Last verified: June 2026. Confirm with your county health department before paying. Lincoln-Lancaster: Lincoln Food Safety.
Nebraska has no statewide food handler card, and the local picture just changed: Omaha (Douglas County) launched a brand-new mandatory program in January 2026, joining Lincoln, which has required permits since the 1980s. Here’s what applies, by location.
Quick answer
Nebraska’s state food code (Title 175 NAC) does not require food handler cards. Two metro jurisdictions do — and they’re different from each other.
- Lincoln-Lancaster County (Lincoln): required since the 1980s; FREE; all employees (down to dishwashers); valid 2 years; via the county program at foodhandlers.unl.edu.
- Douglas County (Omaha): NEW mandatory program launched January 21, 2026; $20 (waived if under 18); within 30 days of hire; via the DCHD/UNL portal.
- Sarpy County: does not require a card (despite some aggregator claims).
- Elsewhere: voluntary; employers may still require it.
Lincoln-Lancaster County — free, and for everyone
If you work in Lincoln, the rule is simple and unusually worker-friendly: all employees of registered food establishments need a food handler (or manager) permit, and it’s free through the county’s own program. You can train and test online or in person. Permits are valid 2 years. Because the county program is free and the only approved one, be wary of paid sites claiming to issue a valid Lincoln permit — get it directly from the county at foodhandlers.unl.edu.
Douglas County (Omaha) — brand new in 2026
This is the big change. Following an Omaha City Council vote in August 2025, the Douglas County Health Department launched its first-ever mandatory food handler program on January 21, 2026:
- Who: all food employees at licensed establishments in Douglas County, including Omaha.
- Cost: $20 (waived for workers under 18).
- Deadline: within 30 days of employment.
- How: through the DCHD/UNL online training portal; the program has tiered levels by job duties.
- Important: it’s not yet fully clear whether DCHD accepts third-party ANSI/ANAB-accredited courses in addition to its own portal — so verify with DCHD before using an outside provider.
- CFPM exemption: holders of a valid Certified Food Protection Manager certification are exempt.
The manager requirement
Statewide there’s no CFPM mandate, but both Lincoln-Lancaster and Douglas County require at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (Person-in-Charge) per shift. CFPM is valid 5 years statewide (3 years in Lincoln-Lancaster, with a local fee).
What to do, by location
- Lincoln (Lancaster County): get the free permit via the county program — required for every food employee.
- Omaha (Douglas County): complete the DCHD/UNL program within 30 days ($20, or free if under 18); confirm whether outside courses are accepted.
- Sarpy County or elsewhere: no card required; a voluntary ANAB-accredited course is optional and employer-dependent.
Nebraska at a glance
| Statewide requirement? | No (Title 175 NAC) |
| Lincoln-Lancaster County | Required since 1980s; FREE; all employees; 2 years |
| Douglas County (Omaha) | NEW Jan 21, 2026; $20 (free under 18); 30 days; DCHD/UNL portal |
| Sarpy County | Not required |
| Manager rule | CFPM per shift in Lincoln-Lancaster & Douglas |
| Elsewhere | Voluntary; employer-dependent |
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Your county health department is the final word.