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Douglas County, NE Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Runoff standard
No net increase over pre-development conditions
Applies to
Site plan review and special use permits
Reviewed by
Zoning Coordinator / County Board
Coverage area
Unincorporated Douglas County only
Citation
Zoning Regs § 13.03, Table 13.1

Summary

Douglas County's zoning regulations require any project going through site plan review or a special use permit in the unincorporated county to manage storm water so there is no net increase in runoff compared to pre-development conditions.

City-specific rules exist: Omaha has its own stormwater management rules that differ from Douglas County's county-level regulations. If you live in Omaha, check the city-specific page instead.

Development should handle storm water adequately to prevent overloading of public storm water management system and such that there is no net increase in runoff from existing (pre-development) conditions.

Source: Omaha StormwaterView official code

Full Breakdown

Table 13.1, the criteria the Zoning Coordinator applies to Site Plan Review (§13.03) and the County Board applies to Special Use Permits (§13.04), makes storm water management a mandatory finding. A project must handle storm water without overloading the public storm water management system and must produce no net increase in runoff versus pre-development conditions before approval. This standard governs only unincorporated Douglas County land: it does not reach Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo, or Ralston, each of which administers its own separate municipal code.

Violations & Fines

The Zoning Coordinator or County Board can withhold site plan or special use permit approval, or require plan modifications, until the storm water criteria in Table 13.1 are met; an already-approved site plan can also be revoked for noncompliance under §13.03(G)(3).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this stormwater rule apply inside Omaha?
No. It applies only in unincorporated Douglas County. Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo, and Ralston each enforce their own separate municipal codes, not this county zoning regulation.
What must a site plan show for storm water?
It must show the project won't overload the public storm water management system and will cause no net increase in runoff from pre-development conditions, per Table 13.1.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Douglas County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsErosion ControlSome RestrictionsFlood Elevation RequirementsSome RestrictionsFlood ZonesSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Douglas County rules

Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska environmental rules overview

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Stormwater Management in Cities Across Douglas County

Omaha, NE