How to start a daycare in Nebraska.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) licenses child care centers in Nebraska. These are the steps, each with the state's own page.
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 4, 2026.
Opening a child care center in Nebraska, step by step
Finish Safe With You training
You or your center's director finish the Safe With You training.
Source: Licensing Process Overview: Provisional Child Care CenterGet zoning approval
Get zoning approval or a certificate of occupancy. Send it with your application.
Source: Licensing Process Overview: Provisional Child Care CenterSend your application
Send the child care center application and all the information it asks for.
Source: How to Apply for a Child Care or Preschool LicenseGet liability insurance
Get liability insurance. Show it is active before your license is issued.
Source: Licensing Process Overview: Provisional Child Care CenterPass fire and health inspections
Pass a fire safety inspection and a health inspection. Both approvals are needed for a license.
Source: Licensing Process Overview: Provisional Child Care CenterPass the licensing inspection
A Child Care Inspection Specialist is assigned to inspect your center.
Source: Licensing Process Overview: Provisional Child Care CenterOpen on your license date
You may begin caring for children on or after your license's effective date.
Source: Licensing Process Overview: Provisional Child Care Center
At a glance
- Who licenses centers
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Children's Services Licensing. Its Children's Services Licensing unit reviews your program and issues your first license.Source: How to Apply for a Child Care or Preschool License
- Child care center
- 13 or more childrenSource: Types of Child Care in Nebraska
- First license
- Provisional, for the first yearSource: How to Apply for a Child Care or Preschool License
- After the first year
- Apply for an operating license that does not expireSource: How to Apply for a Child Care or Preschool License
- Opening date
- Do not set one until your license is issuedSource: Licensing Process Overview: Provisional Child Care Center
Good to know
- A new center building of 2,000 square feet or more may need a licensed architect or engineer.Source: Requirements for Day Care Projects
Run a program in Nebraska? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works
Plan your program
- How to start a home daycare in Nebraska
The kinds of home daycare the state allows, and the steps.
- Nebraska licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
- Child care grants in Nebraska
Grants the state runs for providers.
- Daycare startup costs in Nebraska
Revenue, staff pay and rent from your own numbers.
- Daycare business plan
How to write a plan for funding and licensing.
- Tuition calculator
Typical rates by state and age group.
- Ratio calculator
Staff needed for each age group, by state.
Questions, answered
How do I start a daycare in Nebraska?
The first step: Finish Safe With You training. All 7 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.
Who licenses child care centers in Nebraska?
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Children's Services Licensing. Its Children's Services Licensing unit reviews your program and issues your first license.
About this page
Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 4, 2026.
This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.
Questions about childcare in Nebraska?
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