Red Willow County, Nebraska Building Permit Guide

In unincorporated Red Willow County, a zoning permit from the county Zoning Administrator is needed before a structure is erected, moved or enlarged or a use is changed. The permit costs $100, payable to the County Treasurer, under fee Resolution 1196, and the regulations give the Administrator 20 days to approve or deny an accepted application. The county has no building code; McCook, which zones up to 2 miles beyond its limits, runs its own building and plumbing permits.

What needs a Red Willow County zoning permit?

Section 9.02 of the zoning regulations makes it unlawful to excavate, erect, build, rebuild, enlarge, alter or move a building or structure, change the use of a building or land, or build a water or sewer connection until the Zoning Administrator has issued a zoning permit. The resolution’s preamble describes it as regulating the erection, alteration and use of non-farm buildings and structures.

The county asks for the legal description and address to say whether a particular project needs a permit and which setbacks apply.

Who issues permits in Red Willow County?

The county’s zoning administration is handled from 1111 Central Avenue in Kearney, where both the Zoning Administrator and the county floodplain administrator are reached at 308-234-6456; the zoning permit fee is paid to the Red Willow County Treasurer.

Cities and villages in Red Willow County

County zoning does not apply where a city or village is exercising zoning jurisdiction, and once a town adopts a resolution to zone an unincorporated area, its rules replace the county’s there.

• McCook (city): the City’s Building & Zoning Department, 505 W. C Street (308-345-2022, weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), issues building, demolition, foundation, mobile home, moving, plumbing and sign permits and inspects the work. Its zoning ordinance covers the city and up to 2 miles beyond, as shown on the Official Zoning Map, and contractors working in the city need a City contractor licence.
• Indianola (city) and the villages of Bartley, Danbury and Lebanon: none publishes a website, code or permit form online; ask the town clerk what applies inside town.

County forms

• Application for Zoning Permit: one form for structures to be erected, moved or enlarged, with a site plan grid on page 2. Keep the issued permit on the site during construction.
• Flood Plain Development Permit Application: on the county’s Flood Control page; the signed floodplain permit must be attached to the zoning application.
• Conditional use, variance, appeal and subdivision applications: heard by the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment or County Board under the fee resolution.

Red Willow County zoning fees

The fees come from Resolution No. 1196, adopted by the County Board on November 4, 2013, which is the schedule posted on the county’s Zoning Fees link. The second page of that posting is the older schedule ($50 zoning permit), marked obsolete since that date.

Electrical, septic and floodplain

The county issues no building, electrical or plumbing permits. No Red Willow County jurisdiction is on the State Electrical Division’s list of local electrical inspection programs, so electrical permits and inspections in the rural county, and in McCook, come from the Division (inspection District 4).

The zoning application asks whether the structure needs a septic system and requires the septic tank and drain field on the site plan. Floodplain sites need the county floodplain administrator’s signed development permit before the zoning permit is processed.

What to submit

• The completed zoning permit application, signed by the owner, with the legal description, parcel ID, lot size, structure type and use, dimensions, height, construction type and estimated cost
• Two identical sets of plans: plot plan, footing detail, wall detail, roof detail and floor plan
• A site plan (or aerial photo or survey) showing the new structure with distances to the front, side and rear lot lines, other buildings on the lot, the distance from the road centerline to the closest structure, and the septic tank and drain field
• For commercial, industrial or public uses, the number and location of parking spaces, loading areas and any signs
• The signed floodplain development permit, if the site is in a floodplain

The county will not accept an application with missing information.

How to get a Red Willow County zoning permit: 5 steps

Inspections and permit life

By signing the application, the owner lets the Zoning Administrator or authorized staff enter the property to inspect. The county does not inspect construction against a building code; electrical inspections are made by the State Electrical Division.

The application form says a permit is valid for 2 years, while Section 9.03 of the posted regulations says a permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days or is not completed within one year, unless the Administrator extends it in writing. Ask the Administrator for a written extension if a project will run past a year. Building without a permit is a Class III misdemeanor.

Current Red Willow County moratoriums

On August 24, 2026 the County Board adopted Resolution 1611, a 12-month zoning moratorium on pipelines, and Resolution 1612, extending the county’s zoning moratorium on data centers for another 12 months. After tabling the question on August 10, 2026, the Board decided on August 24 to continue its contract with the West Central Nebraska Development District for the comprehensive plan update.

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 resources

• Red Willow County Planning and Zoning
• Red Willow County Application for Zoning Permit
• Red Willow County zoning fees, Resolution 1196
• Red Willow County Zoning Regulations
• Red Willow County Flood Control and floodplain permit
• Red Willow County Board minutes, August 24, 2026 (moratoriums)
• City of McCook Building & Zoning
• Nebraska State Electrical Division: local electrical inspection programs

Red Willow County permit FAQs

Does Red Willow County issue building permits?

It issues zoning permits, not building code permits, for unincorporated land. McCook issues its own building permits within the city and its 2-mile zoning area.

How much is a zoning permit in Red Willow County?

$100, payable to the Red Willow County Treasurer. Signs are also $100, and conditional use permits and variances are $200.

Where is the Red Willow County zoning office?

The Zoning Administrator is at 1111 Central Avenue, Kearney; phone 308-234-6456.

How long does a county zoning permit take?

The regulations require a written approval or denial within 20 days of the application being accepted.

Who inspects electrical work?

The State Electrical Division, in both the rural county and McCook.

Can I build a data center in Red Willow County right now?

Not while the zoning moratorium on data centers runs; the County Board extended it for 12 more months on August 24, 2026.

Simplify Red Willow County 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 Red Willow County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.