Douglas County, NE Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Building coverage cap
- 40% in R-1 district
- Impervious coverage cap
- 50% in R-1 district
- Enforced by
- Douglas County Zoning Coordinator
- Penalty
- Class III misdemeanor per violation
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only, not Omaha
Summary
Unincorporated Douglas County caps R-1 residential lots at 40% building coverage and 50% impervious surface coverage under the county's Zoning Regulations Table 4.3, a stormwater standard enforced by the Zoning Coordinator.
Regulator
1-Family Detached
1-Family Attached
Maximum Building Coverage
40%
40%
Maximum Impervious Coverage
50%
50%
Maximum Amount of Total N/A
N/A
Parking Located in Street
Yard
Other Permitted Uses 40% 50%
Setbacks may be adjusted to allow for lot clustering and in order to comply with the overall intent of Conservation Development. Notes:
1. Single-Family Attached Development: Single-family attached development requires site plan approval.
2. Subdivision of property for residential use is not allowed in the one half mile buffer zone around the waste monofill site at the Douglas County RDF Landfill site, the industrial waste monofill site located south of the Douglas County RDF Landfill site permitted by Special Page 34 of 54
Use Permit issued to Waste Management, and the Pheasant Point Landfill.
3. Residential accessory building coverage up to 20% of the rear yard.
B. Additional Requirements
All new subdivisions and lots must comply with the Conservation Development regulations contained herein.
Full Breakdown
In the unincorporated area of Douglas County, the R-1 Urban Residential Low-Density District limits new development to 40% building coverage and 50% impervious surface coverage: the share of a lot covered by structures, driveways, parking, and other surfaces that block stormwater infiltration, per Zoning Regulations § 4.14, Table 4.3. Building permits are checked against these limits before issuance. Coverage caps vary by district: AG and RR carry no impervious limit, while the ID Industrial District allows up to 90%. These rules apply only outside Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo, and Ralston, which enforce their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Building without a permit or exceeding coverage limits is a zoning violation; the Zoning Coordinator orders correction, and violators face a Class III misdemeanor, with each 24-hour period a separate offense (§ 13.12).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this limit apply inside Omaha?
What counts toward impervious coverage?
Is the limit the same in every zoning district?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska building setbacks & zoning overview
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