By State › Nebraska

Nebraska: Laws & Legal Considerations

Download all of Nebraska as PDF Print

Nebraska law and its own universities actively promote rainwater harvesting for outdoor, domestic use.

RuleNebraska
Source water Rooftop or other catchment
Permit required No, at the state level, for outdoor domestic use
Governing provision Section P2912, Nonpotable Rainwater Collection and Distribution Systems
State posture Actively encouraged, including by University of Nebraska Extension itself

Where to find it: University of Nebraska’s Water Center (water.unl.edu) publishes water use guidance.

Water rights: a genuine dual system, surface and groundwater governed separately

Nebraska is one of a small number of states covered on this site with two entirely distinct legal frameworks for surface water and groundwater, rather than one doctrine covering both or a hybrid blend.

Water typeGoverning doctrine in Nebraska
Surface water Prior appropriation ('first in time, first in right'), the same family as Utah/Oregon/Kansas/New Mexico
Groundwater Correlative rights: all landowners share access to groundwater beneath their property, limited to reasonable use that doesn't harm neighboring rights
Local management 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) manage groundwater regionally, a structure unique among the states covered on this site

Where to find it: the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and the relevant local Natural Resources District.

Permitless carry since September 2023

Nebraska became the 27th constitutional-carry state when LB 77 took effect in September 2023.

RequirementDetail
Standard Permitless carry, concealed, for anyone 21+ legally eligible to possess a firearm
ID requirement Must carry valid government-issued ID while carrying
Disclosure requirement Must immediately disclose to law enforcement or emergency personnel that you're carrying, upon contact
Optional permit Remains available through State Patrol for reciprocity in states that don't recognize Nebraska's permitless standard
Handgun purchase note A handgun certificate or concealed carry permit is still required to purchase a handgun, even in a private sale, separate from the carry question itself

A live 2026 legislative debate

LB 1237, introduced in 2026, would standardize “gun-free” designations for the State Capitol and its surrounding grounds. This is a pending proposal, not enacted law; confirm current status if reading this later.

Sources