Douglas County, NE Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Douglas County, NE, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Use classification
- Short-Term Lodging Establishment
- Permit type
- Special Use Permit (Board of County Commissioners)
- Occupant cap
- 2 per bedroom, 10 total maximum
- Guest vehicle cap
- 1 per qualifying bedroom
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only, not Omaha
Summary
Unincorporated Douglas County treats Airbnb-style rentals as a "Short-Term Lodging Establishment" use requiring a county Special Use Permit in nearly every zoning district, not a by-right home business.
Short-Term Lodging Establishment: A short term living arrangement which may include accessory structures and other features immediately surrounding the home and yard such as pools, hot tubs, and gazebos. The number of occupants shall not exceed two each per bedroom that meets residential building code standards. Regardless of the number of bedrooms, the total number of occupants shall not exceed 10. The number of guest vehicles shall not exceed the number of bedrooms that meet residential building code standards. Such uses including but not limited to; bed and breakfasts and Airbnb®.
Full Breakdown
The zoning regulations define "Short-Term Lodging Establishment" at Section 3.07(C) as a short-term living arrangement (including bed and breakfasts and Airbnb-type rentals) capped at two occupants per qualifying bedroom, ten occupants total, and one guest vehicle per qualifying bedroom. Table 4.1 marks this use "S" (Special Use Permit) in the AG, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, MH and MU districts, meaning the Planning Commission must hold a public hearing and recommend action before the County Board votes to approve it under Section 13.04. An ADU used for short-term lodging must either conform to this use's standards or separately obtain a special use permit under Section 5.03(C)(4). This is Douglas County's UNINCORPORATED-area zoning code only: it does not reach Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo or Ralston, which enforce their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Operating without an approved Special Use Permit is a zoning violation subject to county enforcement; the County Board can also revoke a granted permit if the operator violates its conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run an Airbnb in unincorporated Douglas County without a permit?
Do these rules apply if my rental is in Omaha?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
How Douglas County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska short-term rentals overview
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