The Professional Landscape Architects Act

The Professional Landscape Architects Act (PLA Act) governs the practice of landscape architecture in the state of Nebraska in order to safeguard life, health, and property, and promote public welfare through licensing and enforcement of state statutes. The PLA Act also ensures that those who practice the profession are qualified through education, examination, and experience. The PLA Act was enacted by the Legislature in 1987, through Statute Sections §§ 81-8,184, to 81-8,208, which replaced the statutory provisions first enacted in 1967 - the year the Nebraska State Board of Landscape Architects was established. The most recent changes to the Act were implemented through Legislative Bill 696 of the One Hundred Nineth Legislature, Second Session, and became effective September 3, 2025.

Title 231 of the Nebraska Administrative Code comprises the Board's Rules and Regulations. The latest revisions became effective on January 10, 2021. A copy may be viewed and downloaded on the Nebraska Secretary of State's website.

The Nebraska Professional Landscape Architects Handbook incorporates all current statutes, rules & and regulations as of September 3, 2025.

Professional Landscape Architects Handbook

NOTICE OF RULEMAKING HEARING
NEBRASKA STATE BOARD OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

NOTICE is hereby given that the State Board of Landscape Architects will hold a rulemaking hearing on the 28th day of October 2025, commencing at 9:00 am, 215 Centennial Mall South, at the Lincoln Community Foundation Building.

The PURPOSE of the hearing is to take testimony and evidence about adoption and amendments and additions to Title 231, Chapter 1 through Chapter 3, and Chapter 6. This action is proposed to implement Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 81-8,184.01 through 81-8,208 consistent with the authority granted by the law and with constitutionality. The subject matter of the rulemaking action is as follows:

  • Revisions throughout for clarity and grammatical purposes.

  • Addition of Rule 1.2.4 adding a definition for the CLARB Uniform Licensure Standard and revising the CLARB Standards of Eligibility to reflect current Board procedure.

  • Reducing Fees and Eliminating Obsolete Fees

  • Revising 1.4 to remove the application process for exam applicants without an accredited degree as this no longer applies

  • Revising Chapters 2 and 3 to align with the CLARB Uniform Licensure Standards for Landscape Architects and LB 696

  • Revising Rule 6.7 to clarify the audit process and submission time limits

This hearing is being conducted under the provisions of Section 84-907 R.R.S., 1943, which provides that Draft copies of the proposed rules are available for public examination at the office of the State Board of Landscape Architects and the office of the Secretary of State, State Capitol Building, Lincoln, Nebraska. A legislative copy may be found here, and a clean copy may be found here.

A complete statement on the fiscal impact for organizations and persons regulated by these regulations can be examined at the office of the State Board of Landscape Architects, 215 Centennial Mall South, Ste 400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, (402) 471-8383, and at the office of the Secretary of State, Capitol Building, Lincoln, Nebraska.

All interested persons are invited to ATTEND and TESTIFY orally or by written submission at the hearing. Interested persons may also submit written comments prior to the hearing that will be made part of the hearing record at the time of hearing if received by the State Board of Landscape Architects on or before October 23, 2025. If auxiliary aids or reasonable accommodations are needed to participate at the hearing, please call (402) 471-8383 no later than ten days before the hearing. TDD users please call (800) 833-7352 and ask the relay operator to call us at (402) 471-8383.

DATED at Lincoln, Nebraska, this 19th day of September 2025.

Jennifer Seacrest, Chairperson
State Board of Landscape Architects

 

Subject Matter Index

RULES AND REGULATIONS TITLE 231, NAC

Chapter 1: Administration

Chapter 2: Classification of applicants

Chapter 3: Requirements for applications

Chapter 4: Examinations for Landscape Architects

Chapter 5: The use of the licensee seal

Chapter 6: Professional development requirements

Chapter 7: Fees

Chapter 8: Professional conduct and competence

Chapter 9: Probable cause for violations, prohibitions, and penalties

Chapter 10: Procedure – contested case

Chapter 11: Promulgation, amendment, or repeal of rules

Chapter 12: Declaratory rulings

 

If you have any questions about the Nebraska Professional Landscape Architects Act, please contact us.
To request a hard copy of the PLA Act, please send an email to us.

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