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Lancaster County

Lancaster County Clerk

In short

Lancaster County Clerk issues 3 permits we publish for Lancaster County, last verified 2026-10-12. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Special Designated License — County Board Action and County Fee (events outside city or village limits)only if it applies to youLancaster County Clerk$80 per application, payable to the Lancaster County Clerk (as published on the county's Special Designated License page); the state Special Designated License fee of $40 per day under Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-124.11(3) is a separate state feeper event; the application and county fee are due at the County Clerk's Office at least 21 business days before the event2026-10-12
Tobacco License (County Clerk; establishments outside city, town or village limits)only if it applies to youLancaster County Clerk$10 per calendar year, for a retail seller; one-half of the fee when the application is made after July 1 (Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-1423)calendar year (January through December); renewed annually2026-10-12
Retail Liquor License — County Board Recommendation and County Treasurer Fee (premises outside city or village limits)only if it applies to youLancaster County ClerkState-set annual retail license fees under Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-124.01(11), paid directly to the Lancaster County Treasurer for premises outside the corporate limits of a city or village (§53-124(6)(b)): Class A $100; Class B $100; Class C $300; Class D $200; Class I $250; Class J $50. The amounts are fixed by state statute, not by the county.annual; the license year runs May 1 to April 30, except Class C, which runs November 1 to October 31 (§53-124(10)); renewed each year through the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission2026-10-12

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Special Designated License — County Board Action and County Fee (events outside city or village limits)

A Special Designated License allows the sale of alcoholic beverages at a specific, temporary event. The county's Special Designated License page states that only current retail liquor license holders and 501(c) nonprofit organizations may apply, and that "The fee is $80 per application, payable to the County Clerk." The application and the $80 fee go to the County Clerk's Office at least 21 business days (excluding holidays) before the event; the application is routed for review to Building & Safety, the City-County Planning Department, the County Engineer, the Sheriff and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, then scheduled before the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners. After County Board action the county's recommendation form is emailed to the applicant, who must file with the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission at least 7 business days before the event. The page also states that non-caterer retail license holders are limited to 6 SDL days per calendar year. The state charges its own fee, $40 for each day identified in the license (Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-124.11(3)), collected by the Commission. Lancaster County Clerk's Office, 555 S 10th Street, Room 108, Lincoln, NE 68508; 402-441-7484.

Tobacco License (County Clerk; establishments outside city, town or village limits)

The county's Tobacco Licenses page states that "The Lancaster County Clerk's Office issues tobacco licenses only for establishments located outside of the incorporated limits of any city, town or village," that licenses are valid for the calendar year and must be renewed annually, and that "The fee for a tobacco license is $10." The figure is the one Neb. Rev. Stat. §28-1423 sets for a retail seller in locations outside the limits of cities, towns and villages, and the statute halves the fee when the application is made after July 1 of the calendar year; the license runs from filing through December 31. Applications must be signed and dated; checks are made out to the Lancaster County Clerk, and the page asks applicants to allow 3 to 4 weeks for processing. Lancaster County Clerk's Office, 555 S 10th Street, Room 108, Lincoln, NE 68508; 402-441-7484. A store inside a city, town or village applies to that municipality.

Retail Liquor License — County Board Recommendation and County Treasurer Fee (premises outside city or village limits)

A restaurant, coffee shop or store that will sell alcohol at premises in Lancaster County outside the corporate limits of any city or village applies first to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, which sends notice of the application to the county clerk (Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-131). Under §53-134 the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners is the local governing body for such licenses: it holds a hearing, published in a legal newspaper 7 to 14 days beforehand, and records a resolution recommending issuance or refusal. The county's Liquor Licenses page states that the application is forwarded to the County Clerk's Office for local processing, that a public hearing is scheduled before the County Board, and that "There are both state and county fees to be paid." The annual license fee is set by state statute, §53-124.01(11): Class A $100, Class B $100, Class C $300, Class D $200, Class I $250 and Class J $50; §53-124(6)(b) requires it to be paid directly to the county treasurer for premises outside the corporate limits of a city or village. County Resolution R-19-0032 sets the county's procedures and standards for liquor license applications, and Resolution R-25-0083 (effective November 18, 2025) sets the hours of sale outside city and village limits. Renewal is annual through the Commission. Lancaster County Clerk's Office, 555 S 10th Street, Room 108, Lincoln, NE 68508; 402-441-7484. Premises inside a city or village go to that municipality's governing body instead.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Lancaster County
Phone
402-441-7484

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Liquor Licenses (County Clerk)Lancaster County, Nebraska · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  2. Neb. Rev. Stat. §53-124.11, Special designated licenseNebraska Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  3. Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1423, Tobacco licence fees; termNebraska Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  4. Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-124, Licences; classes; payment of fees; licence yearNebraska Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  5. Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-124.01, Licence feesNebraska Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  6. Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-131, Retail licence application; fees; notice to clerkNebraska Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  7. Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-134, Local governing bodies and county boards; powers, functions and dutiesNebraska Legislature · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  8. Resolution R-19-0032: Procedures and standards for administering liquor license applications in Lancaster CountyLancaster County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  9. Resolution R-25-0083: Hours of operation for the sale of alcoholic liquors in Lancaster CountyLancaster County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  10. Special Designated License (SDL) (County Clerk)Lancaster County, Nebraska · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12
  11. Tobacco Licenses (County Clerk)Lancaster County, Nebraska · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-12

Other offices serving Lancaster County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

Nebraska jurisdictions

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.