Homesteading in Nebraska
Explore 93 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in Nebraska.
Nebraska uses a Prior Appropriation water rights system , allows county-level building code enforcement , and has constitutional carry. The effective property tax rate is 1.61%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Prior Appropriation
Prior appropriation for surface water. Groundwater managed through Natural Resources Districts with local regulations. Integrated management plans required where surface and groundwater are hydrologically connected.
Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 46-201 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: No (county-level)
No mandatory statewide residential building code. The State Energy Code applies to new construction. Cities and counties adopt building codes locally.
Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-1608 et seq.
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: Yes
Permitless concealed carry effective September 2023. Open carry legal without a permit.
Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 69-2427; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1202
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects agricultural operations from nuisance suits if the operation has been in existence for at least one year and was not a nuisance when it began. Covers livestock operations.
Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 2-4401 et seq.
Counties in Nebraska
93 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 31,143 | $166,300 | $2,535 | 78 | Relatively Low |
| Antelope County | 6,302 | $104,500 | $1,280 | 72 | Very Low |
| Arthur County | 485 | $164,300 | $1,762 | 74 | Very Low |
| Banner County | 670 | $174,200 | $1,864 | 74 | Very Low |
| Blaine County | 384 | $85,700 | $1,175 | 73 | Very Low |
| Boone County | 5,397 | $165,400 | $1,647 | 74 | Relatively Low |
| Box Butte County | 10,778 | $161,600 | $2,455 | 71 | Very Low |
| Boyd County | 1,767 | $95,200 | $1,163 | 69 | Very Low |
| Brown County | 2,691 | $89,700 | $977 | 71 | Very Low |
| Buffalo County | 50,103 | $218,600 | $3,299 | 77 | Relatively Low |
| Burt County | 6,717 | $123,100 | $1,769 | 73 | Very Low |
| Butler County | 8,373 | $150,400 | $1,810 | 75 | Very Low |
| Cass County | 26,749 | $234,300 | $3,473 | 76 | Very Low |
| Cedar County | 8,375 | $160,700 | $1,608 | 70 | Very Low |
| Chase County | 3,704 | $176,900 | $1,986 | 78 | Very Low |
| Cherry County | 5,473 | $137,300 | $1,570 | 70 | Very Low |
| Cheyenne County | 9,489 | $117,300 | $2,087 | 75 | Very Low |
| Clay County | 6,088 | $129,600 | $1,747 | 78 | Relatively Low |
| Colfax County | 10,563 | $103,400 | $1,477 | 74 | Very Low |
| Cuming County | 9,000 | $160,000 | $1,725 | 73 | Relatively Low |
| Custer County | 10,566 | $133,400 | $1,628 | 74 | Very Low |
| Dakota County | 21,308 | $158,700 | $2,561 | 71 | Very Low |
| Dawes County | 8,279 | $142,100 | $1,986 | 70 | Very Low |
| Dawson County | 24,037 | $136,900 | $1,872 | 77 | Relatively Low |
| Deuel County | 1,858 | $91,900 | $1,354 | 76 | Very Low |
| Dixon County | 5,579 | $123,500 | $1,664 | 71 | Very Low |
| Dodge County | 37,175 | $168,900 | $2,480 | 74 | Relatively Low |
| Douglas County | 582,638 | $227,400 | $3,991 | 75 | Relatively High |
| Dundy County | 1,825 | $109,900 | $879 | 79 | Very Low |
| Fillmore County | 5,557 | $122,700 | $1,507 | 78 | Very Low |
| Franklin County | 2,901 | $95,400 | $1,244 | 79 | Very Low |
| Frontier County | 2,491 | $124,500 | $1,822 | 78 | Very Low |
| Furnas County | 4,630 | $85,600 | $1,250 | 79 | Relatively Low |
| Gage County | 21,654 | $155,600 | $2,231 | 79 | Very Low |
| Garden County | 1,778 | $91,700 | $1,131 | 74 | Very Low |
| Garfield County | 1,833 | $123,500 | $1,584 | 73 | Very Low |
| Gosper County | 1,873 | $192,100 | $2,321 | 78 | Very Low |
| Grant County | 649 | $104,200 | $888 | 73 | Very Low |
| Greeley County | 2,212 | $85,300 | $1,346 | 74 | Very Low |
| Hall County | 62,575 | $190,800 | $2,720 | 77 | Relatively Low |
| Hamilton County | 9,400 | $201,200 | $2,044 | 77 | Very Low |
| Harlan County | 3,094 | $135,800 | $1,685 | 79 | Very Low |
| Hayes County | 919 | $104,800 | $1,321 | 78 | Very Low |
| Hitchcock County | 2,620 | $85,500 | $1,007 | 79 | Very Low |
| Holt County | 10,149 | $148,900 | $1,701 | 71 | Very Low |
| Hooker County | 659 | $78,300 | $1,026 | 73 | Very Low |
| Howard County | 6,476 | $181,600 | $2,219 | 75 | Very Low |
| Jefferson County | 7,185 | $116,700 | $1,663 | 79 | Very Low |
| Johnson County | 5,294 | $117,300 | $1,850 | 78 | Very Low |
| Kearney County | 6,655 | $203,200 | $2,549 | 78 | Very Low |
| Keith County | 8,303 | $158,900 | $2,225 | 75 | Very Low |
| Keya Paha County | 987 | $109,000 | $988 | 69 | Very Low |
| Kimball County | 3,395 | $92,500 | $1,766 | 75 | Very Low |
| Knox County | 8,415 | $112,700 | $1,388 | 70 | Very Low |
| Lancaster County | 322,063 | $239,900 | $3,847 | 77 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lincoln County | 34,532 | $167,900 | $2,662 | 76 | Relatively Low |
| Logan County | 839 | $123,600 | $1,432 | 74 | Very Low |
| Loup County | 629 | $116,500 | $943 | 73 | Very Low |
| McPherson County | 456 | $105,300 | $1,146 | 74 | Very Low |
| Madison County | 35,538 | $187,100 | $2,549 | 73 | Relatively Low |
| Merrick County | 7,675 | $159,300 | $2,027 | 75 | Relatively Low |
| Morrill County | 4,562 | $107,700 | $1,472 | 73 | Very Low |
| Nance County | 3,366 | $108,000 | $1,348 | 74 | Very Low |
| Nemaha County | 7,019 | $118,300 | $1,645 | 78 | Very Low |
| Nuckolls County | 4,092 | $88,500 | $1,011 | 79 | Very Low |
| Otoe County | 15,995 | $172,500 | $2,499 | 77 | Very Low |
| Pawnee County | 2,553 | $74,000 | $1,054 | 79 | Very Low |
| Perkins County | 2,860 | $143,300 | $1,353 | 77 | Very Low |
| Phelps County | 8,966 | $161,300 | $2,152 | 78 | Very Low |
| Pierce County | 7,301 | $167,400 | $1,884 | 71 | Very Low |
| Platte County | 34,219 | $195,800 | $2,705 | 74 | Relatively Low |
| Polk County | 5,182 | $152,700 | $1,654 | 75 | Very Low |
| Red Willow County | 10,690 | $144,700 | $1,848 | 79 | Very Low |
| Richardson County | 7,850 | $89,500 | $1,184 | 79 | Very Low |
| Rock County | 1,312 | $87,300 | $1,000 | 71 | Very Low |
| Saline County | 14,275 | $155,800 | $2,225 | 78 | Very Low |
| Sarpy County | 191,272 | $263,000 | $4,853 | 76 | Relatively Moderate |
| Saunders County | 22,374 | $220,600 | $3,158 | 75 | Very Low |
| Scotts Bluff County | 36,048 | $150,600 | $2,264 | 73 | Relatively Low |
| Seward County | 17,644 | $208,700 | $2,670 | 77 | Very Low |
| Sheridan County | 5,102 | $96,900 | $1,383 | 71 | Very Low |
| Sherman County | 2,970 | $112,500 | $1,469 | 75 | Very Low |
| Sioux County | 1,162 | $157,800 | $1,736 | 71 | Very Low |
| Stanton County | 5,828 | $170,900 | $2,359 | 73 | Very Low |
| Thayer County | 5,006 | $91,600 | $1,129 | 79 | Very Low |
| Thomas County | 592 | $140,600 | $1,319 | 73 | Very Low |
| Thurston County | 6,716 | $90,000 | $1,408 | 72 | Very Low |
| Valley County | 4,053 | $125,800 | $1,920 | 74 | Very Low |
| Washington County | 20,884 | $265,800 | $3,912 | 74 | Very Low |
| Wayne County | 9,701 | $176,200 | $2,326 | 71 | Very Low |
| Webster County | 3,410 | $92,800 | $1,329 | 79 | Relatively Low |
| Wheeler County | 771 | $101,400 | $1,151 | 73 | Very Low |
| York County | 14,212 | $160,500 | $1,953 | 77 | Relatively Low |
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