Douglas County, NE Home Business: Home Daycare (2026)
Key Facts
- Person cap for "Limited"
- 6 or fewer people
- Zoning status
- Permitted by right, all districts
- License required
- Nebraska DHHS day care license
- Geographic reach
- Unincorporated county only
- Citation
- §3.05(G); Table 4.1, §4.10
Summary
Douglas County zoning treats a state-licensed home daycare serving six or fewer people as a permitted-by-right land use in every zoning district, including all residential districts: no special use permit needed. Applies only to unincorporated county land, not Omaha.
Use Types AG RR R-1 R-2 R-3 MH MU ID Supplemental Regulations ... Day Care (Limited) P P P P P P P P 5.04 Day Care (General) S S S S P S P P 5.04
Full Breakdown
Article 3 § 3.05(G) defines "Day Care Services (Limited)" as any state-licensed day care classification operating for not more than six persons, which covers a typical in-home family child care operation. Table 4.1 in Article 4 (§ 4.10) lists this use type as permitted by right ("P") in every base zoning district, AG, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, MH, MU and ID, so an operator needs no special use permit or public hearing, only the underlying state childcare license. Add a seventh client and the use reclassifies as "Day Care (General)," which requires a Special Use Permit from the County Board in every district except R-3, MU and ID. These regulations govern only unincorporated Douglas County; Omaha, plus Bennington, Valley, Waterloo and Ralston, enforce their own separate municipal zoning codes.
Violations & Fines
Operating a "General" daycare (more than six people) without the required Special Use Permit, or without the underlying Nebraska DHHS license, is a zoning violation the County can cite and order into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special use permit for a small home daycare?
What if I care for more than six children?
Does this cover my home in Omaha?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska home business overview
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