or modification of water wells in Nebraska groundwater management areas, on land owned or controlled by the person constructing the well.

    • Before commencing construction, the applicant must apply to the district in which the well will be located, using district forms.
    • No permit is required for test holes or dewatering wells intended for use for ninety days or less.
    • No permit is required for a single water well designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less.
    • A district may exempt replacement water wells by rule and regulation.
    • A district may require a permit for a well designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less when it is commingled, combined, clustered, or joined with another well or water source, excluding a water source used to water range livestock; combined wells are treated as one well and their combined capacity is used as the rated capacity.
    • In groundwater management areas where regulations have been imposed to control declining groundwater levels, a district may require permits for each well or categories of wells designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less, except water sources required for human needs relating to health, fire control, or sanitation and water sources used to water range livestock.
    • The district must review the application and issue or deny the permit within thirty days after filing.
    • The application requires a fifty-dollar filing fee payable to the district.
    • The application must include the applicant's name and post-office address, proposed use, intended location, size, type and description, estimated depth if known, estimated capacity in gallons per minute, irrigation acreage and legal description if applicable, non-irrigation use description if applicable, replacement-well registration number if applicable, and other information required by the district.
    • A person who failed to obtain a required permit must apply for a late permit, accompanied by a two-hundred-fifty-dollar fee and the same information required for an ordinary application.
    • A person must apply before modifying a well that was previously exempt into one for which a permit would otherwise be required.

    pump capacity threshold: <= 50 gallons per minute (Single wells at or below this threshold are exempt unless a district rule requires a permit under the statutory exceptions.) · ordinary application filing fee: 50 USD (Payable to the district.) · late permit application fee: 250 USD (Applies when a required permit was not obtained.) · district decision deadline: 30 days (Measured after the application is filed.) · dewatering intended-use period: <= 90 days (Test holes and dewatering wells intended for use for ninety days or less do not require a permit.)

    “shall, before commencing construction, apply with the district in which the water well will be located for a permit on forms provided by the district”
  • 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”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Conditional — Dwellings and non-dwellings generating wastewater in Johnson County.
      “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.”
  • Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Nebraska Engineers and Architects Regulation Act professional-licensure exemption for construction, remodeling, alteration, or renovation of qualifying detached one-family through four-family dwellings; incidental detached or attached sheds, storage buildings, and garages are excluded from the finished-space tabulation.

    • This is an exemption from involvement of a Nebraska-licensed architect or professional engineer, not an exemption from a building permit, zoning approval, building-code compliance, or other local requirement.
    • The statutory dwelling threshold is less than 5,000 square feet of above-grade finished space; the statute allows the Board to increase the exemption by rule, but not beyond the referenced state-building-code Type V, column B limits.
    • The Board states that counties and cities may be more restrictive than state law and instructs builders to check local requirements.

    statutory above-grade finished-space threshold: < 5000 square feet (For a detached single-family through four-family dwelling; Board rule may increase the exemption within the statutory ceiling.)

    “Any detached or attached sheds, storage buildings, and garages incidental to the dwelling are not included in the tabulation of finished space.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision in counties containing a city of the primary class, outside areas where a city or village has been granted and is exercising subdivision jurisdiction.

    • County-board approval is required before subdivision, platting, or laying out building lots and streets in the described area.
    • The county board may designate specific types of plats for approval by the county planning commission or planning director.
    • A plat has no force or effect and may not be recorded unless approved by the county board, county planning commission, or planning director.
    • The county has no power to regulate when the smallest parcel created is more than ten acres.
    • The county may prescribe subdivision standards, require installation of improvements, create public improvement districts, require a good and sufficient bond, and require dedication of land for public purposes.
    • The county planning commission approves plats on recommendation by the planning director and county engineer; the county board may withhold approval pending certified installation of required improvements, posting of a sufficient bond, or creation of public improvement districts.
    • Appeal procedures may be provided for actions of the county planning commission or planning director.

    smallest parcel exemption: > 10 acres (division is not subdivision 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”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Development areas in Johnson County where onsite wastewater systems are proposed on lots smaller than three acres.
      “Approval is required before developing areas where onsite wastewater systems are proposed on lots smaller than three acres.”
    • Regulated (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.
      “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,”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Development areas in Nebraska where an onsite wastewater treatment system is proposed on any lot less than three acres
      “prior to construction of a development area where an onsite wastewater treatment system is proposed on any lot less than three acres in size, the owner of the planned development area must submit an application for subdivision review.”
  • 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.”
  • 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;”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Nebraska counties adopting, administering, enforcing, and requiring permits under local building or construction codes for buildings, including residential construction, in unincorporated areas.

    • A county may enact, administer, or enforce a local building or construction code only if it adopts the state building code or adopts a building or construction code that conforms generally with the state building code.
    • A local code may include special or differing standards only within the statutory conformity rules, including standards addressing construction costs, safety, durability, efficiency, best practices, or special local conditions.
    • A local code must be regularly updated; generally, the most recently enacted state building code or a conforming code must be adopted within two years after an update to the state building code.
    • If a county does not adopt a code as authorized within two years after an update to the state building code, the state building code applies in the county, except that it does not apply to construction on a farm or for farm purposes.
    • A county may adopt administrative amendments concerning enforcement organization, staff qualifications, plan examination, inspections, appeals, permits, and fees, and may publish those amendments separately from the code.
    • Under section 23-172, county-adopted codes and the building-permit or occupancy-permit requirements imposed by those codes or sections 23-114.04 and 23-114.05 apply throughout the county except within incorporated cities or villages and except within an unincorporated area where a city or village has been granted zoning jurisdiction and is exercising that jurisdiction.
    • Under section 23-114.04, permits are required before erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or conversion of a nonfarm building or structure within a zoned area; a permit may be withheld when the proposed purpose conflicts with applicable district zoning regulations.
    • Section 23-114.04 permits reasonable county permit-fee schedules and requires written plans, including sanitation, plumbing, and sewage-disposal information, that fully conform to zoning regulations before permits issue.
    • Section 23-172 states that nothing in that section creates an obligation for the county to inspect plumbing work to determine compliance with the plumbing code.
    “Any county, city, or village may enact, administer, or enforce a local building or construction code if or as long as such county, city, or village: (i) Adopts the state building code; or (ii) Adopts a building or construction code that conforms generally with the state building code.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in Johnson County.

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 Johnson County, Nebraska

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

Johnson County scores 58/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and more administrative friction around building and land use. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (32.6″/yr rainfall).

How much does land cost in Johnson County, Nebraska?

Land in Johnson County runs about $4,389 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Johnson County?

Johnson County gets about 32.6" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 9.5% of years.

How remote is Johnson County?

A representative private-land location has about 15,241 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,966,216 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.

How Johnson compares in Nebraska

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