Fremont, Nebraska Building Permit Guide

The City of Fremont’s Building Permits & Inspections Department issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for all work inside the city and within two miles of its limits. Applications go to the department at 400 E. Military Avenue with plans, and fees follow the 2026–2027 Master Fee Schedule: new homes and additions are charged on ICC building valuation data with a 0.0055 multiplier, and the schedule adds a park fee of 10% of the cost of the building permit.

What needs a permit in Fremont?

The City requires a permit for all construction, alteration or repair of buildings in Fremont or its two-mile jurisdiction, including roof shingle, siding and gutter replacement, flue vent caps, basement waterproofing, and repair of interior water or fire damage. Fremont also struck the residential code’s exemptions for minor electrical, gas and mechanical work, so that work needs a permit too.

The department’s web page describes free-standing decks under 200 sq ft as exempt, and its FAQ says all fences, sheds and signs need a permit; the exemption list adopted in City Code Section 9-402 is the one shown above.

Who issues permits in Fremont?

A Chief Building Inspector oversees the Building Department staff, who issue permits, inspect work, review plans and monitor construction sites. Fremont runs its own electrical inspection program and is on the State Electrical Division’s list of municipal programs. Beyond the two-mile line, rural land in Dodge County is permitted by the Dodge County Zoning/Building Inspection Department.

Applications and registration

The Permits & Inspections page posts the Residential & Commercial Building Permit Application (new construction, additions, remodels, tenant improvements and accessory structures), a General Building Permit Application for other work, and separate forms for decks, demolition, electrical, grading, plumbing and mechanical, signs, work-site trailers and mobile homes, footing and foundation only, floodplain-floodway development, sidewalks and approaches, septic systems and certificate of occupancy requests. Water and sewer connections use a separate Fremont Department of Utilities application.

General contractors working for hire on a permitted job in the city or the two-mile zone must register with the City: $65, a completed application, a certificate of liability insurance of at least $250,000 naming the City as additional insured, and proof of Nebraska Department of Labor registration.

Trade registration: electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are issued only to holders of a City master registration ($90 initial, $45 renewal), which needs proof of a passed exam from the State Electrical Division, NITC or ETS (or a reciprocal registration) and $1,000,000 of liability cover. Journeyman registration is $45 and apprentice $35. Onsite wastewater professionals and water-conditioning installers register too.

Fremont permit fees

Fees come from the Fremont Master Fee Schedule 2026–2027, last reviewed by Resolution 2026-109 on April 28, 2026. For new construction and additions, the City prices the work from the ICC Building Valuation Data table, updated every even year to the February table, with a 0.0055 permit fee multiplier, and charges finished basements built with the house at 30% of the table rate. Alterations, accessory buildings, decks, roofs, siding and similar work are priced on the contract cost; for owner-built work the FAQ counts labor as half the cost of materials.

A third offense within 24 months costs $600 plus permit fees and suspends the general contractor’s and master contractors’ City registrations for six months.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

A homeowner may do electrical wiring, heating and air conditioning, and plumbing work in a single-family house he or she owns and lives in, on land the owner also owns, after filing plans and taking out the permit. The exception does not cover electrical service equipment or wiring for spas, hot tubs, in-ground pools or therapy pools.

What to submit

The department does not accept partial plans.

How to get a Fremont permit

Fremont inspections

Call the Inspection Hotline at 402-727-2657 or email building@fremontne.gov with your name, phone, permit number and address, the inspection type, the date and time you want and any instructions. Requests are taken first come, first served, and if no slot is open the inspection rolls to the next business day. Work must stay exposed until approved.

A $55 re-inspection fee may be charged when work is not ready, the address or permit is not posted, approved plans are not on site, or corrections are not made. Water and sewer line inspections are booked separately with Water Records at 402-727-2698 by the day before.

Local Fremont details

Design criteria: Fremont’s residential table uses a 25 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind, a 36-inch frost line and a −5°F winter design temperature.

Pool barriers: outdoor pools, hot tubs and spas need a barrier at least 72 inches high with self-closing, self-latching pedestrian gates.

Code hosting: on August 25, 2026 the City Council approved an agreement with enCodePlus to host the Municipal Code online (Resolution 2026-213), so the code’s web address may change.

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

Official Fremont resources

• Fremont Building Permits & Inspections
• Fremont permit applications and inspections
• Fremont adopted building codes
• Fremont contractor registration and examination
• Fremont Master Fee Schedule 2026–2027 (PDF)
• Fremont residential and commercial building permit application (PDF)
• Fremont Municipal Code, Chapter 9 (Municode)
• Nebraska State Electrical Division: municipal inspection programs

Fremont permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Fremont?

The City’s Building Permits & Inspections Department, 400 E. Military Avenue, 402-727-2636, for the city and its two-mile jurisdiction.

How is the permit fee for a new house worked out?

From the ICC Building Valuation Data table with a 0.0055 multiplier, finished basements at 30% of the table rate, plus a park fee of 10% of the building permit.

Do I need a permit for a new roof?

Yes. Repair or replacement of roof shingles, siding and gutters needs a building permit and inspection.

Do I need a permit for a shed or fence?

Section 9-402 of the adopted code exempts sheds up to 80 sq ft and fences up to 30 inches high, and larger ones need a permit. The City’s FAQ says every fence and shed needs a permit, so call 402-727-2636 before building a small one.

Can a homeowner do their own electrical work?

Yes, in a single-family house the owner owns and lives in, with a permit and inspections; service equipment and pool or spa wiring are excluded.

How do I book an inspection?

Call 402-727-2657 or email building@fremontne.gov.

Simplify Fremont permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Nebraska. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Fremont permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.