Home Business in Nebraska (2026)
19 rules on the books across Nebraska, 5 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Which businesses you can run from home, the home-occupation permit or registration most cities require, and the conditions attached, floor area caps, signage bans, and prohibited uses.
Douglas County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Douglas County splits home businesses into two tiers: Home Occupation I needs a special use permit, Home…
Read full rule →Lancaster County
Some RestrictionsRunning a business from home in unincorporated Lancaster County is allowed under Section 15.001 as long as it stays…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln allows home-based businesses in dwellings and accessory buildings but caps use to 20% of floor area, bars…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha allows home-based businesses by right in dwelling units, but zoning code § 55-767(c) bans outside employees…
Read full rule →Signage Rules
Whether you can put up a sign for your home business, including size limits, placement rules, and which types of signs are allowed.
Douglas County
Significant RestrictionsIn unincorporated Douglas County, a home occupation may display just one sign, attached to the residence, capped at 3…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln caps home occupation signage at one nameplate no larger than two square feet, with lettering no taller than two…
Read full rule →Lancaster County
Light RestrictionsA home occupation run out of a Lancaster County dwelling can post only one nameplate sign, capped at two square feet…
Read full rule →Customer Traffic Restrictions
Limits on customers and clients visiting a home business, daily visit caps, one-at-a-time rules, employee restrictions, and parking conditions that keep a home occupation from becoming a storefront.
Douglas County
Significant RestrictionsIn unincorporated Douglas County, a home business that has customers visit the property is classified as a Major Home…
Read full rule →Omaha
Significant RestrictionsOmaha bars home occupations from any on-premises display, purchase or sale of commodities and from deliveries or…
Read full rule →Lancaster County
Some RestrictionsAn Expanded Home Occupation on Lancaster County acreage caps outside participants at two people, excluding deliveries…
Read full rule →Cottage Food Operations
Rules for selling homemade food products from your kitchen, including what foods are allowed, labeling requirements, and annual sales limits.
Nebraska: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsNebraska's Cottage Food Act lets home producers sell many foods directly to consumers without a license. LB262 (2024)…
Read full rule →Lancaster County
Some RestrictionsNebraska lets Lincoln residents make non-hazardous foods in their home kitchen and sell them directly to consumers with…
Read full rule →Sarpy County
Few RestrictionsNebraska's Cottage Food Act lets a Sarpy County resident make and sell many homemade foods direct to consumers after a…
Read full rule →Home Kitchen Operations
Permits for selling meals cooked to order in a home kitchen, which is a separate legal category from shelf-stable cottage food. Covers daily meal and gross revenue caps, health department inspection, and whether the county has to opt in before residents may apply at all.
Home Daycare
Licensing and zoning rules for running a daycare out of your home, including the number of children allowed, outdoor play area requirements, and safety standards.
Nebraska: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsNebraska requires state licensing for family child care homes serving four or more unrelated children. The Department…
Read full rule →Lancaster County
Some RestrictionsLancaster County allows a small in-home daycare as a conditional use in its Agricultural and Residential zoning…
Read full rule →Lincoln
Some RestrictionsLincoln treats home daycare as a home occupation: family-only staff, a 20% floor-area cap, no outdoor equipment…
Read full rule →Omaha
Some RestrictionsOmaha's zoning code splits home child care into two use types with different rules. Day care services (limited), up to…
Read full rule →Douglas County
Few RestrictionsDouglas County zoning treats a state-licensed home daycare serving six or fewer people as a permitted-by-right land use…
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