Welcome to the Planning Department

R.E. Cunningham, RA, F.SAME
Planning Director

Planning Department: (402) 444-5150

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Environment Omaha Meeting 

IMPORTANT  NOTICE: Street Naming

The Planning Department will no longer be accepting applications for commemorative street names or the permanent renaming of city streets while the Planning Department, and the City Council review policies and practices relating to these types of requests. Once appropriate policies and/or ordinances have been adopted, both commemorative street name applications as well as the permanent street renaming applications will be resumed.

IMPORTANT  NOTICE: New P&I Hours 

Effective Tuesday, September 8, 2009, the City of Omaha Planning Department’s Permits and Inspections counter located on the Eleventh Floor of the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center at 1819 Farnam Street, will be open to accept walk-in inquiries and applications from 7:30am until 2:30pm Monday through Friday.  We will continue to accept phone calls and fax business until 4:30pm daily.

The Planning Department is responsible for preparing and maintaining:

• the City's Comprehensive Plan
• preparing the capital improvement program
• administering and enforcing zoning and subdivision regulations
• enforcing building codes
• carrying out ordinances for permits and inspection

The department is also responsible for:

• implementing community development and economic development programs
• enforcing the minimum dwelling standards ordinance
• condemning and removing hazardous buildings
• filling the role of the City's redevelopment authority

Divisions:

Housing, Community and Development - (HCD) programs focus on four areas essential to neighborhood revitalization: Housing, Public Facilities, Economic Development, and Services. 

• Housing programs help individuals and families – as well as investors -- acquire, improve and maintain housing;
• Public Facility programs permit the development and rehabilitation of public facilities;
• Economic Development programs focus on the development of commercial and industrial properties, the development of micro-enterprise businesses, technical assistance for small businesses and job creation; and
• Services include housing counseling, underwriting, the Lead-Safe Registry and funding for several programs serving the homeless.

Permits and Inspections - The Permits and Inspections section is responsible for the following:

• Receiving, reviewing and approving all building permit applications.
• Administering and enforcing Omaha's development regulations.
• Administering and enforcing zoning codes.
• Administring and enforcing building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and signs codes. 

 
Urban Planning - The Urban Planning Division is responsible for the

• Preparation of the elements of the Master Plan
• Neighborhood plans
• Annual building and development summary
• Annexation and capital improvement programming activities
• Review, approval, and inspection of subdivision plats, site plans and commercial/industrial/residential building projects
• Zoning use inquiries, variance and rezoning requests and other code and licensing related information related to property use and development

Urban Planning also administers the Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission    
 

Related Links:

Floodplain Information - Learn about local floodplain hazards, floodplain development permits and FEMA information
Environment Omaha - Learn about and stay updated on the Environmental Plan.
Downtown Master Plan -  Learn about and stay updated on the Downtown Master Plan.
MAPA Transportation Survey 2009 - Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Long Range Transportation Plan Survey
Developer's Guide - Learn about the regulations, procedures, and permit process for development within the City of Omaha's jurisdiction.

If you need assistance viewing pdf documents on this website, please contact the ADA coordinator by email or call 444-5000.