Administrative overview · FIPS 31019
Buffalo County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Buffalo County Zoning & Floodplain Division
For a project in or near Buffalo County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
(308) 236-1998 (Zoning); (308) 236-1999 (Floodplain); (308) 236-1870 (additional office line)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Buffalo County Courthouse, 1512 Central Avenue, Kearney, NE 68848; mailing PO Box 1270, Kearney, NE 68848
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
Review expectation
N/A; Buffalo County publishes 2026 filing deadlines for public-hearing applications but no general zoning or building-permit review timeline.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Buffalo County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Buffalo County Zoning & Floodplain Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact (308) 236-1998 (Zoning); (308) 236-1999 (Floodplain); (308) 236-1870 (additional office line).
How long might review take?
N/A; Buffalo County publishes 2026 filing deadlines for public-hearing applications but no general zoning or building-permit review timeline.
How are inspections scheduled?
Contact the Buffalo County Zoning Administrator at (308) 236-1998 for zoning-permit and inspection instructions; contact Floodplain at (308) 236-1999. County zoning applications require written filing and plot-plan information; county staff review and recommend zoning, subdivision, and special-use applications.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Buffalo County’s current zoning regulations require a zoning permit before structures are erected, moved, added to, demolished, or structurally altered. The regulations reference 2012 International Fire Code §510 emergency-responder radio coverage for specified large/public structures; no general county technical building-code edition was identified. The reviewed Buffalo County zoning regulations exempt accessory buildings and structures of 200 square feet or less from the zoning permit requirement, but minimum yard setbacks still apply. Other public, commercial, residential, floodplain, subdivision, and special-use requirements may apply.