5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Lancaster County, Nebraska.
Verified from official government sources
In Lincoln, a home occupation is a permitted accessory use in residential zoning districts under Municipal Code Title 27, as long as it stays incidental to the home and does not change its residential character. Unincorporated county land is zoned by Lancaster County.
Lincoln keeps home occupations low-profile: signage is tightly restricted so the business does not change the residential character of the neighborhood. Storefront-style or commercial signs visible from the street generally are not allowed for a home occupation.
Nebraska lets Lincoln residents make non-hazardous foods in their home kitchen and sell them directly to consumers with no sales cap, but the producer must register with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture first and give buyers a clearly visible home-kitchen notice.
Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-2,280
The producer shall inform the consumer by a clearly visible notification that the food: (i) Was prepared in a kitchen that is not subject to regulation and inspection by a regulatory authority; and (ii) May contain allergens.
Nebraska requires no license to care for three or fewer children, but a Family Child Care Home I license from state DHHS is required to care for four or more. In Lincoln, an in-home daycare is also a home occupation subject to Title 27 zoning.
Lincoln defines a home occupation as an activity carried on within a dwelling by a resident that is incidental and secondary to living there and does not change the home's residential character. Qualifying uses are generally allowed by right, with no separate home-occupation permit issued.
Lincoln Municipal Code 27.02.090(H) (Home Occupation)
any occupation or activity carried on within a dwelling unit or accessory building by a person or persons residing on the premises, which occupation or activity is incidental and secondary to the residential occupancy and does not change the residential character thereof.
1 cities in Lancaster County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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