State requires permits for interior improvements

by Nathan Arneal
Published 6/6/06

• North Bend, which has not been asking for permits on interior work, changes policy.

The city of North Bend received a letter from Dodge County Assessor Debbie Churchill reminding it that the city must require its residents to obtain a building permit for any exterior or interior improvements over $2,500. People in rural areas of the county not under a village or city’s jurisdiction are required to file an Improvement Information Statement with the county assessor.

This is according to a state statue that applies to all of Nebraska.

North Bend has never required permits for work done inside of a building, but it must do so now, the letter said. At the Sept. 5 city council meeting, city clerk Theresa Busse said the city has viewed interior projects as maintenance and not required permits. As a result of the assessor’s letter, North Bend will now do so.

Busse contacted Churchill for clarification and said she was told the statute does not apply to flooring or carpet. But every other form of improvement or remolding over $2,500 does need a permit, whether it be inside or outside the building.
This also applies to new roofs and shingles, something else North Bend has not previously required permits for.

Building permits for North Bend residents or for buildings withing one mile of North Bend can be obtained at city hall or on the city hall page of NorthBendNE.com. A permit fee applies, starting at $15 for a $2,500 project and rising for more expensive projects.

The required form for improvement for properties in Dodge County outside of city or village’s jurisdiction can be downloaded from the assessor’s page of DodgeCounty.nebraska.gov. This form has to be filed by Dec. 31 of the year the improvements were made.

In Saunders County, the Improvement Information Statement can be found on the planning and zoning page of SaundersCounty.ne.gov.

If the assessor’s office discovers improvements made without a permit via “word of mouth, sales, online photos, etc.” a penalty fee will be assessed, the letter said. The penalty will be a percentage of the tax due on the improvement up to a cap of $1,000.

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