QUICK LINKS -------------------- Madison County Homepage Pierce County Homepage Planning Home Office Locations Fee Schedule City of Battle Creek City of Madison City of Newman Grove City of Norfolk City of Osmond City of Pierce City of Plainview City of Tilden Elkhorn Valley Econ. Dev. Northeast Neb. Econ. Dev. Dist. FORMS & APPLICATIONS -------------------- Zoning (Building) Permit Application Conditional Use Permit Application Soil Extraction Permit Application Lot Split Application Subdivision Application Rezoning Application Variance Application Madison Co. LFO Application Madison Co. Livestock Siting Matrix Madison Co. Livestock Matrix Rules Pierce Co. LFO Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a Zoning Permit?
A. A Zoning Permit is issued to construct, alter, expand, or to tear down a building or structure. Madison and Pierce counties do not issue Building Permits.

Q. When do I need a zoning permit?
A. You need zoning permit to erect, enlarge, alter, or construct any structure larger than 100 square feet. Zoning (Building) Permit Application

Q. Do I need a Zoning Permit for a deck?
A. Yes, all decks attached to your home needs a Zoning Permit regardless of square footage.

Q. How much is a Zoning Permit?
A. In both counties, an agricultural related Zoning Permit is free. All non-agriculture Zoning Permit in Pierce and Madison counties are $35 plus $.20 a square foot for dwellings and $35 plus $.02 a square foot for accessory buildings. Farm dwellings and accessory buildings under 650 square feet are $35. There is no charge in either county for an agriculturally related (grain bin, barn, shed, etc.) Zoning Permit.

Q. Can I start construction prior to receiving approval and a permit?
A. No. Allow at least two weeks to get a permit.

Q. What can I do to a structure without having to obtain a permit?
A. Repairs and maintenance of the building which includes work performed on the interior of a structure and work performed on the exterior of the structure. This is normal maintenance such as painting, siding, shingles, windows, doors and other similar improvements which do not involve exterior structural changes to the building.
Top

Q. What are the required front setbacks?
A. They are fifty feet from the edge of the road right-of-way or eighty-three feet from the center of the road in both counties.

Q. What are the required side setbacks?
A. They are fifteen feet from any structure to the property line.

Q. What are my rear yard setbacks?
A. They are twenty-five feet.
Top

Q. How much land do I need to build a house on?
A. In either Pierce or Madison County you need forty acres, or no less than five acres with a conditional use permit? See Madison County Lot Split Guidelines or the Pierce County Lot Split Guidelines for more information.

Q. How many houses can there be on a quarter section?
A. In the “AG” zone in Madison and the “A-1” zone in Pierce County, there can be only two houses plus a farmstead in a quarter section.

Top