Bolthole Index

Lincoln County, Nebraska

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Brady, Nebraska

The Village of Brady, Nebraska requires a building permit before erecting, moving, adding to or structurally altering a building, with limited exemptions.1 Brady sets its own zoning inside village limits, rather than applying Lincoln County’s unincorporated-land zoning.23 Private sewage disposal has village permit provisions where applicable, alongside Nebraska’s onsite wastewater requirements.45

At a glance

Building permits
Required for construction, moving, additions and structural alterations, with limited exemptions1
Zoning
Village zoning; district determines permitted uses2
Septic
Village private-disposal permit provisions plus state requirements45
AGR lot size
3 acres, with a conditional rural-subdivision exception6
Manufactured homes
Outside mobile home parks: at least 900 square feet and 18 feet wide, plus other standards7
Occupancy approval
Certificate required except for primarily agricultural use8
Owner-builders
State contractor-registration exemption does not waive building permits9

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Brady Clerk’s Office

Contact the clerk for the village Zoning Administrator and building-permit submission instructions.

308-584-3316

121 N. Main Street Brady, NE 69123

Zoning

Village of Brady Planning Resources

Published village zoning map and building-permit application.

Online permits →

Septic permits

Nebraska DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program

State onsite wastewater rules, permits, registration and professional certification

(402) 471-4285

[email protected]

245 Fallbrook Blvd. Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68521

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Brady means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Brady, NE?

Brady requires a building permit before a building or structure is erected, moved, enlarged or structurally altered.1 The proposed construction and use must conform to village zoning, other applicable village requirements and lawful variances.1 Agricultural nonresidential buildings or structures in the AGR district and improvements valued at $1,000 or less are exempt from this building-permit requirement.1

A Brady house should not be treated as an exempt agricultural building: the village’s agricultural exemption is specifically nonresidential.10 Nebraska’s own-property contractor-registration exemption does not waive applicable building permits, inspections or codes.9

Who issues building permits in the Village of Brady?

Brady’s Zoning Administrator approves or disapproves building-permit applications within 30 days of receipt; approval and payment of required fees lead to issuance.11 The village planning page provides a building-permit application and official zoning map.12 Start with those resources, then contact the Village Clerk at 308-584-3316 for submission instructions and the current Zoning Administrator contact.13

The village office is at 121 N. Main Street, Brady, NE 69123.13 Ask the clerk for the current building-permit fee schedule before budgeting the application; we could not confirm the fee amount.11 An appeal of the administrator’s determination must be submitted in writing within 10 days after the determination is filed.11

Does the Village of Brady have zoning, lot sizes and setbacks?

Brady has village zoning, including agricultural-residential, residential, commercial and industrial districts.2 Use the village’s official zoning map to identify the parcel’s district before choosing a house location or use.12

In Brady’s AGR Agriculture Residential District, the minimum lot area is 3 acres; a stated rural-subdivision exception with shared or community drinking-water and sanitary-sewer systems may allow half-acre parcels under the specified state-regulation condition.6 AGR front yards must be at least 30 feet deep, measured from the existing roadway right-of-way line.14 AGR rear and side yards have no limitation unless the parcel abuts a Residential District, when the minimums are 15 feet at the rear and 10 feet at the side.14 These are AGR standards; ask the village Zoning Administrator for the requirements of the parcel’s actual district.14

How do septic permits work inside the Village of Brady?

Brady’s private sewage disposal provisions include a local permit requirement where private disposal is applicable, along with inspection, specification and maintenance provisions.154 Ask the village office whether the parcel must connect to public sewer and whether private disposal is eligible before commissioning a septic design.1315

Nebraska requires wastewater-generating buildings to use a compliant onsite wastewater system or connect to public sewer or other wastewater works, with local requirements applying separately.16 The Nebraska DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program handles state requirements and site-specific permitting for systems with large size, non-domestic wastes or siting issues.17 Constructed, reconstructed, altered or otherwise changed onsite systems must be registered with the Department.17 In Brady’s AGR district, sewage disposal and water systems require a special permit, and waste disposal must comply with local and state rules.18

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Brady?

We could not confirm permission for long-term RV living, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy on a private Brady lot; ask the village Zoning Administrator about the proposed unit and use before buying.2 Nebraska classifies tiny houses as manufactured homes, modular housing units or recreational vehicles, and state classification does not establish local land-use approval.19

Brady requires manufactured homes outside mobile home parks to have at least 900 square feet of floor area and an exterior width of at least 18 feet, along with roof, material, transport-equipment and building-code requirements.7 The manufactured-home standard does not establish a general minimum size for every site-built house; we could not confirm that separate minimum.7 Brady also requires a certificate of occupancy for initial and continued occupancy or use, except primarily agricultural uses.8

Building a home in the Village of Brady: what are the steps?

First, locate the parcel on Brady’s official zoning map and discuss the intended residential use with the village Zoning Administrator.122 Next, settle the wastewater route with the village and, for an onsite system, the Nebraska DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program.1517 Submit the building-permit application with the required plot plan and information, and obtain approval before starting work.1

Before occupancy, Brady’s Zoning Administrator examines the buildings, structures or sites covered by a building-permit application, and a certificate of occupancy is required except for primarily agricultural use.208 A temporary partial certificate may last no more than 90 days and is conditional on safe occupancy of completed portions.8 For land outside village limits, consult the Lincoln County guide: county zoning authority excludes incorporated villages and areas under exercised municipal zoning jurisdiction.3

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Brady’s private-well, sewer-hookup or building-permit fee details; ask the Village Clerk to route those questions before purchasing a lot.13
  • Nebraska requires a permit for all floodplain development; ask the village office to identify the applicable local floodplain administrator before grading or construction.2113
  • Brady’s manufactured-home rules do not supersede valid restrictive covenants of record.22

Sources

  1. § 154.136 Building Permits Required (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 154: Zoning Code (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  3. Nebraska Revised Statute 23-114 (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 53: Sewers (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Wastewater Program (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 154.040 AGR Agriculture Residential District (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  7. § 154.092 Manufactured Homes (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  8. § 154.137 Certification of Occupancy Required (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  9. Nebraska Revised Statute 48-2104 — Registration required (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. § 154.136 Building Permits Required (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  11. § 154.136 Building Permits Required (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Brady Planning Resources (villageofbrady.org)
  13. Village of Brady Clerk’s Office (villageofbrady.org)
  14. § 154.040 AGR Agriculture Residential District (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 53: Sewers (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Just for Homeowners (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Nebraska DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program (dee.nebraska.gov)
  18. § 154.040 AGR Agriculture Residential District (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  19. Housing and Recreational Vehicle (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. § 154.137 Certification of Occupancy Required (Village of Brady), quoted and re-checked
  21. Floodplain Management Q&A: Permits (Nebraska statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. § 154.092 Manufactured Homes (Village of Brady), 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 Village of Brady

Village of Brady’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, moving, addition to, or structural alteration of a building or structure within Brady village limits.

    • The proposed construction or use must conform to Chapter 154, other applicable village codes, regulations and laws, and lawful Board of Adjustment orders and variances.
    • Agricultural nonresidential buildings or structures in AGR districts and improvements valued at $1,000 or less are exempt.
    • A permit is void if work does not begin within six months or is discontinued for six months; a new permit is then required before work resumes.
    • The application must include the described plot plan and information required by the Zoning Administrator.
    • The Zoning Administrator must approve or disapprove within 30 days of receipt; an appeal must be made in writing within ten days after filing of the determination.

    improvement-value exemption threshold: <= 1000 USD (Permit is not required for improvements valued at $1,000 or less.) · application review period: <= 30 days (Measured from receipt of application.)

    “without a building permit first having been issued”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes outside mobile home parks within Brady village limits.

    • The manufactured home must meet the Building Code requirements adopted by the village.
    • Valid restrictive covenants of record are not superseded.
    “Building Code requirements adopted by the village.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings, structures, or sites for which a Brady building-permit application has been filed.

    • Inspection occurs before issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
    • The Zoning Administrator maintains records of examinations, inspections, and findings of violations.
    “Before issuing a certificate of occupancy, the Zoning Administrator shall examine all buildings”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy or use of buildings, structures, and land within Brady village limits.

    • The requirement excludes a use that is primarily agricultural.
    • A temporary partial certificate may be issued for no more than 90 days if completed portions can be occupied safely without endangering life or public welfare.
    • The application must be filed by the owner or agent with the required affidavit.
    • The certificate is required for both initial and continued occupancy and use.

    temporary certificate maximum period: <= 90 days (Only for safely occupiable completed portions before the work is complete.)

    “unless a certificate of occupancy shall be issued”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land within Brady village limits, subject to Chapter 154 district and use controls.

    • The published code identifies an AGR Agriculture Residential District, an R-1 Residential Single-Family District, an R-2 Residential Mobile Home/Single- and Multi-Family District, commercial districts, and an industrial district.
    “Establishment and Designation of Districts [...] 154.026 Districts created [...] Zoning Districts [...] 154.040 AGR Agriculture Residential District [...] 154.041 R-1 Residential Single-Family District”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land within Brady village limits subject to the Chapter 154 zoning map and districts.

    • The code's district list includes AGR, R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, and I districts.
    “Zoning Districts [...] 154.040 AGR Agriculture Residential District [...] 154.041 R-1 Residential Single-Family District [...] 154.042 R-2 Residential Mobile Home/Single- and Multi-Family District [...] 154.043 C-1 General Commercial District”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    AGR Agriculture Residential District within Brady's zoning jurisdiction.

    • For rural subdivisions with individual parcels under three acres and a shared or community drinking-water and sanitary-sewer system, the minimum individual parcel area may be reduced to one-half acre under the stated state-regulation condition.

    minimum lot area: >= 3 acres (AGR uses; stated rural-subdivision exception may allow one-half-acre individual parcels.)

    “Minimum lot requirements. The minimum lot area for AGR uses shall be three acres.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    AGR Agriculture Residential District within Brady's zoning jurisdiction.

    • Rear and side yards have no limitation unless the parcel abuts a Residential District; then rear yard is 15 feet and side yard is ten feet.
    • The front-yard measurement is from the existing roadway right-of-way line.

    front yard: >= 30 feet (Measured from existing roadway right-of-way line.) · rear yard abutting Residential District: >= 15 feet (Otherwise no rear-yard limitation.) · side yard abutting Residential District: >= 10 feet (Otherwise no side-yard limitation.)

    “Front yard. There shall be a minimum front yard of not less than a depth of 30 feet, measured from the existing road way right-of-way line. (2) Rear yard. No limitations, unless abutting a Residential District then the minimum rear yard shall be 15 feet. (3) Side yard. No limitations, unless abutting a Residential District then the minimum side yard shall be ten feet.”
  • Building heightNone

    AGR Agriculture Residential District within Brady's zoning jurisdiction.

    “Maximum height. No limitation. (J) Sign regulations. Signs within the AGR Agricultural Residential District shall be in conformance with the provisions of § 154.098 of this chapter.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes outside mobile home parks within Brady village limits.

    • The home must have at least 900 square feet of floor area and at least 18 feet of exterior width.
    • Roof pitch, exterior materials, roof material, removal of transport equipment, restrictive covenants, and the village building code requirements also apply.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 square feet (Manufactured homes outside mobile home parks.) · minimum exterior width: >= 18 feet (Manufactured homes outside mobile home parks.)

    “no less than 900 square feet of floor area”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal inside Brady village limits where such disposal is applicable.

    • Chapter 53 includes private sewage disposal provisions addressing applicability, permit and fee, permit effectiveness and inspections, specifications, maintenance, and additional requirements.
    “Private Sewage Disposal [...] 53.035 When applicable [...] 53.036 Permit required; fee [...] 53.037 Permit; when effective; inspections”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Private sewage disposal inside Brady village limits where applicable.

    • The published Chapter 53 private sewage disposal provisions include a section titled “Permit required; fee.”
    “Private Sewage Disposal [...] 53.035 When applicable [...] 53.036 Permit required; fee [...] 53.037 Permit; when effective; inspections”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sewage disposal and water systems in Brady's AGR Agriculture Residential District.

    • The use requires a special permit under §§ 154.060 through 154.063.
    • Waste disposal must comply with local and state regulations.
    • For dwellings in AGR, waste-absorption-field separation and tract-area requirements apply.
    “A building or premise may be used for the following purposes in the AGR Agricultural Residential District if a special permit for such use has been obtained in accordance with §§ 154.060 through 154.063 of this chapter: (1) Sewage disposal and water systems, including agricultural irrigation wells;”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural nonresidential buildings or structures in the AGR Agriculture Residential District.

    • The exemption does not apply to improvements valued above $1,000 merely because of value; the provision separately exempts improvements valued at $1,000 or less.
    • The general permit rule otherwise applies to erection, moving, additions, and structural alterations.
    “shall not be required for agricultural (nonresidential) buildings”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications within Brady village limits.

    • The application must include the described plot plan and pertinent information required by the Zoning Administrator.
    • The Zoning Administrator must approve or disapprove within 30 days of receipt.
    • Upon approval and receipt of required fees, the permit is issued; an appeal is in writing to the Board of Zoning Adjustment within ten days after the determination is filed.

    review period: <= 30 days (Measured from receipt of the application.) · appeal deadline: <= 10 days (Measured after the Zoning Administrator's determination has been filed.)

    “approve or disapprove such application within 30 days”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Brady or Lincoln County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction within Brady village limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Site-built single-family dwellings within Brady village limits.
  • Lot coverage — Land within Brady village limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land within Brady village limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land within Brady village limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Village of Brady publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Lincoln County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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