Permits and licensing · Delaware
Renovation permits and contractor licences in Delaware
Delaware runs two separate checks on the person working on your house: a contractor must register with the Department of Labor before performing construction services, and must also obtain a business licence from the Division of Revenue. On top of that, electrical work and plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration work each need a licence from their own board within the Division of Professional Regulation. The Office of the State Fire Marshal reviews construction plans; building permits come from your county or city.
Regulators and licensing bodies in Delaware
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in Delaware.
Delaware contractor registration (Title 19 chapter 36)
The statute that says a contractor must register under the chapter before performing construction services or maintenance. A contractor is any business entity that engages in construction services or maintenance under a contract on behalf of another for profit within the state, and construction services covers building or work on a building, structure or improvement of any type. Registered contractors are listed in a public registry.
Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners
Licenses apprentices, journeypersons, master electricians, limited electricians and electrical inspection agencies, with the stated objective of protecting the public from unsafe practices. State law says no person shall engage in the practice of providing electrical services, or hold themselves out as qualified to act as a licensed electrician, without the licence.
Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners
Issues master plumber, master HVACR and master restricted HVACR licences, with the stated objective of protecting the public from unsafe practices. Plumbing services means work on the pipes, fixtures and apparatus that bring water into a building and remove waste from it; HVACR services covers heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation and process cooling or heating systems, including gas piping.
Delaware Division of Revenue
Requires any contractor conducting business activity in Delaware to register with it and obtain a business licence. Non-resident contractors must also satisfy a bonding requirement, for which the Division publishes bond forms, cash bond receipts and letter of credit options.
Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal
Reviews all plans and specifications for the construction of new buildings, additions and modifications to existing buildings to ensure compliance with the regulations, and administers the Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations along with their appeals and alternatives process.
Trades that need a licence in Delaware
General contracting and renovation
There is no general contractor or home improvement contractor board in Delaware — the Division of Professional Regulation's list of boards covers electrical and plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, but nothing for general contracting. The registration that does apply is with the Department of Labor, and you can look a contractor up in the state's registry of registered construction contractors.
Sources:Delaware Division of Professional Regulation – Boards and commissions(opens in a new tab)Delaware – Registered construction contractors(opens in a new tab)
Consumer protection
Two things are worth asking for before you hire: the contractor's registration, which the statute requires before they perform construction services or maintenance, and their Delaware business licence, which the Division of Revenue requires of any contractor conducting business activity in the state. The Department of Justice also publishes home improvement regulations covering contracts with consumers.
Sources:Delaware Title 19 chapter 36 – Contractor registration(opens in a new tab)Delaware Division of Revenue – Contractors, resident and non-resident(opens in a new tab)Delaware Department of Justice – Home improvement regulations(opens in a new tab)
Electrical work
Delaware law says no person shall provide electrical services, or hold themselves out as qualified to act as a licensed electrician, without a licence from the Board of Electrical Examiners. Licences run from apprentice through journeyperson to master and limited electrician, so ask which grade is actually doing the work.
Sources:Delaware Title 24 chapter 14 subchapter II – Electrician licences(opens in a new tab)Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners(opens in a new tab)
Plumbing
A person may not provide plumbing services in Delaware, or hold themselves out as a licensed master plumber, without the licence — though the statute exempts apprentices, journeymen and mechanics working under a master plumber's supervision, and a homeowner doing plumbing other than gas piping in their own home where a permit has been filed.
Sources:Delaware Title 24 chapter 18 subchapter II – Plumbing and HVACR licences(opens in a new tab)
Certified trades
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration is licensed by the same board as plumbing, at master HVACR and master restricted HVACR level, and the definition reaches gas piping in heating and air conditioning systems. Check which of the two licences your installer holds before a system replacement.
Sources:Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners(opens in a new tab)Delaware Title 24 chapter 18 subchapter I – Plumbing and HVACR services defined(opens in a new tab)
New-home building and warranty
Whatever else happens, the state fire marshal reviews the plans and specifications for new buildings, additions and modifications to existing buildings for compliance with the regulations. Ask your builder when that review will happen and who is responsible for submitting the plans.
Sources:Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in Delaware
Building permits in Delaware come from your county or municipality rather than from a single state office — the state's own Business First Steps site warns that a state search shows only state requirements and sends you to the town and city pages for local ones. Separately, the Office of the State Fire Marshal reviews plans and specifications for new buildings, additions and modifications to existing buildings. Ask your county or city permit office what your project needs before work starts, and confirm who is submitting the plans for fire marshal review.
Sources:Delaware Business First Steps(opens in a new tab)Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal(opens in a new tab)
Before you hire a contractor in Delaware
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
Look the contractor up in Delaware's registry of registered construction contractors.
Official lookup: Delaware – Registered construction contractors(opens in a new tab)
Ask for the Delaware business licence as well as the registration, because the Division of Revenue requires both of a contractor doing business here.
Official lookup: Delaware Division of Revenue – Contractors, resident and non-resident(opens in a new tab)
For electrical work, check the licence with the Board of Electrical Examiners in the state's DELPROS verification tool.
Official lookup: Delaware DELPROS – Verify a licence(opens in a new tab)
For plumbing or HVACR work, check which master licence the firm holds and whether it covers your system.
Official lookup: Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners(opens in a new tab)
Ask your county or city permit office which permits your project needs before work starts.
Official lookup: Delaware Business First Steps(opens in a new tab)
Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.
Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in Delaware
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- Delaware Title 19 chapter 36 – Contractor registration(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware – Registered construction contractors(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Title 24 chapter 14 subchapter II – Electrician licences(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Title 24 chapter 18 subchapter I – Plumbing and HVACR services defined(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Title 24 chapter 18 subchapter II – Plumbing and HVACR licences(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Division of Revenue – Contractors, resident and non-resident(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation – Boards and commissions(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Department of Justice – Home improvement regulations(opens in a new tab)
- Delaware Business First Steps(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.