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1. What are building codes?

Building codes are a set of rules that specify minimum acceptable levels of safety to help protect the health and safety of the public. More...

2. Do I need a building permit?

Building permits are required as per Section 105.1 of the 2009 International Building Code (adopted by Ordinance 2007-24). The Building Official will make a final determination as to whether or not a permit will be needed.

3. Do I need a permit if I wish to raze an existing structure?

Yes. According to Section 18-2 of the City of Wayne Municipal Code, it is unlawful for any person to demolish or raze any building or part of a building in the City of Wayne, Nebraska, without first obtaining a permit from the building inspector.

An application may be obtained from the Building Official. In addition to the application, a non-refundable permit fee of $60 for residential and commercial structures and $20 for accessory structures is required. The applicant is also required to post a bond in the amount of $1 per total floor space of the existing structure (excluding the basement) to be demolished or razed. The bond is refundable, conditioned upon all City utilities being properly disconnected and that all demolished or razed material be properly removed and disposed of. Please contact the Building Official at (402) 375-1733 for more information.

4. Where do I get a building permit?

You may obtain an application from the Building Inspector's office. The office is located on the third floor of City Hall, 306 Pearl Street. The office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

5. What do I need to get a building permit?

A building permit application, completed either by the contractor or the owner, a drawing detailing the project, a site plan if the project is new or if an addition is being added. The estimated value of the project, as this will determine the amount of the permit fee. The contractor, electrician, plumber, architect, and/or engineer involved in the project. A proposed completion date of the project as permits become null and void if the work or construction is not commenced within 180 days or if the work is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after work has begun.

6. Do I need to contact anyone if I want to dig in my yard?

Yes, you will need to contact Diggers Hotline of Nebraska. Diggers Hotline will walk you through a set of questions including where, when and why you plan to dig. Diggers Hotline will then notify all City utilities, the cable company and the gas company as to where and when you plan to dig. The appropriate entities will then come to your property and mark for any utilities present. You may contact Diggers Hotline at (800) 331-5666 or visit their website.

7. Do I need to submit the application to anyone other than the building official?

Certain applications will need the prior approval of the State Electrical Inspector and the State Fire Marshall. The Building Official will inform you of this when you submit your application.

8. How soon will my permit be approved?

A minimum of ten (10) working days is required for plan review and permit issuance.

9. After my permit is approved, what else do I need to do?

Once your permit is approved, you will need to pay the necessary permit fee and then post the Building Permit card at the job site. The Building Permit card lists the permit number, job address, builder, and sub-contractors, and the necessary inspections to be performed. You must also retain one set of plans at the job site at all times. This ensures that the original plans are not being altered following approval.

10. What necessary inspections are performed?

Marked on the Building Permit Card will be the inspections required for that particular job. The inspections listed are: footing, building rough-in, building final construction, electrical rough-in, electrical final, plumbing rough-in, warm air heating rough-in, warm air heating final, warm air heating air conditioner, State Fire Marshall rough-in, and State Fire Marshall final. Not all of the inspections listed are required for each building permit. The Building Official will determine what inspections are conducted. All inspections, especially footing inspections, are required to give a 24-hour advance notice to the Building Official. You may call the Building Inspector at 402-375-1733 during normal business hours to schedule the inspections.

11. How do I know the inspection was conducted?

Once the Building Inspector has completed the inspection, located on the permit card is a place for the inspector to sign-off for approval or disapproval.

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1. What forms of payment are accepted for utility bills?

We accept cash, check and credit / debit cards (Visa and MasterCard only). We are also able to sign customers up for an automatic payment plan with EFT transfers from your bank.

2. When are utility meters read and bills sent out?

Meters are read around the 15th of every month. Utility bills are sent out around the first day of each month, and payment is due by the 10th of the month. A 10% penalty is assessed on past-due bills.

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1. When does the City fiscal year begin and end?

The City of Wayne's fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following year.

2. Is there any oversight for City budgets?

The City of Wayne is audited annually by an independent outside accounting firm, as required by law. The audit report is then presented to the City Council and all audits are available for inspection on our website or by visiting with the Finance Director.

3. How much of my property tax bill goes towards the City of Wayne?

Based on the levy from 2016, on a $100,000 home in Wayne the total property tax bill would be $1,964.04. That total levy includes the tax asking of multiple entities (City of Wayne, Wayne County, Wayne Community Schools, Fire District, etc.) Of that total, the City of Wayne receives $409.30.  The City's tax levy history is available here.

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1. What should I do in the event of a fire?

Get to a safe location, such as a neighbor's house, and then call 9-1-1 immediately. Try to alert others as you exit the building, but NEVER go back inside.

Firefighters have equipment and are trained for getting people out of burning buildings, but without the proper equipment you may become another victim.

2. How can I join the Fire Department?

To join, you must be a resident of Wayne Fire District No. 2, be at least 19 years old and willing to donate your time and energy to the prevention and extinguishing of fires.

3. Is there a physical fitness requirement to join the Department?

We do not have any physical fitness requirements to be on the Department.

Firefighters who actively extinguish the fires must be capable of carrying all of the protective gear (45 pounds or more) and manipulating the fire hose, both of which can be quite heavy. But Department members can also contribute in other ways such as fire prevention, traffic control or records.

4. How can I prevent fires?

The best way to prevent fires is to learn what causes fires to initially start. You should keep all flammable materials away from heat sources and never play with fire. Replace worn or frayed electrical cords. You should also install smoke alarms on every level of your house and in each bedroom. Don't forget to change your smoke detector batteries twice a year.

5. How big is the Wayne Volunteer Fire Department?

Our department has over 40 members and 9 active fire trucks.

6. How much does the fire gear weigh?

The fireman's protective clothing (called turnouts or bunker gear) and the air tanks (called self-contained breathing apparatus or SCBA) can weigh up to 45 pounds or more.

7. How much do fire trucks cost?

The cost of a fire truck can vary greatly depending on its size and intended purpose. Most of our smaller utility trucks cost around $100,000 if purchased new today. The larger pumpers can cost in excess of $200,000.

8. How many fires does the department average in a year?

The Wayne VFD responds to approximately 40 fire calls per year. Fortunately, many of these calls are false alarms triggered by accidental alarm activation or someone "smelling smoke". We usually have to extinguish only 10 to 20 fires per year. The department also responds to about 20 auto accidents per year.

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1. What can I do at the Community Activity Center?

The Community Activity Center (CAC) includes a 2,400 square-foot weight room / fitness center, a 2,000 square-foot Youth Center, an 1,800 square-foot Community Room and a 15,000 square-foot gymnasium with two full-sized basketball courts and a three-lane walking track.

2. Is the facility open 24 hours?

The weight room at the Wayne Community Activity Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Access is granted via a key fob that may be obtained with CAC membership. Contact the CAC at 402-375-4803 for more information on 24-hour access.

The rest of the facility, including basketball courts, walking track, locker rooms and fitness rooms are open following the schedule below:

• Monday - Friday
  5:30 am - 9:00 pm 
• Saturday
  8:00 am - 9:00 pm
• Sunday
  12:30 pm - 9:00 pm

3. How do I sign up for a membership?

Please stop by the Community Activity Center to sign up for a membership and review the different membership levels. Additional Information

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1. How do I obtain permission to park overnight in a restricted parking area?

You may call and ask for permission to park on the street overnight in a restricted parking area. Details of the process may be found here.

2. What do the different city siren signals mean?

Wayne's civil defense sirens are operated by the Police Department. They have three different signals you should know about:

Tornado/Storm Warning: Long steady siren in one tone for three minutes.

Fire: Alternating high/low tone for approximately three minutes.

Attack/Defense Alert:: Waving tone of short blasts for three minutes.

If you subscribe to cable television, turn on your television when sirens sound to hear the message from our police dispatchers.

3. How do I get police reports?

Copies of police reports and accident reports are available for a fee of $10 for reports up to ten pages and $0.50 per page after ten pages. 

Persons who have been arrested and are pending a trial may not obtain copies of the police reports without filing a motion for discovery in the appropriate court.

For those seeking a criminal history search you may contact the Nebraska State Patrol at (402) 471-4545.

4. What time are you open?

The Police Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays and weekends. You may come to the Police Department in person to pay parking tickets, request services and get copies of police reports at any time.

The Police Department is located at:
306 Pearl St.
Wayne, NE 68787

5. Why are the Civil Defense sirens going off?

On the first Monday of every month the sirens are tested at 10:00 am to ensure the City that they are in proper working order. If the siren sounds at any other time, please take cover and tune to local media sources to verify the purpose of the siren. Please do not call the police. If it is an actual emergency, the Communications Center staff will be extremely busy dispatching emergency rescue services. There are a limited number of incoming 9-1-1 lines, and many times the Department is flooded with calls asking what's going on with the sirens. When this happens, true emergency calls are not able to get through.

6. What are the current road conditions?

The Nebraska State Patrol provides frequently updated weather and road reports during the winter months. Call 5-1-1 from any phone to hear reports on road conditions.

7. What is the phone number for other law enforcement or EMS agencies?

For ANY emergency, simply call 9-1-1-.

For routine, non-emergency services please call:

Wayne County Sherriff: (402) 375-1911
Wayne Fire Department: (402) 375-1122
Providence Medical Center: (402) 375-3800
Nebraska State Patrol: (402) 471-4545
FBI: (402) 493-8688

8. Did you tow my vehicle?

There are many circumstances in which the department may be required to impound vehicles. If the department had cause to impound your vehicle, a record of the incident would be on file with the Wayne PD. Contact them with a vehicle description including the license plate number at 375-2626 to inquire about the vehicle.

Before a towed vehicle is released, the owner will need to provide identification and pay all applicable impound and storage fees. You will also be required to pay any outstanding parking violations owed before the vehicle is released.

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1. How long do I have to remove snow / ice from my sidewalks?

With the winter season approaching the City of Wayne wants to remind property owners of their snow removal responsibility. It is illegal for any property owner to leave snow or ice accumulated on any sidewalks within the municipality. If the City receives enough snow to cause the Public Works Department to plow the streets, your sidewalks need to be cleared of snow and ice as well.

Ordinance 91.026 requires all snow and ice to be removed from sidewalks in the City within 24 hours of the Public Works Department clearing the streets. If a sidewalk is not cleared of snow and ice, the ordinance gives the City authority to have the snow and ice removed at the property owner's expense of $75 per hour.

2. When can I drop off recycling at the Transfer Station?

The City of Wayne Recycling and Trash Center is open Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and on Saturdays from 8:00 am until 12:00 noon. It is closed Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and on holidays.

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1. How much do meals at the Senior Center cost?

The suggested contribution for those age 60 and older is $4.95 per meal, however no one is refused for inability to pay. The cost for those aged under 60 is $7.35. The suggested price for Meals-on-Wheels is $4.95 for those 60 and older and $7.35 for those under age 60.

2. What is the cost to use the Handi-Van?

The City of Wayne provides transportation for senior citizens, school-aged children and others. The cost is $1.50 per one-way ride. Please call the Senior Center at (402) 375-1460 to schedule a ride.