Permit Ready Plans
RFQ
Architects and Design Professionals:
The Historic Preservation program in the Planning and Development Services Department is seeking interest in designing "permit ready" plans for dwellings for infill in historic districts. We plan to offer plans that have already been approved by Building and Safety and the Historic Preservation Commission for sympathetic new construction in Lincoln's historic districts, dating between 1890-1940s. Designs for single family homes of various sizes, duplexes, triplexes, rowhouses or double houses, zero-entry, and Accessory Dwelling Units are eagerly sought. Please see the RFQ to learn more(PDF, 78KB).
Permit Ready Plans
The City of Lincoln is committed to supporting neighborhood infill and local economic opportunities by assisting residents through the design and approval process for housing options across a variety of neighborhood contexts. By providing these permit-ready plan sets to residents, the city can further support neighborhood-scale housing in existing neighborhoods. Applicants will be able to choose from the catalog of three plan sets based on site conditions, preference, and design sensibility within their neighborhood.
These single-family home designs reflect architectural styles commonly found in historic districts, helping new homes blend seamlessly into established neighborhoods. To make the building process easier, the plans were developed with early review by Building and Safety and the Historic Preservation Commission. In most cases, only minor, site-specific drawings are needed once a lot is selected.
The plans are available to the public at no cost. A simple application process ensures the selected design is a good fit for the chosen historic district. The same plans may also be used free of charge on properties outside historic districts.
Note – You will still need to obtain a building permit and pay any relevant fees that are required of any residential construction project.
Additional designs — including multi-family homes and other residential building types — will be added in the coming years, expanding options for residents, builders, and developers.
This project was funded in part with a grant from the National Park Service and the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office.
Process
- Complete and submit the online request form below. Please note, you will need to attach a signed Waiver and Release Form(PDF, 99KB) to the application before submitting it.
- If the lot is within the boundaries of a local landmark historic district, any alterations to the plans must be coordinated closely with the Historic Preservation Planner.
- A site plan will need to be developed for the specific lot on which the property will be built and must be approved by Building and Safety in order to obtain a Building Permit.
Floor Plans
American Four Square
This two-story vernacular house form was common in Lincoln between approximately 1905 to 1925, and as the name implies, each floor had four rooms. Most featured a hipped roof with a front-facing hipped dormer, and a full width front porch. This style would be appropriate in the Near South, East Lincoln/Elm Park, Creighton, East Campus, Everett, Franklin Heights, and Hawley Local Landmark Historic Districts.
This 1705 sq ft floor plan features three bedrooms, two baths, a powder room on the first floor, and optional build outs for the 880 sq ft unfinished basement.
Craftsman Bungalow
Craftsman houses were built in Lincoln between 1905 and 1930.They feature low-pitched gable roofs with wide overhanging eaves, exposed rafters and full or partial width porches. They are commonly one to one-and-a-half stories in height. This style would be appropriate for the East Campus, Franklin Heights, and Woods Park Bungalow Local Landmark Historic Districts.
This 1705 sq ft floor plan features three bedrooms, two baths, a powder room on the first floor, and optional build outs for the 880 sq ft unfinished basement.
Tudor Revival
In Lincoln, Tudor Revival style houses were built between 1915 to 1940 and ranged in size from cottages to large dwellings. They are typically asymmetrical and often feature a steeply pitched roof, crossed or front facing gables, and half-timbering. This modernized version could blend well into parts of the Near South, Franklin Heights, Creighton, and East Campus Local Landmark Historic Districts.
This 1800 sq ft floor plan features three bedrooms, two baths, a powder room on the first floor, and optional build outs for the 800 sq ft unfinished basement.
Submit Request