Douglas County, NE Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- SWPPP and erosion control plan required
- Applies to
- Subdivisions and all other new development
- Single-lot construction
- Separate lot-level SWPPP required
- Buffer requirement
- 100-foot vegetated buffer near sensitive features
- Not covered
- Omaha and other cities have own codes
Summary
Douglas County requires a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and erosion control plan for new development in the unincorporated county, including single-lot construction, to limit runoff and erosion; Omaha and other cities enforce their own separate rules.
All proposed development shall provide a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and activities shall minimize erosion (impact on sustainable vegetation while also keep at a minimum) on the site, siltation of water bodies, waterways and wetlands, loss of soils, and deterioration or damage to storm water BMP structures. The applicant shall prepare and submit an erosion control plan in accordance with the provisions of this Article and any other applicable regulations. A 100 foot buffer shall be maintained adjacent to any native growth prairie, wetland, or waterway on the site or immediately adjacent to the site. The intent of the buffer is to minimize/mitigate any impacts of the developed areas and these environmentally-sensitive features, whether these features are within the designated open space or not. The buffer is intended to be vegetated and without man-made structures, with the exception of recreational trails or storm water BMPs that do not compromise the intent of the buffer or conflict with other regulations, including but not limited to, Corps of Engineers 404 permit restrictions.
E. Proposed development activities shall minimize cut and fill. Page 14 of 15
Full Breakdown
Under the county's Conservation Design Regulations, every proposed development in unincorporated Douglas County, subdivisions and other projects alike, must submit a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and an erosion control plan before grading begins, aimed at cutting runoff, protecting water bodies and wetlands from siltation, and preventing soil loss. Single-lot construction not part of a larger plat still needs its own lot-level SWPPP. A 100-foot vegetated buffer must be kept along any waterway, wetland, or native prairie on or next to the site. Planned Development submittals also require an erosion-control component on the grading plan. Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo and Ralston are not covered, they administer their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
Failure to submit or follow the required SWPPP and erosion control plan can hold up plat, site plan, or PD approval; the Zoning Coordinator and Planning Commission enforce compliance before construction proceeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply if I'm building in Omaha?
Do single lots need a stormwater plan too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska environmental rules overview
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