City of Omaha, NE
04/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2024 16:56
Building Permit Fees Waived for Tornado-Damaged Propert ...
(April 30, 2024)
Owners who will rebuild their homes and businesses after the April 26th tornado will not have to pay building permit fees.
The Omaha City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to waive the fees for permits and inspections. The waiver applies to properties within the city limits and also outside the city within the three-mile zoning jurisdiction (ETJ).
"We have limited abilities to take actions, but in an event like this we can eliminate permit fees associated with the work that has to be done," said Councilmember Brinker Harding. Harding and Councilmembers Aimee Melton and Don Rowe introduced the resolution, supported by Mayor Jean Stothert.
City of Omaha Municipal Code allows the fee waiver in the event a tornado causes extensive damage.
Updated information presented by Douglas County GIS Administrator Mike Schonlau shows there have been 834 reports of property damage, ranging from destroyed to major and minor damage.
More than 1,900 properties have already been inspected; 689 in the Omaha city limits, 1,000 in the three-mile ETJ, 44 in unincorporated areas of Douglas County, and 155 in Bennington.
The data will be used to identify properties that qualify for the fee waiver.
Omaha Superintendent for Permits and Inspections Anna Bespoyasny cautions homeowners that a license is required for any building contractor to work as a contractor in the city limits or the ETJ. The license requirement will not be waived for out of town or out of state contractors.
A business license filed with the State of Nebraska is not a building contractor license as required by the City of Omaha. This is the link to the pertinent code sections for contractor licensing: https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OMMUCOCHGEORVOII_CH43BU_ARTIXCO