Fremont building department

The City of Fremont Building Department issues building, trade, sign, demolition, grading, floodplain, and sidewalk permits for work inside Fremont city limits and in the City’s two-mile zoning jurisdiction. The Chief Building Inspector oversees the staff, who handle permit issuance, plan review, inspections, and construction-site monitoring. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If your property is outside the city and beyond the two-mile area, Fremont is not your permit office.

What needs a permit

Fremont’s FAQ says every construction, alteration, or repair of a building in the city or its two-mile jurisdiction needs a permit. All fences, sheds, and signs need a permit regardless of cost. A contractor can pull the permit, but the property owner is responsible for making sure the work is permitted.

The department lists these as examples of work that does need a building permit and inspection:

• Repair or replacement of roof shingles, siding, or gutters
• Replacement of flue vent caps
• Basement waterproofing systems
• Interior water or fire damage repair

Work that does not need a permit:

• Painting, wallpapering, tiling, and carpeting
• Free-standing decks under 200 square feet and less than 30 inches above ground
• Sidewalks that are not in the City right-of-way

Homeowners who live in the house can do their own work, but permits are still required. See also do I need a permit to replace a roof.

Adopted codes

City Council adopted the current codes with Ordinance No. 5456 on July 31, 2018, amending Chapter 9 of the Fremont Municipal Code. Local amendments followed in Ordinance 5579 (2021).

Code	Edition
International Building Code	2018 (Chapters 1–26 and 30–35; Appendices C, G, I, J)
International Residential Code	2018 (Chapters 1–10 and 43–44; Appendices E, F, H, I)
International Fire Code	2018 (with Appendix D)
National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)	2023
Uniform Plumbing Code / Uniform Mechanical Code	2018
International Existing Building, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance, and Energy Conservation Codes	2018

Applying for a permit

Applications are downloadable PDFs. There is a residential/commercial building application (new construction, additions, remodels, tenant improvements, accessory structures) and a general building permit application for other work. Separate forms cover:

• Decks and porches
• Demolition
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
• Grading
• Signs
• Footing-and-foundation-only permits
• Floodplain development
• Sidewalks and approaches
• Septic systems
• Work-site trailers and new mobile homes

The submittal checklist for a new building or improvement asks for:

• The completed application
• Two sets of construction plans
• A site plan showing parking, landscaping, lot dimensions, and setbacks
• REScheck or COMcheck energy compliance
• A State Fire Marshal submittal (commercial only)
• An elevation certificate if you’re building in a flood zone
• A stormwater pollution prevention plan (commercial only)

Fence permits need a site plan with the fence’s dimensions, height, material, and setbacks. Staff verify vision clearances before the permit is issued. Shed site plans are routed to other City departments to check for utility lines.

The deck and porch application asks for footing count and diameter, set at a 42-inch frost depth. Cantilevers can’t exceed 2 feet. Decks get three inspections: footings, framing, and final.

How fees are calculated

Fees follow the fee schedule in Chapter 9 of the Municipal Code. If you do the work yourself, the FAQ says the fee is still based on materials plus labor. Labor is figured as half the cost of materials. Building permit payments can be made online through the City’s Online Payments page.

Contractor and trade registration

Since Resolution 2019-049, contractors working for hire on any permitted project in the city or two-mile jurisdiction must register with the City. Register in the code official’s office on the third floor of the Municipal Building.

Registration	Fee	Key requirements
General contractor	$65	$250,000 liability insurance naming the City as additional insured; Nebraska Department of Labor registration
Master electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or onsite wastewater	$90 ($45 renewal)	Passed NSED, NITC, or ETS exam (or reciprocal registration); $1,000,000 liability insurance; citizenship attestation form
Journeyman or tradesman	$45 ($45 renewal)	Passed exam or reciprocal registration
Apprentice	$35 ($35 renewal)	State apprentice card for electricians

Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fuel gas permits are issued only to holders of a valid Master license from the Fremont Department of Building Safety.

Inspections

Permitted work must stay accessible and exposed until it’s approved. Schedule by calling the Inspection Hotline at (402) 727-2657 or emailing [email protected]. Include:

• Your name and phone number
• The permit number and address
• The inspection type
• Your preferred date and time
• Any special instructions for the inspector

Requests are handled first come, first served. If no slot is open on the requested day, the inspection rolls to the next business day.

Water and sewer line inspections are separate. Schedule them with Water Records at (402) 727-2698 or [email protected], no later than the day before.

Certificates of occupancy

To request a certificate of occupancy or a temporary CO, email the City’s CO application to [email protected]. The form covers new construction, remodels, first-finish tenant spaces, and existing spaces with no construction. The requested inspection date must be at least three business days after the application is accepted.

The City does not issue elevation certificates. If you need one, get it from a licensed surveyor. Homes built before February 1, 1979 won’t have one on file.