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Nebraska tenant screening laws

Checked against the Nebraska statutes on October 1, 2026

3 min readGeneral information, not legal advice

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Last checked October 1, 2026

Screening a Nebraska applicant runs on state rules about fees and selection criteria, the Nebraska fair housing law, and federal rules that apply in every state. This guide covers each one, with the Nebraska statute behind it.

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Nebraska screening rules

Application and screening fees

Not set by statute

The Act, read whole, sets no limit or rule for rental application or screening fees. Your screening must still follow the Nebraska Fair Housing Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449).

  • You may not refuse to rent to, or set different terms for, a person because of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, or military or veteran status (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-318(1), (2)).
  • For property in Lincoln, review the city's lawful-source-of-income protection before setting screening criteria. The Human Rights Commission's guidance includes housing vouchers, public assistance, Social Security, pensions, alimony, child support and foster-care subsidies. Confirm current local coverage and program requirements for the property (Lincoln Human Rights Commission, source of income guidance).
In the Rentari Nebraska lease

The Rentari Nebraska lease makes a material misstatement or omission in the rental application a breach of the lease.

Fair housing

Partly read

Under the Nebraska Fair Housing Act you may not refuse to rent, refuse to negotiate, set different terms, or advertise a preference because of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, or military or veteran status. Only the sections cited here were read (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-318).

  • For covered housing, allow necessary reasonable disability accommodations in rules, policies, practices and services, and reasonable modifications paid for by the resident. When reasonable, permission for a modification may require an agreement to restore the interior, except for reasonable wear and tear. Review the statutory exemptions and the direct-threat or substantial-property-damage limits, with independent federal duties, for the particular request (Neb. Rev. Stat. 20-319(1), (2), (8); Neb. Rev. Stat. 20-322).
  • Narrow exemptions cover certain religious organizations, private clubs, and renting rooms in your own home, with limits (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 20-322).
  • The federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) also applies; it was not read for this page (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.).

Federal rules that apply in every state

Alongside the Nebraska rules above, federal law covers every rental screening.

  • Consent and purpose. Order a consumer report only for the rental the person applied for, and keep their signed authorization with the application.
  • Adverse action notice. If a report contributes to a denial, a higher deposit or rent, or a cosigner requirement, give the applicant an adverse action notice. It names the reporting agency, says the agency did not make the decision, and explains the right to a free copy of the report and to dispute it.
  • Fair Housing Act. Federal law bars rental decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability. Many states, including Nebraska as described above, add their own protections.
  • Same criteria for everyone. Write your income, credit, rental history and criminal history criteria before you list, and apply them to every applicant in the same order.

Steps for a fair screening

  1. Publish your criteria

    Write the criteria you will use and share them with every applicant before they apply.

  2. Get consent first

    Collect the completed application and written authorization before you order any report.

  3. Check the fee rules

    Charge only what the Nebraska rules above allow, and refund when they require it.

  4. Decide and record

    Record the reason for each decision, and send the adverse action notice when a report played a part.

Legal help in Nebraska

More for Nebraska landlords

Nebraska Landlord-Tenant Law

Learn more about Nebraska landlord-tenant law

Every Nebraska rental rule in one guide: deposits, notices, repairs, entry and eviction, each cited to its statute.

Nebraska Rental Application

Learn more about the Nebraska rental application

Send a Nebraska rental application online and follow the state's rules on application fees, screening and fair housing.

Nebraska Lease Agreement

Learn more about the Nebraska lease agreement

See what the Rentari Nebraska lease includes, with each rule cited.

More Nebraska guides

Nebraska security deposit lawSecurity deposits in depthNebraska eviction lawEviction in depthBreaking a lease in NebraskaBreaking a lease in depthHow to become a landlord in NebraskaBecoming a landlord in depthNebraska rent increase lawRent increases in depth Landlord softwareRun Nebraska rentals in Rentari Tenant management softwareLeases, rent and requests per tenant

General information, not legal advice. Checked against the Nebraska statutes on the Legislature's own site on October 1, 2026; no attorney review is recorded. Laws change, so confirm the current text through the links above or with a Nebraska attorney.

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