State guide
Nebraska
Nebraska’s onsite wastewater program is run primarily by the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, but Lancaster County also has a local onsite wastewater permit and inspection program through the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. Nebraska’s state program distinguishes between systems built under “Authorization by Rule” and systems that need a state construction/operating permit because of flow, waste type, or site conditions.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who regulates septic permits
- Nebraska’s statewide regulator is the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment; all counties are also covered by local health departments, and Lancaster County has a local onsite wastewater inspection and permitting program through the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.
- Who can do the soil or perc test
- Percolation testing and soil evaluation may be performed by a DWEE-certified professional, a Nebraska-licensed professional engineer, or a Nebraska registered environmental health specialist; Title 124 specifically allows percolation tests by a professional engineer, registered environmental health specialist, or certified Inspector, Soil Evaluator, Master Installer, or Journeyman Installer.
- Official septic permit page
- Official page →
- Licensed evaluators or designers
- Official page →
- State fee
- $450 application fee for state onsite construction/operating permits; $140 registration fee per system for construction or modification registrations.
Official resources in Nebraska
State overview page for Nebraska onsite wastewater rules, certification, permits, subdivision review, and homeowner resources.
State permit page explaining when a construction/operating permit is required and linking to applications and online registration.
Official fee page for certification, registration, permit application, and subdivision review fees.
Official DWEE search portal for registered systems, certified onsite professionals, and businesses.
Local Lancaster County page for onsite wastewater inspections, contacts, and property-transfer information.
Key facts for Nebraska
- Most Nebraska onsite wastewater systems are built under “Authorization by Rule” and do not need a state construction permit.
- State permits are required for systems handling 1,000 gallons per day or more, non-household wastewater, or sites outside Authorization by Rule.
- Nebraska requires people doing percolation testing, installation, repair, pumping, or inspection to be state-certified unless they are a Nebraska professional engineer or registered environmental health specialist.
- DWEE lists “Soil Evaluator” as a certification category for onsite wastewater professionals.
- Nebraska’s OWT portal includes a search for certified professionals who inspect, install, pump, or evaluate soil for onsite systems.
- Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department inspects all newly constructed or altered onsite wastewater systems in its jurisdiction.
County septic and soil-evaluation offices in Nebraska
| County office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Water Quality Program Lancaster | Lincoln | Not published* | Handles onsite wastewater inspections and local program questions; property-transfer questions are listed separately. |
| Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Property Transfer Lancaster | Lincoln | Not published* | Handles required well and onsite wastewater inspections before sale, transfer, or conveyance of covered properties. |
| North Central District Health Department, Environmental Health Holt | O'Neill | 402-336-2406 | District environmental health page includes Wells & Septic information for rural north-central Nebraska. |
| Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Local Health Departments | Lincoln | (402) 471-0709 | State directory page to identify the local health department covering any Nebraska county. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Use the DWEE OWT portal first to identify certified soil evaluators, installers, and businesses in the area.
- Ask whether your project qualifies for Authorization by Rule or needs a DWEE construction/operating permit before design work begins.
- If your lot is in Lancaster County, contact LLCHD early because the county has its own onsite wastewater permit, inspection, and fee schedule.
Not seeing your county office or county?
Not every county office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Nebraska's population center, for comparison only):
- Page County Environmental Health, Iowa · about 120 miles
- Riley County Planning & Development - Environmental Health Division, Kansas · about 141 miles
- Saline County Environmental Health - Septic Information, Kansas · about 164 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.DWEE Onsite Wastewater Program
Website →Phone: (402) 471-4285 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Nebraska page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.