Scottsbluff, Nebraska Building Permit Guide

In Scottsbluff, the City’s Development Services Department reviews plans and issues building, electrical and plumbing permits for the city and a mapped area around it, and most applications are filed through the online Scottsbluff Connect portal. The City says small jobs are usually reviewed within 24 hours and a new home or commercial building can take 7 to 10 days, and inspection requests are typically met within 24 hours.

What needs a permit in Scottsbluff?

A plumbing permit is needed for all new construction and additions; for new or replacement air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, sewer and water services; and for backflow preventers, water softeners and reverse osmosis units.

Who issues permits in Scottsbluff?

Development Services handles planning, building, zoning, code enforcement and GIS, and its certified inspectors review plans and inspect all types of construction. Zachary Glaubius is the Development Services Director. The office is open to the public, and appointments are welcome for specific questions.

The city’s building, electrical and plumbing ordinances also apply in an area outside the city limits that the zoning code describes by its boundaries (roads, canals and the North Platte River). Under an agreement with Terrytown, the same office handles building permits there. Rural land outside the zoning areas of Scottsbluff and the county’s other towns, such as Gering and Mitchell, is permitted by Scotts Bluff County’s Building and Zoning department in Gering.

Applying online and at City Hall

Most permits are applied for in the Scottsbluff Connect portal, which the City launched on November 7, 2023. Complete the City’s Building Permit Checklist before filling in a building permit. Building moving and demolition applications must be completed in person at City Hall.

• Homeowner Verification Form: required when the owner does the electrical wiring in a single-family home that is the owner’s principal residence, without pay; a separate permit is needed for a temporary construction power pole.
• Water and sewer permits: sewer service connection, water service connection, construction water connection, meter size change and private well applications.
• Right-of-Way Obstruction Permit: for work that blocks streets or sidewalks.
• Typical drawings: the City posts sample details for decks, patios, detached garages, stairways, wall sections, curb and sidewalk, water service and site plans.

Building contractors must register with the City before working in Scottsbluff or its zoning jurisdiction ($50, then $25 a year to renew). Electrical contractors do not register separately but must show state registration, and plumbing must be done by a City-licensed plumber.

Scottsbluff permit fees

Building permit fees are set in Chapter 6, Article 6 of the city code and charged on the estimated cost of construction. The code values new commercial buildings and one- and two-family homes at $150 per sq ft and detached garages at $15 per sq ft; for fences, roofs, carports and sheds under 200 sq ft the applicant’s good-faith estimate is used. Each January the Building Official sets the average cost per square foot used for the following 12 months.

Electrical and plumbing permits

Development Services issues electrical and plumbing permits and inspects the work. Scottsbluff does not appear on the State Electrical Division’s list of local inspection programs, but the city code (Section 6-6-8), its permit FAQ and its homeowner wiring form all provide for City electrical permits and inspections. Residential electrical permits are charged per item ($0.20 per outlet or fixture, $2 per service, motor, electric heating or air-conditioning appliance or sign, $3 minimum) plus $30 per inspection; commercial electrical fees depend on service size and branch circuits, plus a 15% administration fee. Plumbing and gas inspections cost $1.50 per fixture or item plus $30 per inspection.

What the building permit checklist asks for

• Site plan (required for every application): the new structure, existing buildings, property lines with distances, streets, easements and setbacks, water, sewer, electric and gas lines, new and existing parking, curb cuts and sidewalks, and a north arrow
• Floor plan drawn to scale (preferably 1/4 inch): every floor including basements, each room’s use and size, structural elements, doors and windows, fire assemblies and separations, and interior finishes
• Foundation plan: footings and foundations with size, thickness, materials, strengths, reinforcement and anchoring
• Framing and roof framing plans: floor, roof and ceiling members, truss schedule, material size, spacing and grade, and attachment methods

How to get a Scottsbluff building permit: 5 steps

Scottsbluff inspections

Inspection requests are typically met within 24 hours, and major projects can be assigned one primary inspector for the whole job. The City lists these inspections:

• Footings, when formed and ready to pour
• Foundations, when waterproofing is done and before backfill
• Framing, once framing, wiring, plumbing, venting and insulation are complete and before walls are covered
• Plumbing, gas and mechanical: open rough-in and final
• Electrical: rough-in, service, temporary pole and meter loop, and final
• Final, when the project is ready for occupancy

For owner-wired homes, wiring must be inspected before it is concealed, and the home may not be occupied until the electrical final is passed.

Local Scottsbluff details

Floodplain: every construction project in the floodplain or floodway needs a City floodplain permit under the floodway rules in Chapter 25, Article 19. The City Viewer map shows the floodway, floodplain and FEMA flood zones, and Scottsbluff is a Community Rating System Class 8 city, which gives residents a flood insurance discount.

Fences: a fence permit is checked against height limits and corner visibility.

Planning: the Planning Division reviews site plans and works with the Planning Commission on rezonings and plats and with the Board of Adjustment on variances.

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

Scottsbluff has adopted the 2018 International Building Code, the 2018 International Residential Code with Appendix F and the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, with local exclusions, and they apply in the city and its zoning jurisdiction.

Official resources

• Scottsbluff Development Services
• Scottsbluff Connect permitting portal
• Scottsbluff permit applications and forms
• Scottsbluff permit and inspection FAQs
• Scottsbluff inspections
• Scottsbluff contractor licensing and fees
• Scottsbluff floodplain information
• Scottsbluff code: building permit fees (Section 6-6-2)
• Scottsbluff code: adopted building codes (Section 4-1-2)

Scottsbluff permit FAQs

How do I apply for a building permit in Scottsbluff?

Complete the Building Permit Checklist, then apply with your drawings in the Scottsbluff Connect portal. Moving and demolition permits are filed in person at City Hall.

How long does a Scottsbluff building permit take?

Most remodels and small items within 24 hours, garages and simple add-ons the same day to 3 days, and new homes or commercial projects up to 7 to 10 days.

Do I need a permit for a new roof or a fence?

Yes. Roofing with new shingles and fences both need permits; gutters, painting and storm windows do not.

Can a homeowner do the electrical work?

Yes, in a single-family home that is the owner’s principal residence, if the owner does the work without pay and files the Homeowner Verification Form with the electrical permit.

Who can do plumbing in Scottsbluff?

A City of Scottsbluff licensed plumber, under a City plumbing permit.

Who issues permits in Terrytown?

Scottsbluff Development Services, under Terrytown’s agreement with the City of Scottsbluff.

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