When Seward County’s rural residents take out a building permit, they sign a form that includes a statement that county zoning and county assessor’s staff members may inspect the site upon completion.
The Seward County assessor’s use of a drone service to obtain aerial photos of Seward County is now helping staff do that work.
Two building permit issues came before the Seward County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 11 that were flagged by the drone images, and that may be more common now that the county has this technology available.
One permit case discussed Aug. 11 involved a structure for which a building permit had been issued, but the drone image showed a structure that appeared to be somewhat larger than the one anticipated.
The other was a structure believed to have been constructed between 2022 and 2024 without a permit, also picked up by the aerial photos.
In both cases, county zoning staff will visit the property owners to determine if any additional permits are required, and potentially, which fines may apply.
“Unfortunately, this happens occasionally where someone will change their building plans,” Commission Chair Misty Ahmic said after Zoning Administrator Marissa Pfile presented information on the property that had been issued a permit.
Ahmic said Pfile will now contact the property owners to verify “if they built what they said they were going to build. That is what the inspection is for.”
In both cases, the “logical next step” is for the county zoning administrator to inspect the structures and permitting in place. Commissioner Scott Pekarek, who serves as the board’s liaison to the zoning department, will attend the inspections.
Inspections could lead to issuance of a new or revised permit, a county fine or in an extreme case that would require the commissioners’ approval, referral to the county attorney’s office for further action.
Fine structure updated in 2025
In June 2025, the commissioners adopted a resolution outlining fines for people who built structures without proper building permits. Those fines range from $225 for erecting a sign without a permit to $6,000 for installing wireless equipment without obtaining a conditional use permit.
The fine for building a home or dwelling without a permit is $5,000, unless the home is in an area that had already met the zoning limits for housing density. Then the fine could be $20,000, as outlined in the schedule available on the zoning department’s website.
In some circumstances, the fee could be doubled if the building is in the Seward County Water Conservation District. So an unpermitted house that exceeds the area’s density requirement and is in the district could trigger a fine of up to $50,000.
Building permits for garages, homes and other structures in rural Seward County cost $125.
But Ahmic said so far, property owners have been cooperative when asked to comply with permitting rules.
Commissioner Darrell Zabrocki said involving the county attorney should be the last resort.
Ahmic said the commissioners have discussed when a building permit is required and when it is not over the past three years, and some people are confused by that.
Since the county has begun using Eagleview “Pictometry” and “Changefinder” programs, it can obtain clear, geospatial images for tracking development via drone flights.
New process aids county
The county’s initial change-finder photos created a point-in-time basis for comparing the photos created now and help flag differences over time.
“It is not a new issue by any means, but it is probably a new process,” Ahmic said in a later interview. “We are not trying to harass people. We are trying to be accountable and hold up our end of what regulations ask.
“Sometimes people do not understand that they need permits. Sometimes it is as easy as getting a permit. Sometimes it is more complex.”
The Seward County Zoning Department’s website’s main page says: “any constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, alteration or moving of any nonfarm building or structure requires a permit in all areas of Seward County zoning jurisdiction. A nonfarm building or structure is any building except those buildings utilized for agricultural purposes on a farmstead of twenty acres or more which produces one thousand dollars or more of farm products each year.”
Prior to the commissioners’ Aug. 11 meeting, Jonathan Curtis was sworn in to represent District 5 on the board until the late Ken Schmieding’s term expires in January.
In other action, the commissioners:
• Heard Shelby Pedersen, executive director of Southeast Nebraska Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) present an annual report and request funding for 2026-27.
• Completed the Annual Fraud Inquiry from auditors Gabriel, Burger & Else, CPA, which required the board to indicate that it had found potential county policy violations in the Seward County Sheriff’s Office and the Public Transit Program, which is part of the audit for 2025-26.
• Completed the annual certification of the county’s compliance with state public road classifications and standards.
• Reviewed proposed budgets from the Seward County District Court, Extension Office, Public Transit, County Attorney, Aging Services, Public Defender, Assessor and Sheriff’s offices, which will continue to be discussed as the county finalizes its budget for 2026-27.
