Nebraska Contractor Registration Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Nebraska's Contractor Registration Act requires contractors and subcontractors doing business in Nebraska to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor before performing any construction work in the state. The registration is renewed every year, online through your profile on the Department of Labor's contractor registration site, and the fee is $40 from August 1, 2026. Contractors with employees must also keep workers' compensation proof current, which the Department of Labor says means a certificate of insurance on file: if the coverage expires, the contractor is removed from the list of registered contractors until an updated certificate arrives.

At a glance

Renews every: Every year. The Contractor Registration Act says each registration is renewed annually, and the Department of Revenue says registration must be renewed every 12 months
Who must register: Contractors and subcontractors doing business in Nebraska, before performing any construction work in Nebraska. A contractor is any person or business, including subcontractors and general contractors, who engages in or arranges for work on real property other than their own property. Someone who works only on their own property, or earns less than $5,000 a year for construction services, isn't a contractor under the Act
Business names: A contractor doing business under more than one name needs a separate registration number for each name
Fee: $40 for each application or renewal, effective August 1, 2026
Workers' compensation: The Department of Labor says contractors with one or more employees must provide a current Workers' Compensation Certificate of Insurance (ACORD 25), with the Department of Labor listed as the certificate holder, and that a contractor whose coverage has expired is removed from the list of registered contractors until the insurance agency sends an updated certificate. The Act also accepts a certificate approving self-insurance from the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, and a contractor not required to carry workers' compensation gives a signed statement saying so instead
Cancelled coverage: If the department receives notice that your workers' compensation coverage was cancelled, it revokes the registration as of the cancellation unless you provide a new certificate of insurance before the cancellation date. A revoked registration can't be permanently reinstated: you reapply for a new registration number
How to renew: Log in to your existing profile on the Department of Labor's contractor registration site (dol.nebraska.gov/conreg) and click Renew Registration. If the email address on your profile is no longer active, contact the department before making a new profile or registration
Report changes: Report any change to the information on your registration within 15 days. Changes to workers' compensation coverage must be reported at least 10 days before the change. A change in business classification, such as a sole proprietorship becoming a corporation, can't be made as an amendment
Unregistered subcontractors: The Department of Revenue says a contractor paying a subcontractor who performs construction services and isn't registered must withhold 5% of all payments to that subcontractor and remit it to the Department of Revenue
Penalties: Working unregistered, or with registration information that isn't substantially complete and accurate, can bring a citation and an administrative penalty of up to $500 for a first violation and up to $5,000 for a second or later one. You have 15 working days to contest it
What it doesn't do: The Department of Labor says registration is a requirement, but it doesn't ensure quality of work or protect against fraud

The registration doesn't replace any trade license your work needs. See the Nebraska electrician guide.

Your workers' compensation coverage matters all year, not only at renewal: an expired certificate takes you off the list of registered contractors, and a cancelled policy can get the registration revoked.

How to renew

If you have employees and insure them, check your workers' compensation certificate (ACORD 25) on file with the Department of Labor is current and lists the department as certificate holder.
Log in to your profile at dol.nebraska.gov/conreg and click Renew Registration.
Make sure any change to your registration information has been reported (changes are due within 15 days).
Pay the $40 renewal fee.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

Before the year is upRenew through your profile at dol.nebraska.gov/conreg and pay the $40 fee.
When your workers' comp renewsIf you carry a policy, make sure your insurance agency sends the Department of Labor an updated ACORD 25 certificate.
Any changeReport changes within 15 days, and workers' comp coverage changes at least 10 days before they happen.
Hiring subsSearch the registered contractors list first: paying an unregistered subcontractor who performs construction services means withholding 5% for the Department of Revenue.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your Nebraska electrical license, if you hold one
Any city or county license, if your jurisdiction requires one
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Nebraska contractor registration?

Every year. The Contractor Registration Act says each registration is renewed annually, and the Department of Revenue says registration must be renewed every 12 months. The fee is $40 from August 1, 2026.

Who has to register as a contractor in Nebraska?

Contractors and subcontractors doing business in Nebraska, before performing any construction work in Nebraska. Someone who works only on their own property, or earns less than $5,000 a year for construction services, isn't a contractor under the Act.

Do I need workers' comp to register as a Nebraska contractor?

The Department of Labor says contractors with one or more employees must provide a current Workers' Compensation Certificate of Insurance (ACORD 25), with the Department of Labor listed as the certificate holder. The Act also accepts a certificate approving self-insurance from the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, and a contractor not required to carry workers' compensation gives a signed statement saying so instead.

What happens if I work in Nebraska without registering?

It can bring a citation and an administrative penalty of up to $500 for a first violation and up to $5,000 for a second or later one. The Department of Revenue also says a contractor paying an unregistered subcontractor who performs construction services must withhold 5% of all payments to that subcontractor.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Nebraska Department of Labor, Contractor Registration

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Nebraska guides

All Nebraska guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Nebraska Contractor Registration Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Renews every: Every year. The Contractor Registration Act says each registration is renewed annually, and the Department of Revenue says registration must be renewed every 12 months
Who must register: Contractors and subcontractors doing business in Nebraska, before performing any construction work in Nebraska. A contractor is any person or business, including subcontractors and general contractors, who engages in or arranges for work on real property other than their own property. Someone who works only on their own property, or earns less than $5,000 a year for construction services, isn't a contractor under the Act
Business names: A contractor doing business under more than one name needs a separate registration number for each name
Fee: $40 for each application or renewal, effective August 1, 2026
Workers' compensation: The Department of Labor says contractors with one or more employees must provide a current Workers' Compensation Certificate of Insurance (ACORD 25), with the Department of Labor listed as the certificate holder, and that a contractor whose coverage has expired is removed from the list of registered contractors until the insurance agency sends an updated certificate. The Act also accepts a certificate approving self-insurance from the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, and a contractor not required to carry workers' compensation gives a signed statement saying so instead
Cancelled coverage: If the department receives notice that your workers' compensation coverage was cancelled, it revokes the registration as of the cancellation unless you provide a new certificate of insurance before the cancellation date. A revoked registration can't be permanently reinstated: you reapply for a new registration number
How to renew: Log in to your existing profile on the Department of Labor's contractor registration site (dol.nebraska.gov/conreg) and click Renew Registration. If the email address on your profile is no longer active, contact the department before making a new profile or registration
Report changes: Report any change to the information on your registration within 15 days. Changes to workers' compensation coverage must be reported at least 10 days before the change. A change in business classification, such as a sole proprietorship becoming a corporation, can't be made as an amendment
Unregistered subcontractors: The Department of Revenue says a contractor paying a subcontractor who performs construction services and isn't registered must withhold 5% of all payments to that subcontractor and remit it to the Department of Revenue
Penalties: Working unregistered, or with registration information that isn't substantially complete and accurate, can bring a citation and an administrative penalty of up to $500 for a first violation and up to $5,000 for a second or later one. You have 15 working days to contest it
What it doesn't do: The Department of Labor says registration is a requirement, but it doesn't ensure quality of work or protect against fraud

The registration doesn't replace any trade license your work needs. See the Nebraska electrician guide.

How to renew

If you have employees and insure them, check your workers' compensation certificate (ACORD 25) on file with the Department of Labor is current and lists the department as certificate holder.
Log in to your profile at dol.nebraska.gov/conreg and click Renew Registration.
Make sure any change to your registration information has been reported (changes are due within 15 days).
Pay the $40 renewal fee.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

Before the year is upRenew through your profile at dol.nebraska.gov/conreg and pay the $40 fee.
When your workers' comp renewsIf you carry a policy, make sure your insurance agency sends the Department of Labor an updated ACORD 25 certificate.
Any changeReport changes within 15 days, and workers' comp coverage changes at least 10 days before they happen.
Hiring subsSearch the registered contractors list first: paying an unregistered subcontractor who performs construction services means withholding 5% for the Department of Revenue.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your Nebraska electrical license, if you hold one
Any city or county license, if your jurisdiction requires one
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Nebraska contractor registration?

Who has to register as a contractor in Nebraska?

Do I need workers' comp to register as a Nebraska contractor?

What happens if I work in Nebraska without registering?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Nebraska Department of Labor, Contractor Registration

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Nebraska guides

All Nebraska guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet