Lincoln's Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles zoning overlays & bonuses a little differently. In Lincoln, Nebraska, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Downtown Design Guide

Lincoln requires every building permit in the B-4 Lincoln Center Business District to comply with adopted Downtown and subarea Design Standards, including the stricter South Haymarket Design Standards for a defined area near 9th and O Streets.

Key details: Governing section: Lincoln Municipal Code § 27.35.080. Applies to: B-4 Lincoln Center Business District. South Haymarket subarea: West of 9th Street, south of O Street. Last amended: Ordinance 20466, February 13, 2017. Original adoption: Ordinance 12571, May 8, 1979.

Building permits in the affected B-4 area that don't meet the applicable Design Standards can be denied by the city's Building & Safety Department until plans are revised to comply.

Density Bonus Law

Lincoln grants a 20% dwelling-unit density bonus to Community Unit Plans in the AG or AGR district that use a shared community wastewater system instead of individual septic systems, under Municipal Code § 27.65.020.

Key details: Bonus amount: 20% density bonus. Trigger: Community wastewater in AG/AGR. Bonus cap: 20% combined, subsections c-g. Approval path: Special permit, Planning Commission.

Building without an approved Community Unit Plan or special permit, or exceeding the approved density and bonus allotment, halts building-permit and certificate-of-occupancy issuance until the plan is amended and approved.

The Bottom Line

Lincoln's zoning overlays & bonuses rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lincoln is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Lincoln can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.