In rural Saline County the permit is a $30 county building permit issued under the zoning regulations by Zoning Administrator Lyle Weber (402-821-3326), and the application must be filed and paid at least 48 hours before the county acts on it. The application itself notes that Saline County has adopted no building code, so the permit is reviewed against the zoning regulations rather than a construction code. Crete, Wilber and the villages handle permits in their own areas.
What needs a permit in rural Saline County?
The county application covers these projects outside the towns and their zoning areas:
Building permit
- New houses and other new construction
- Alterations and enlargements of existing buildings
- Moving a building onto a site
- Converting an existing site or building to a new use
- Placing a single-wide or double-wide manufactured home
Certificate or nothing
- Farm buildings on a farm of 20 acres or more producing at least $1,000 of crops or livestock a year need only a certificate of zoning compliance
- Home occupations that meet the regulations need no zoning permit
- Roadside stands selling produce or crafts from the property need no permit
A farm building used for a non-farm purpose, or on land that does not qualify as a farm, is treated as a non-farm building and needs a permit. Building plans must be provided for new construction.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who issues permits in Saline County?
The Zoning Administrator issues county permits and enforces the zoning regulations, which apply to all land outside the incorporated cities and villages and outside their zoning areas. Approved permits are copied to the County Assessor. The county has no electrical inspection program, so electrical permits and inspections in the rural county come from the State Electrical Division (Lincoln office 402-471-3550).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Zoning Administrator | Lyle Weber, 402-821-3326 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 865, Wilber, NE 68465 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday |
| Rural 911 address signs | County Highway Department, 402-821-3975 ($70 a sign) |
Who issues permits in each town:
- Crete: the City’s Building Inspector, on the first floor of City Hall at 243 East 13th Street (402-826-4312), issues building, plumbing, mechanical, fence and other permits, and the City’s codes apply in the city and its 2-mile zoning area. Its forms page also includes septic tank, well and floodplain permit applications.
- Wilber: building permits are required for any building, addition, outbuilding or fence; the application goes to the City Office at 110 W. Third Street (402-821-3233).
- Dorchester: the village issues zoning permits, $30 for residential and $150 for commercial work, signed by its Zoning Administrator and Village Clerk (701 Washington Avenue, 402-946-3201).
- De Witt: the published sources do not say who issues building permits; call the village office at 402-683-5025.
- Friend, Swanton, Tobias and Western: the published sources do not say who issues building permits; ask the city or village clerk.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Saline County permit fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building permit | $30 |
| Subdivision application | $25 per parcel |
| Zoning change | $100 |
| Variance | $100 |
| Late fee (application not received by the application date) | $75 extra |
The County Board of Commissioners sets these fees, and no action is taken on an application until they are paid.
What the Saline County application asks for
- The legal description and the date of the original deed for the parcel (for a new house or manufactured home)
- Proposed use, building size, height to the top of the roof and estimated cost
- Whether the site is within 2 miles of a confined livestock feeding use, with the distance and direction
- A site plan sketch showing roads and distances from their centerlines, the driveway, the new building and its distances to the side and rear lines when under 100 feet, other buildings within 100 feet, any river or stream, and the well, septic tank and tile field
- For commercial uses, parking and loading areas and signs; for livestock feeding uses, waste handling areas and distances to homes within 2 miles
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Any shelterbelt, windbreak or tree planting shown must be at least 50 feet from the road right-of-way line.
How to get a Saline County permit
Make sure the land is outside every city or village and its zoning area; the county map is on the Saline County GIS site.
Confirm the zoning district, lot size and setbacks before buying or designing.
Submit the application, site plan and plans and pay the $30 fee at least 48 hours before you need a decision.
Work must begin within 1 year of approval and be finished within 2 years, or the permit expires.
Electrical work outside the towns is permitted and inspected by the State Electrical Division.
Local Saline County details
Lot size and setbacks: in the general agricultural district a house needs at least 5 acres, or more where the state’s Title 124 onsite wastewater rules call for a lagoon or similar system. The front setback is 58 feet from the centerline of a county road, or 25 feet from the right-of-way of a federal or state highway.
Rather not deal with the Saline County building department?
Get a free quote →Septic systems and wells: when a permit includes a new septic tank and tile field, the county attaches the Title 124 rules to the permit. Sites in a wellhead protection district must meet that district’s limits.
Planning Commission: the Planning & Zoning Board meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Courthouse Assembly Room in Wilber.
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 Saline County resources
- Saline County Planning and Zoning
- Saline County zoning fees
- Saline County Building Permit Application
- Saline County Zoning Regulations (amended 2018)
- Saline County Planning and Zoning meetings and agendas
- City of Crete Building Inspector’s permit forms
- City of Wilber licensing, permits and fees
- Village of Dorchester zoning permit application
- State Electrical Division local inspection programs
Saline County permit FAQs
How much is a building permit in rural Saline County?
$30, paid with the application at least 48 hours before the county acts on it.
Does Saline County have a building code?
No. The county’s permit application states that Saline County has not adopted any building code regulating design and construction; permits are reviewed against the zoning regulations.
Do farm buildings need a permit in Saline County?
Farm buildings on a qualifying farm of 20 acres or more need only a certificate of zoning compliance, not a building permit.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →What is the minimum lot size for a rural house in Saline County?
5 acres in the general agricultural district, or more if the septic system design requires it.
Who issues permits near Crete?
The City of Crete’s Building Inspector, inside the city and within its 2-mile zoning area.
How long is a Saline County permit good for?
Work must start within 1 year of approval and be completed within 2 years.
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More Nebraska permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Saline County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.