[2] On 21 April 2017, Croatian Football Federation announced that the first stage of licensing procedure for 2016–17 season was completed.
For the 2017–18 Druga HNL, eight clubs outside of top level were issued a second level license: Rudeš, Solin, Gorica, Dinamo Zagreb II, Dugopolje.
[3] On 23 May 2017, all remaining Druga HNL were granted second division license, along with third level clubs Kustošija, Hajduk Split II, Varaždin and Trnje.
[4] At the end of the season, eleventh placed team Hrvatski Dragovoljac was to contest a two-legged relegation play-off tie against RNK Split, runners-up of the 2017–18 Croatian Third Football League South Division.
The matches, however, were not played because RNK Split did not receive a licence for Druga HNL.