In unincorporated Dodge County, building and zoning permits come from the county’s Zoning/Building Inspection Department in Room 204 of the courthouse at 435 N. Park in Fremont. The permit fee follows a value-based schedule in force since May 1, 2024, running from $50 for work up to $3,000 to $520 at $200,000, plus $3 for each $1,000 above that, so a $300,000 house pays $820. Any electrical permit the work needs is a separate permit from the State Electrical Division.
Who issues permits in Dodge County?
The county department handles building and zoning permits in the county’s jurisdiction; each residential application ends with a certificate in which the county Building Inspector recommends that the permit be granted. Jeff Ray became Zoning Administrator in 2026 and presents zoning requests to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | Dodge County Zoning/Building Inspection Department (Planning & Zoning) |
| Office | 435 N. Park, Room 204, Fremont, NE 68025 |
| Phone | 402-727-2724 |
| inspection@dodgecountyne.gov | |
| Hours | Courthouse hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Who permits in each town:
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Town | Who issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Fremont | City of Fremont Building Permits & Inspections, 400 E. Military Avenue (402-727-2636), for the city and its two-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction |
| North Bend | City of North Bend, City Hall, 607 Main Street; 402-652-3584 |
| Scribner | City of Scribner office, 530 Main Street; applications by email or drop-off |
| Hooper, Dodge, Inglewood, Nickerson, Snyder, Uehling, Winslow | The published sources do not say; ask the city or village clerk |
What the county permits
- Building permits for houses and other construction on the county’s residential building permit application, which asks for basement, footing, insulation, framing, roof and exterior details
- Zoning approvals: lot splits, conditional use permits and zoning changes heard by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors
- No-Fee Residential Registration Permits, which the Board has approved alongside conditional use permits for lot splits under 20 acres in the A-1 Intensive Agriculture district
- Event venues: since September 16, 2026, event centers are allowed by conditional use permit in the A-1, A-2, A-3 and C-1 districts
The residential application sets minimum setbacks of 83 feet from the center of the road, 15 feet to the side lot line and 25 feet to the rear, and asks whether the site is in a flood zone.
Dodge County building permit fees
The Board of Supervisors adopted the current schedule on April 17, 2024, effective May 1, 2024; the Zoning Administrator told the Board the old schedule dated from 2012. The fee is based on the estimated construction cost entered on the application.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project value | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $0–$3,000 | $50 |
| $3,001–$5,000 | $85 |
| $5,001–$7,000 | $125 |
| $7,001–$10,000 | $155 |
| $10,001–$15,000 | $190 |
| $15,001–$20,000 | $225 |
| $20,001–$25,000 | $260 |
| $25,001–$40,000 | $295 |
| $40,001–$60,000 | $330 |
| $60,001–$75,000 | $365 |
| $75,001–$100,000 | $400 |
| $100,001–$125,000 | $430 |
| $125,001–$150,000 | $460 |
| $150,001–$175,000 | $490 |
| $175,001–$200,000 | $520 |
| Each $1,000 over $200,000 | add $3 |
For example, a house with an estimated cost of $300,000 is $100,000 over the top band, so the fee is $520 plus 100 × $3, or $820. Board minutes from July to September 2026 show no change to the schedule.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Electrical and other trades
The county application notes that any required electrical permit is a separate permit from the State Electrical Division, and Dodge County does not appear on the Division’s list of local electrical inspection programs. Fremont runs its own electrical program inside its jurisdiction. Plumbing and mechanical contractors are named on the county building application, and the applicant certifies that all work will meet Dodge County’s codes and resolutions with inspections as the Building Inspector directs.
What the application asks for
Site
- Recorded owner, property address and legal description (lot, block and addition, or section and township)
- Setbacks from the road center, sides and rear
- Flood zone and map number
Building
- Dimensions of the main building, garage and accessory areas; one or two stories
- Basement walls, footing sizes, wall and ceiling insulation
- Joist, stud and rafter sizes and spacing, or truss details
- Fire-rated 5/8-inch garage separation and a 1 3/8-inch solid door
- Building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical contractors, and estimated cost
A copy of each permit goes to the County Assessor. Lot splits and conditional uses have their own 2014 applications and a requirements sheet on the Zoning Department page.
Rather not deal with the Dodge County building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a Dodge County building permit
Fremont’s two-mile area and the other cities’ land go to those cities.
Use the official zoning map; a lot split or conditional use goes to the Planning Commission first.
Include construction details, contractors and the estimated cost.
The fee comes from the 2024 schedule.
Apply to the State Electrical Division for any wiring.
Request each inspection the Building Inspector lists.
Inspections
The Building Inspector sets the inspections for each permit and certifies that the application meets the county’s resolutions. The department’s inspection contacts are 402-727-2724 and inspection@dodgecountyne.gov. Electrical inspections are scheduled separately with the State Electrical Division.
Local Dodge County details
Bio-solids: since September 16, 2026, the Zoning Administrator may renew a bio-solids application conditional use permit administratively at its 5-year expiry when the office has received no notices or violations for the site.
Accessibility: the county permit states that it does not review projects for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
Nebraska building code
Nebraska's state building code applies by default where a city, village or county has adopted none; local codes must conform generally, and the energy code is mandatory statewide. Nebraska rules
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Official Dodge County resources
- Dodge County Zoning Department
- Dodge County residential building permit application (PDF)
- Dodge County building permit fee schedule, effective May 1, 2024 (PDF)
- Dodge County official zoning map (PDF)
- Dodge County lot split and conditional use requirements (PDF)
- Dodge County Board of Supervisors minutes
- Nebraska State Electrical Division: inspection programs
Dodge County permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in rural Dodge County?
The Dodge County Zoning/Building Inspection Department, Room 204 of the courthouse at 435 N. Park in Fremont; call 402-727-2724.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit for a new house?
It depends on the estimated cost: $520 at $200,000, plus $3 per $1,000 above that. A $300,000 house pays $820.
What are the minimum setbacks?
The county form lists 83 feet from the center of the road, 15 feet on the sides and 25 feet at the rear.
Does the county permit in Fremont’s fringe?
No. Fremont permits inside the city and within two miles of its limits.
Who handles electrical permits?
The State Electrical Division, on a separate permit.
Can I hold a wedding venue on farmland?
Since September 16, 2026, event centers can be approved by conditional use permit in the A-1, A-2, A-3 and C-1 districts.
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More Nebraska permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Dodge County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.