Nebraska Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Nebraska (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Nebraska means applying to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit - Children's Services Licensing (Child Care Centers), clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in Nebraska's licensing statutes.

Nebraska Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your Nebraska launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
Nebraska charges a capacity-based license fee with no separate family-home-vs-center distinction: a $25 fee at initial application for a program licensed for fewer than 30 children, and $50 for a program licensed for 30 or more children, paid "at the time of initial application and annually thereafter" (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911.01(1)-(2)).
Annual renewal fee
The renewal fee equals the initial fee and is paid annually: $25 per year for capacity under 30 children and $50 per year for capacity of 30 or more children, due "at the time of initial application and annually thereafter," with operating licenses remaining in effect subject to annual inspections and fees (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911.01 and 71-1911(6)).
Pre-service training
Before a Family Child Care Home I provisional license is issued, the applicant must complete a two-hour orientation training provided by the Department plus CPR and First Aid training; child care center staff and volunteers must be provided orientation prior to having direct responsibility for the care of children (391 NAC 1-006.04A and 391 NAC 3-006.10A).
Annual training
Each licensee/staff member providing direct care (not including substitutes or volunteers) must obtain a minimum of 12 clock hours of training annually, reduced to six clock hours annually for staff who work 20 hours or less per week (391 NAC 1-006.04E for family child care homes and 391 NAC 3-006.10D for centers).
License-exempt threshold
In Nebraska a person may operate child care for three or fewer children without a license; a license is required to operate a program for four or more children (from families other than the provider's own) under the provider's direct supervision, care, and control at any one time (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911(1)-(2)).
Family child care capacity
A Family Child Care Home I serves at least 4 but not more than 8 children, except a licensee may be approved to serve up to two additional school-age children during non-school hours (working maximum of 10, with the 9th and 10th children being school-age) if no more than two of the other children in care are under 18 months of age; in mixed-age care the program may serve up to three infants if no more than two are under 12 months of age. A Family Child Care Home II is licensed to serve at least 4 but not more than 12 children (definitions at 391 NAC 1-002; capacity at 391 NAC 1-006.08).
Indoor square footage
Nebraska requires at least 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child (rooms/areas not used for child care do not count) and at least 50 square feet per child of age-appropriate outdoor play space (family child care homes: 391 NAC 1-007.01 indoor and 1-007.03 outdoor; centers: 391 NAC 3-007.01 indoor and 3-007.03 outdoor).
Inspection schedule
Initial on-site inspection within 30 days of receipt of a completed provisional-license application (391 NAC 3-005.01), and an unannounced provisional-to-operating inspection within 30 days of receipt of the operating-license application (391 NAC 3-005.02). Routine unannounced inspections (391 NAC 3-005.03 Annual and Semi-Annual License Inspections): a minimum of once each year for centers licensed for 29 or fewer children, and a minimum of twice each year for centers licensed for 30 or more children. Follow-up inspections, if conducted, occur no later than 60 days after the original inspection (391 NAC 3-005.04); discretionary monitoring inspections are also permitted (391 NAC 3-005.05). Complaint investigations are conducted under 391 NAC 3-005.07. (Note: the official PDF table of contents contains a typographical numbering error listing the annual/semi-annual provision as '3-004.03'; the section body correctly numbers it 3-005.03.)

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Nebraska

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in Nebraska's childcare licensing rules.

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Nebraska. In Nebraska a person may operate child care for three or fewer children without a license; a license is required to operate a program for four or more children (from families other than the provider's own) under the provider's direct supervision, care, and control at any one time (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911(1)-(2)).

    Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

  2. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. Before a Family Child Care Home I provisional license is issued, the applicant must complete a two-hour orientation training provided by the Department plus CPR and First Aid training; child care center staff and volunteers must be provided orientation prior to having direct responsibility for the care of children (391 NAC 1-006.04A and 391 NAC 3-006.10A).

    Plan for ongoing training too: Each licensee/staff member providing direct care (not including substitutes or volunteers) must obtain a minimum of 12 clock hours of training annually, reduced to six clock hours annually for staff who work 20 hours or less per week (391 NAC 1-006.04E for family child care homes and 391 NAC 3-006.10D for centers).

  3. Pass background checks

    Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

    Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

  4. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets Nebraska's facility standards. Nebraska requires at least 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child (rooms/areas not used for child care do not count) and at least 50 square feet per child of age-appropriate outdoor play space (family child care homes: 391 NAC 1-007.01 indoor and 1-007.03 outdoor; centers: 391 NAC 3-007.01 indoor and 3-007.03 outdoor).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A Family Child Care Home I serves at least 4 but not more than 8 children, except a licensee may be approved to serve up to two additional school-age children during non-school hours (working maximum of 10, with the 9th and 10th children being school-age) if no more than two of the other children in care are under 18 months of age; in mixed-age care the program may serve up to three infants if no more than two are under 12 months of age. A Family Child Care Home II is licensed to serve at least 4 but not more than 12 children (definitions at 391 NAC 1-002; capacity at 391 NAC 1-006.08).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit - Children's Services Licensing (Child Care Centers) and pay the licensing fee. Nebraska charges a capacity-based license fee with no separate family-home-vs-center distinction: a $25 fee at initial application for a program licensed for fewer than 30 children, and $50 for a program licensed for 30 or more children, paid "at the time of initial application and annually thereafter" (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911.01(1)-(2)).

    Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Initial on-site inspection within 30 days of receipt of a completed provisional-license application (391 NAC 3-005.01), and an unannounced provisional-to-operating inspection within 30 days of receipt of the operating-license application (391 NAC 3-005.02). Routine unannounced inspections (391 NAC 3-005.03 Annual and Semi-Annual License Inspections): a minimum of once each year for centers licensed for 29 or fewer children, and a minimum of twice each year for centers licensed for 30 or more children. Follow-up inspections, if conducted, occur no later than 60 days after the original inspection (391 NAC 3-005.04); discretionary monitoring inspections are also permitted (391 NAC 3-005.05). Complaint investigations are conducted under 391 NAC 3-005.07. (Note: the official PDF table of contents contains a typographical numbering error listing the annual/semi-annual provision as '3-004.03'; the section body correctly numbers it 3-005.03.)

    The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Nebraska rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: 6 weeks to 18 months 1:4, 18 months to 3 years 1:6, 3 years 1:10, 4 and 5 years 1:12, School-age 1:15

    Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Nebraska-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

    Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

What You Need to Apply in Nebraska

Nebraska licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • Complete, accurate, written and signed application and disclosure of ownership on a form provided by the Department (DHHS Application for Child Care Center license) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(1)
  • U.S. citizen / qualified alien attestation (Neb. Rev. Stat. ss 4-108 to 4-114) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(2)
  • Consent for Central Registry Checks and Authorization for Release of Information (applicant, all staff/volunteers age 13+, household members age 13+ if home-based) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(3)
  • Documentation of Criminal History Record Check (Nebraska State Patrol / local law enforcement; applicant, staff/volunteers age 19+, household members age 19+) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(4), 3-006.03A
  • Report of Law Enforcement Contact (applicant/director, staff/volunteers/household members age 19+; updated annually) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(5), 3-006.03C
  • Health Information Report for the director (form provided by the Department) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(6), 3-006.03F
  • Documentation of director qualifications - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(7), 3-006.04
  • Sketch/diagram/blueprint of facility (dimensions, room arrangement, outdoor play area) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(8)
  • Copies of zoning approval from the relevant jurisdiction - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(9)
  • Fire Inspection Approval (fire marshal's office) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(10)
  • Sanitation Inspection Approval (Department or delegated authority) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(11)
  • Written Description of Services - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(12), 3-006.14A
  • Sample daily schedule for each age group - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(13)
  • Sample weekly menu of snacks and/or meals - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(14)
  • Required licensing fee (see 3-004.08) - 391 NAC 3-003.01A(16)
  • Child immunization record obtained within 30 days of each child's enrollment (not part of the initial license application) - 391 NAC 3-006.18, 3-006.18A; annual immunization reporting per 173 NAC 4

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Nebraska requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit - Children's Services Licensing (Child Care Centers): 6 weeks to 18 months 1:4, 18 months to 3 years 1:6, 3 years 1:10, 4 and 5 years 1:12, School-age 1:15.

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Nebraska licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Nebraska-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · Nebraska-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Nebraska: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Nebraska?
In Nebraska a person may operate child care for three or fewer children without a license; a license is required to operate a program for four or more children (from families other than the provider's own) under the provider's direct supervision, care, and control at any one time (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911(1)-(2)).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Nebraska?
Nebraska charges a capacity-based license fee with no separate family-home-vs-center distinction: a $25 fee at initial application for a program licensed for fewer than 30 children, and $50 for a program licensed for 30 or more children, paid "at the time of initial application and annually thereafter" (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911.01(1)-(2)). Renewal: The renewal fee equals the initial fee and is paid annually: $25 per year for capacity under 30 children and $50 per year for capacity of 30 or more children, due "at the time of initial application and annually thereafter," with operating licenses remaining in effect subject to annual inspections and fees (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911.01 and 71-1911(6)).
Who issues daycare licenses in Nebraska?
Childcare licensing in Nebraska is handled by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit - Children's Services Licensing (Child Care Centers). You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in Nebraska?
Before a Family Child Care Home I provisional license is issued, the applicant must complete a two-hour orientation training provided by the Department plus CPR and First Aid training; child care center staff and volunteers must be provided orientation prior to having direct responsibility for the care of children (391 NAC 1-006.04A and 391 NAC 3-006.10A).

Keep researching Nebraska

Nebraska Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for Nebraska.

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How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

The cross-state playbook, from choosing a program type to opening day.

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License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

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Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

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Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Nebraska statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit - Children's Services Licensing (Child Care Centers) before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.