Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tecumseh, Nebraska

Tecumseh’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, renovation, demolition and moving inside Tecumseh city and its zoning jurisdiction

  • Applicant submits a dimensioned sketch or scale plan.
  • Permit issued by the zoning administrator.
  • Permits issued before the 2015 amendment expired after 180 days (9.04.06).

  “it shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for the construction or to commence the construction of any building, or any accessory buildings, or to commence the demolition, moving or alteration of any buildings, including accessory buildings, until the zoning administrator has issued a building, demolition or moving permit for such work.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Final inspection for zoning conformity before a certificate of occupancy inside Tecumseh city

  • Only a final zoning-conformity inspection is shown; construction-phase building-code inspections not confirmed.

  “it shall be the duty of the zoning administrator to cause a final inspection thereof and to issue a certificate of occupancy”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land or buildings erected or altered in use or structure inside Tecumseh city

  • Issued by the zoning administrator or designee after conformity with the zoning ordinance is found.

  “no land or building or part thereof hereafter erected or altered in its use or structure shall be used until the zoning administrator or their designated agent shall have issued a certificate of occupancy”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Tecumseh city, Johnson County, NE (and its zoning jurisdiction)

  • Ordinance footer is dated 2019; file name says updated 10-7-25.

  “this ordinance may be known and may be cited and referred to as the zoning ordinance of the city of tecumseh, nebraska.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Tecumseh city zoning districts

  • Districts listed in the table of contents: TA, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1, plus Gateway Corridor and Historic overlay districts.

  “section 5.05 ta transitional agriculture district 45 section 5.06 r-1 low density residential district 47 section 5.07 r-2 medium density residential 48 section 5.08 r-3 high density residential 49”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District, single-family detached, inside Tecumseh city

  • Single-family attached: 12,500 sf per unit; other permitted uses 20,000 sf.
  • Other districts (TA, R-2, R-3) not extracted.

  minimum lot area: >= 20000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 100 ft

  “uses lot area lot front side rear max. max. lot (sf) width yard yard yard height coverage single-family, detached** 20,000 100' 25' 10' *** 35' 35%”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District, single-family detached, inside Tecumseh city

  • Accessory buildings have separate coverage limits.

  max lot coverage: <= 35 percent

  “uses lot area lot front side rear max. max. lot (sf) width yard yard yard height coverage single-family, detached** 20,000 100' 25' 10' *** 35' 35%”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Low Density Residential District, single-family detached, inside Tecumseh city

  • Other permitted uses 45 ft; accessory buildings 17 ft.

  max height: <= 35 ft

  “uses lot area lot front side rear max. max. lot (sf) width yard yard yard height coverage single-family, detached** 20,000 100' 25' 10' *** 35' 35%”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application inside Tecumseh city

  • Only the application contents are quoted; fees and review timeline not confirmed.

  “in applying to the zoning administrator for a building, demolition or moving permit, the applicant shall submit a dimensioned sketch or a scale plan”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder inside Tecumseh city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Tecumseh city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Tecumseh city
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Tecumseh city
• Camping on your land — Camping inside Tecumseh city

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.