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City of Lincoln
Urban Development

Housing and Real Estate Division
Frequently Asked Questions


My home is at 789 Michelle Avenue. How much are my taxes?
For tax information, you need to contact the County Treasurer at (402) 441-7425. Or you can use the County's Property Information Data Base. You can look for property information by address, owner, or location on a map.

Who owns the house at 123 Briggs Court?
You can find this information in the County's Property Information Data Base. However, if your question is very specific or if it involves a legal description, contact the Register of Deeds at (402) 441-7577.

My neighbor and I don't agree where the property line is. Is there somebody who can show us where the lot corners are?
This will require a survey. You will need to hire a surveyor to locate or re-establish your lot corners so you can determine your property line. Surveyors are listed in the telephone book yellow pages under "Surveyors - Land."

What is the assessed value of our house?
This information is available from the County's Property Information Data Base. If you have any further questions about the assessment, call the County Assessor at (402) 441-7463.

I'd like to vacate the alley [or street] next to my property.
How do I do it? How much will it cost?
It all boils down to getting everyone - property owners, city, utility companies, City Council, etc. - to agree to the vacation and then buying the vacated land from the City. Here's how the process works:
  1. Call and request a "petition to vacate a public way" from the City Clerk (402-441-7436) or the Public Works & Utilities Department (402-441-7548).
  2. Everyone whose property abuts the alley [or street] needs to sign the petition.
  3. Submit the petition to the City Clerk.
  4. Law Department, Public Works & Utilities Department and the utility companies review the petition and decide what easements, if any, need to be retained or if there's anything else that needs to be worked out for the City to agree to the vacation. Meanwhile, the City Real Estate staff evaluates the property included in the proposed vacation and recommends a sale price. The Planning Department collects & correlates the department & utility data and prepares it for review by the Planning Commission. The amount of time this takes depends on each situation.
  5. Planning Department puts the proposed vacation on the Planning Commission Agenda, and notifies the petitioners (you) about the meeting. The Planning Commission makes their recommendation to City Council, which the Planning Department also tells you, along with when the issue is on the City Council Agenda.
  6. City Clerk contacts property owners involved to notify them of the recommended sale price to be paid to the City -- if the alley [or street] is vacated.
  7. City Council reviews the petition (now called an "ordinance for vacation"). The ordinance has three readings before the City Council. If anyone wants to comment about the proposed vacation, they can testify at the second reading which is a public hearing.
  8. City Council makes a decision at the third reading. If they approve the vacation, the money from all property owners must be paid to the City Clerk before the vacation is final.
  9. When the vacation is approved by the City Council and Mayor and all money has been paid, deeds are prepared, recorded and delivered by the City Attorney's staff.

Is the property at 4578 North Whatever Street owned by the City? If so, is it for sale?
You can check the ownership of the property by using the County's Property Information Data Base or by calling the City's Real Estate office at 441-7864. If the property is available for sale, you can make an offer for it. A property won't be for sale unless it is already declared surplus.

You can request a property be declared surplus by contacting the City's Real Estate office. That begins a process that is often lengthy. It involves all City departments, utility companies, the Planning Commission, City Council and the Mayor. If the property is declared surplus, the person making the original surplus request may not be the only one wanting to buy it.

Urban Development Housing and Real Estate