8 published records
Business licenses and permits in Sarpy County, Nebraska
Sarpy County, Nebraska, seat Papillion; population 204,828 (U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimate). The Sarpy County Planning & Building Department administers zoning and issues building, electrical, sign, demolition, grading and floodplain permits and certificates of occupancy for all areas outside the current municipal limits and extraterritorial jurisdictions, under the Master Fee Schedule adopted by Resolution 2024-186 (effective July 1, 2024) and the Zoning Regulations as amended by Resolution 2024-030. The County Clerk issues retail tobacco licenses for establishments outside the limits of any city, registers peddlers, hawkers and solicitors under County Ordinance 2-2-01, and takes applications for the county swimming pool and bather preparation facility operating permit created by Resolution 2026-202 (in force July 18, 2026), whose inspections are delegated to the Sarpy/Cass Health Department. For premises outside city and village limits, the County Board is the local governing body for Nebraska retail liquor licenses. The incorporated cities are Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Gretna and Springfield; the county's Online Permitting page directs projects within a municipality's zoning and building jurisdiction to that city, and each city's own license and permit rules for businesses inside its jurisdiction stack on the state records.
What are you opening in Sarpy County?
- RestaurantsFull-service restaurants carry the densest permit load of any small business: food, fire, occupancy, waste, and usually alcohol.See the full permit list
- Coffee shopsCafés are permitted as food service establishments even where no cooking happens, and the plan review step catches most operators by surprise.See the full permit list
- Retail storesRetail is the lightest common permit load, but the sales tax permit and the certificate of occupancy are non-negotiable in every jurisdiction.See the full permit list
- Salons and barbersPersonal care is licensed at state board level as well as locally, so the shop license and the practitioner licenses are separate obligations.See the full permit list
- Fitness studiosPrepaid memberships trigger state registration and often a surety bond, which catches operators who budgeted only for the fit-out.See the full permit list
- Childcare centresThe heaviest permit load of any small business: state agency licensing, per-person background checks, and a stricter fire standard than ordinary commercial use.See the full permit list
- Contractors and tradesLicensed at state board level rather than locally, and the only common category with no premises permits at all — the bond is usually the long pole.See the full permit list
- Auto repair shopsOrdinary commercial permitting plus an environmental layer: waste oil, solvents and stormwater are each registered separately.See the full permit list
- Veterinary clinicsA state facility permit, controlled substances registration at both state and federal level, and a medical waste manifest — none of which a general business license covers.See the full permit list
Permits that apply to every type of business in Sarpy County
| Permit | Issuing agency | Fee | Renews | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Sarpy County)only if it applies to you | Sarpy County Planning & Building Department | Floodplain development permit $500; $200 for repair or maintenance items. | per project | 2026-10-12 |
| Commercial Building Permit, Plan Review and Certificate of Occupancy (unincorporated Sarpy County)only if it applies to you | Sarpy County Planning & Building Department | Building permit by project valuation (Building Permit Fee Schedule, Resolution 2021-415, in the Master Fee Schedule): $1-$500, $30.00; $501-$2,000, $30.00 + $3.00 per $100; $2,001-$40,000, $75.00 + $11.00 per $1,000; $40,001-$100,000, $493.00 + $9.00 per $1,000; $100,001-$500,000, $1,033 + $7.00 per $1,000; $500,001-$1,000,000, $3,833.00 + $5.00 per $1,000; $1,000,001 and over, $6,333.00 + $3.00 per $1,000. Commercial plan review: greater of $100 or 25% of the permit fee (external review: cost + 25%). Commercial certificate of occupancy $300, collected at permit issuance. Inspection outside normal business hours $60 (two-hour minimum; the schedule's electrical table charges $60.00 per hour, "Or the total hourly cost to the jurisdiction, whichever is the greatest"). | valid 1 year from the date issued; construction must begin within the first 6 months (county Permits & Inspections FAQ) | 2026-10-12 |
| Sign Permit (unincorporated Sarpy County)only if it applies to you | Sarpy County Planning & Building Department | Sign permit by sign area: $40 for 35 sq. ft. or less; $80 for 36-75 sq. ft.; $150 for 76-150 sq. ft.; $200 for 151-300 sq. ft.; $300 over 300 sq. ft. Awning sign: $4 per 100 sq. ft. of vertical projected area, $40 minimum. | per sign | 2026-10-12 |
| Special Use Permit (including Home Occupation I) and Zoning Approvals (unincorporated Sarpy County)only if it applies to you | Sarpy County Planning & Building Department | Special Use Permit $500; SUP amendments or renewals $150; Conditional Use Permit $500; change of zoning $700; site plan review (commercial, industrial, multi-family projects): less than 1 acre $150, 1-5 acres $300, over 5 acres $500; Temporary Use Permit (including construction trailers) $75. | per application | 2026-10-12 |
Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.
What do these permits involve in Sarpy County?
Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Sarpy County)
The county's Permits & Inspections FAQ lists a "Floodplain Development Permit - when doing any work in the floodplain ... including grading" among the permits needed outside any city's extraterritorial limits. A business building, altering or grading premises in a mapped floodplain in the county's jurisdiction applies to the Planning & Building Department. The county's Online Permitting page (sarpy.gov/745) states: "Sarpy County Zoning and Building Jurisdiction includes all areas outside of current Municipal Limits and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction ... If your project is within a municipalities zoning and building jurisdiction please reach out directly to them." It names the municipalities as Papillion, Gretna, Bellevue, Springfield and La Vista. The Master Fee Schedule lists Floodplain Development Permits at $500, and Floodplain Development Permits for Repair or Maintenance Items at $200. The figures are those of the Sarpy County Master Fee Schedule for the Planning and Building Department, adopted by County Board Resolution 2024-186 (approved June 25, 2024; effective July 1, 2024), the schedule linked from the county's Application Forms & Fees page. The county's Regulations page points to the current floodplain regulations within the Zoning Regulations. Contact the Sarpy County Planning & Building Department, 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Papillion, NE 68046, 402-593-1555, planning@sarpy.gov.
Commercial Building Permit, Plan Review and Certificate of Occupancy (unincorporated Sarpy County)
The county's Permits & Inspections FAQ lists "Any commercial building, commercial addition or alteration" among the projects that need a Sarpy County permit, under the heading "Outside Any City Extra-Territorial Limits". The county's Online Permitting page (sarpy.gov/745) states: "Sarpy County Zoning and Building Jurisdiction includes all areas outside of current Municipal Limits and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction ... If your project is within a municipalities zoning and building jurisdiction please reach out directly to them." It names the municipalities as Papillion, Gretna, Bellevue, Springfield and La Vista. Applications are made through the county's SmartGov Online Permitting System, linked from that page. The Master Fee Schedule bases the commercial building permit fee on project valuation "calculated on a per square foot construction cost based on Occupant Use and Construction Type in the 2012 Building Valuation Data Table or Contractor's Valuation, whichever is greater", and applies the valuation tiers of the Building Permit Fee Schedule (Resolution 2021-415, effective 11/23/2021): from $30.00 for $1-$500 of valuation up to $6,333.00 plus $3.00 per $1,000 above $1,000,000. A commercial addition is priced the same as new construction. Commercial plan review costs the greater of $100 or 25% of the permit fee, and external review cost plus 25%. A commercial certificate of occupancy is $300, collected at permit issuance. An inspection outside normal business hours is $60 with a two-hour minimum; the schedule's electrical fee table adds that such charges are per hour "Or the total hourly cost to the jurisdiction, whichever is the greatest." The schedule also lists a re-inspection fee of $60 from the third re-inspection, a penalty fee of 3x the permit fee and a refund of 80% of the permit fee. The figures are those of the Sarpy County Master Fee Schedule for the Planning and Building Department, adopted by County Board Resolution 2024-186 (approved June 25, 2024; effective July 1, 2024), the schedule linked from the county's Application Forms & Fees page. The county adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code by Resolution 2024-210, which states that its effective date "shall be August 01, 2024". The county's FAQ states: "Sarpy County permits are valid for 1 year from the date issued. Construction must begin within the first 6 months." Contact the Sarpy County Planning & Building Department, 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Papillion, NE 68046, 402-593-1555, planning@sarpy.gov.
Sign Permit (unincorporated Sarpy County)
A business putting up a sign at premises in Sarpy County's zoning and building jurisdiction obtains a sign permit from the Planning & Building Department. The county's Online Permitting page (sarpy.gov/745) states: "Sarpy County Zoning and Building Jurisdiction includes all areas outside of current Municipal Limits and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction ... If your project is within a municipalities zoning and building jurisdiction please reach out directly to them." It names the municipalities as Papillion, Gretna, Bellevue, Springfield and La Vista. The Master Fee Schedule prices the sign permit by sign area: $40 for 35 sq. ft. or less, $80 for 36-75 sq. ft., $150 for 76-150 sq. ft., $200 for 151-300 sq. ft. and $300 over 300 sq. ft. An awning sign is $4 per 100 sq. ft. of vertical projected area with a $40 minimum. An illuminated sign also needs electrical work permitted under the schedule's electrical table, which lists $28.30 for a sign, outline lighting system or marquee supplied from one branch circuit. The figures are those of the Sarpy County Master Fee Schedule for the Planning and Building Department, adopted by County Board Resolution 2024-186 (approved June 25, 2024; effective July 1, 2024), the schedule linked from the county's Application Forms & Fees page. Contact the Sarpy County Planning & Building Department, 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Papillion, NE 68046, 402-593-1555, planning@sarpy.gov.
Special Use Permit (including Home Occupation I) and Zoning Approvals (unincorporated Sarpy County)
Uses that need a special use permit, conditional use permit, rezoning, site plan review or temporary use permit in Sarpy County's zoning jurisdiction apply to the Planning & Building Department. For home-based businesses, the Zoning Regulations (as amended and approved by Resolution 2024-030 on January 23, 2024, the version linked from the county's Regulations page) state: "Occupations defined as Home Occupation I below require approval of a Special Use Permit", and Section 34.12.5(B) states: "A Special Use Permit is required, except for Home Occupation II (see definitions) uses." Home Occupation I (major) covers any business with an employee not residing on the premises or with customer visits; the examples include "service businesses (contracting/janitorial/mechanical)" and "personal service (beauty/barber/massage/tattoo)", and "Uses not allowed include welding, vehicle body repair, or dismantling and rebuilding of vehicles." Section 34.12.5(C) states: "Child Care Facilities shall require a certificate (CRED 9911) signed by the State of Nebraska Fire Marshall." The Master Fee Schedule lists a Special Use Permit at $500 (amendments or renewals $150), a Conditional Use Permit at $500, a change of zoning at $700, site plan review for commercial, industrial and multi-family projects at $150 (under 1 acre), $300 (1-5 acres) or $500 (over 5 acres), and a Temporary Use Permit at $75. The figures are those of the Sarpy County Master Fee Schedule for the Planning and Building Department, adopted by County Board Resolution 2024-186 (approved June 25, 2024; effective July 1, 2024), the schedule linked from the county's Application Forms & Fees page. Contact the Sarpy County Planning & Building Department, 1210 Golden Gate Drive, Papillion, NE 68046, 402-593-1555, planning@sarpy.gov.
Sources
Every figure in the table above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.
- Resolution 2024-186, Master Fee Schedule for the Planning & Building Department (effective July 1, 2024)Sarpy County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
- Planning - Permits & Inspections FAQSarpy County, Nebraska · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
- Regulations (Planning & Building)Sarpy County Planning & Building Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
- Online Permitting (Planning & Building)Sarpy County Planning & Building Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
- Resolution 2024-210, Adopting the 2023 National Electrical Code as Temporarily AmendedSarpy County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
- Application Forms & FeesSarpy County Planning & Building Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
- Sarpy County Zoning Regulations, as amended and approved by Resolution 2024-030 (complete document)Sarpy County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
Who issues business permits in Sarpy County?
Permitting in Sarpy County is split across 3 agencies we hold records for, with tax registration handled at state level. No single office issues everything, which is why an opening usually means filing in several places rather than one.
Sarpy County issuing agencies
- Sarpy County Planning & Building DepartmentZoning, building, electrical, sign, demolition, grading and floodplain permits and certificates of occupancy for all areas outside current municipal limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction · Special use permits, conditional use permits, rezoning, site plan review and temporary use permits under the Sarpy County Zoning Regulations · Online permit applications through the county's SmartGov Online Permitting System4 permits
- Sarpy County ClerkRetail tobacco licenses for establishments outside the limits of any city within Sarpy County (Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1421, 28-1423) · Peddler, hawker and solicitor registration (County Ordinance 2-2-01) · Applications and central filing for swimming pool and bather preparation facility operating permits (Resolution 2026-202) · Liquor licenses listed among Clerk Services; receives Commission notice of retail liquor applications outside city and village limits (Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-131(2))3 permits
- Sarpy County Board of CommissionersLocal governing body for retail liquor licenses for premises outside city and village limits (Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-131(2), 53-134) · Adopts the Master Fee Schedule, the Zoning Regulations, county ordinances and the swimming pool resolution1 permit
Other Nebraska jurisdictions we cover
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.