Frequently Asked Questions
1. The Planning Department is located in the new Sarpy County Administration
building at 1210 Golden Gate Drive on the 2nd Floor. Hours of operation are
8:00- 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
2. For assistance, you may contact our office at (402) 593-1555 or e-mail us at
planning@sarpy.com. Calls and e-mails after hours will be returned the following
business day.
3. The Planning Commission promotes and coordinates comprehensive long
range planning, growth management, transportation, environmental protection
and makes recommendations to the County Board of Commissioners. The
Commission is made up of 11 members with two members per district and one
at large.
Meetings are held monthly and are posted on the Planning Department's
website along with the meeting minutes at http://www/sarpy.com/pcommission
4. The Board of Adjustment is a volunteer review board established by the
County Board. The Board of Adjustment is a body to which appeals may be
petitioned by any persons aggrieved, or by any officer, department, or board or
bureau of the County that is affected by zoning decisions.
5. The Comprehensive Plan is a blueprint for how the County will conduct
business with regard to land development within its jurisdiction. The most
current Plan was approved December 2005. The plan has two fundamental
purposes: (1) provide a legal basis for land use regulation such as zoning and
subdivision control and (2) present a unified, compelling vision for the County.
6. Zoning is a way to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of citizen's
through careful land use controls. It regulates what kind of development can
occur in a designated area for consistency in development. Finding the zoning
for a specific property can be done via the County's GIS site at
http://maps.sarpy.com. From here, you may type in the property
address, parcel number, or legal description to search for a specific location.
For a description of zoning types, please visit
http://www.sarpy.com/planning/ZoningRegulations.html.
Knowing the zoning classification for your property is key to understanding
what is allowed in your designated zone. For instance, kenneling facilities are
only allowed in the agricultural zones and general business zones. Once you
have established your zone, you may use the Zoning Regulations to determine
what can be done on your property. Please see Zoning Regulations Section 9
through 30.
7. First you need to determine if the desired use is consistent with the vision
for the property. Comprehensive Plan Figure 5.1. will note the proposed land
use for the property. If the desired use is consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan, a Change of Zone request can be filed with the Planning Department.
Amendments to the Zoning Regulations and maps will be made after the
Planning Commission and the County Board of Commissioners consider the
plan reasonable and following the intent of the Comprehensive Plan. Fees for
filing a change of zone do apply.
If the request is not consistent with the vision for the area, you may submit a
request to change the zone; however, the application needs to justify how the
request is still in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan.
Upon receipt of a completed application, the Planning Commission will hold a
public hearing and make a recommendation to the County Board of
Commissioners. The County Board of Commissioners will hold a seperate public
hearing to ultimately decide to approve or deny the request.
8. Nuisance Complaints can be reported to the Planning Department by
completing a nuisance complaint form or submitting a complaint in writing. All
written violation allegations will be investigated by the Planning Department.
Complaints can also be e-mailed to planning@sarpy.com.
9. Applications can be found at
http://www.sarpy.com/planning/applicationforms.html. Fees vary based on the
type of permit and can be found in the Zoning Regulations. If you are unsure
whether or not you need a permit; please contact the Planning Department at
(402) 593-1555
10. Soils that are not suitable for septic systems include those that are so
sandy that wastes drain rather than percolate: or are sufficiently impermeable
as to prevent percolation. In areas with serious limitations, septic systems
should not be utilized, or require larger lot areas or special construction
techniques. Certification from the State of Nebraska, under Title 124 is
required to build, repair, or inspect septic systems. Specifically Chapters 7-10,
15 and 17 of Title 124 provide rules and regulations for the design, operation
and maitenance of Septic Systems or Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems.