Contractor licensing — Nebraska

Nebraska's contractor licensing is split. Electricians are licensed statewide through the Nebraska State Electrical Division. Plumbing and HVAC are licensed at the city level. There is no statewide general contractor license, but there is a statewide contractor-registration requirement under the Contractor Registration Act. State-level trade licenses. - Electrical. The Nebraska State Electrical Division licenses Apprentice, Journeyman, Master, Fire Alarm, Residential Wireman, and Electrical Contractor categories under Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 81, Article 21 (State Electrical Act). Source: Nebraska State Electrical Division (https://electrical.nebraska.gov/). - Plumbing. Not state-licensed. Handled at the city level (Omaha Plumbing Board, Lincoln Building and Safety, and other cities). - HVAC and Mechanical. Not state-licensed. Handled at the city level (Omaha ACAD Board, Lincoln Building and Safety, and other cities). - General contracting. No statewide general contractor license, but see the Contractor Registration Act. Nebraska Contractor Registration Act. Nebraska Revised Statutes sections 48-2101 to 48-2117 require contractors operating in Nebraska to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor. Registration is not a skills-based license and does not replace trade-specific licensing; it is a state-level filing to document the contractor and its insurance for enforcement and public-works purposes. Source: Nebraska Department of Labor — Contractor Registration (https://dol.nebraska.gov/LaborStandards/ContractorRegistration). Local licensing (representative examples, not exhaustive). - Omaha. The City of Omaha Planning Department administers plumbing licensing through the Plumbing Board and HVAC licensing through the ACAD Board. The ACAD categories are Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. - Lincoln. The City of Lincoln Department of Building and Safety administers plumbing and HVAC licensing, each with apprentice, journeyman, and master levels. - Other cities (Grand Island, Kearney, Bellevue, Fremont). Each maintains its own licensing ordinance. Business registration. - Formation. Nebraska LLCs are formed under Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 21, Article 1 (Nebraska Uniform Limited Liability Company Act) by filing a Certificate of Organization with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The filing fee is $100 online or $110 by mail. Source: Nebraska Secretary of State — Forms and Fee Information (https://sos.nebraska.gov/business-services/forms-and-fee-information). - Biennial Report. Nebraska LLCs must file a biennial report. - Trade name. Filed with the Secretary of State if operating under a name different from the legal entity name. - Sales tax. Register with the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Source: Nebraska Department of Revenue (https://revenue.nebraska.gov/). - Unemployment and withholding. Register with the Nebraska Department of Labor for unemployment and the Department of Revenue for withholding. A realistic Nebraska trades launch involves (1) qualifying for and obtaining the state Electrical Contractor license (electricians) or the city plumbing or HVAC license (other trades), (2) registering under the Nebraska Contractor Registration Act, (3) forming the LLC or corporation with the Secretary of State, (4) carrying the required liability insurance and posting local bonds, and (5) registering tax and employer accounts.