Whether a new off-grid home can legally get its own water in Nebraska: the state well and water-rights rules, then the 29 counties where a specific groundwater basin adds a catch — each cited to the state water agency.
Nebraska water rules
Household well
Exempt — no permit or water right
Domestic/household wells are exempt from NRD construction permits and generally from basin well moratoriums (domestic is a preferred use), so a newcomer can still drill a household well even in over-appropriated basins — it must be registered with the state.
Limit: Wells ≤50 gpm (household/stock) need no NRD construction permit; all new wells must be registered with NeDNR
Over-appropriatedBanner CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)59
Over-appropriatedBuffalo CountyPlatte Basin Fully Appropriated Area (to Elm Creek reach)53
Over-appropriatedChase CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)55
Over-appropriatedCheyenne CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)60
Over-appropriatedDawson CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)55
Over-appropriatedDeuel CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)50
Over-appropriatedDundy CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)50
Over-appropriatedFranklin CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)53
Over-appropriatedFrontier CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)51
Over-appropriatedFurnas CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)56
Over-appropriatedGarden CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)56
Over-appropriatedGosper CountyPlatte Basin Fully Appropriated Area (to Elm Creek reach)50
Over-appropriatedHall CountyPlatte Basin Fully Appropriated Area (to Elm Creek reach)54
Over-appropriatedHamilton CountyPlatte Basin Fully Appropriated Area (to Elm Creek reach)55
Over-appropriatedHarlan CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)55
Over-appropriatedHayes CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)62
Over-appropriatedHitchcock CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)51
Over-appropriatedKearney CountyPlatte Basin Fully Appropriated Area (to Elm Creek reach)56
Over-appropriatedKeith CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)52
Over-appropriatedKimball CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)57
Over-appropriatedLincoln CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)58
Over-appropriatedMerrick CountyPlatte Basin Fully Appropriated Area (to Elm Creek reach)51
Over-appropriatedMorrill CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)48
Over-appropriatedNuckolls CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)53
Over-appropriatedPerkins CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)62
Over-appropriatedPhelps CountyPlatte Basin Fully Appropriated Area (to Elm Creek reach)56
Over-appropriatedRed Willow CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)53
Over-appropriatedScotts Bluff CountyPlatte Basin Over-Appropriated Area (above Elm Creek)47
Over-appropriatedWebster CountyRepublican River Basin (fully appropriated, Compact-managed)58
The Bolthole Index Letter
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.