DE
Delaware permits & licenses
Last verified October 15, 2026
General information, not legal advice.
License thresholds and permit rules change, and your city or county enforces the permit. Local rules vary. Anything this research could not confirm is shown as “Check with your local building department,” not as a rule you can rely on.
Contractor license
Delaware Division of Revenue (contractor business license) + Division of Professional Regulation (trades)
No state general-contractor/handyman license or dollar threshold. Contractors need a Division of Revenue business license ($75/yr) and Department of Labor contractor registration. Electrical, plumbing, and HVACR are licensed by the Division of Professional Regulation regardless of job size. (The $50,000 figure applies only to competitively bid contracts, not a licensing threshold.)
Licensing board
https://revenue.delaware.gov/business-tax-forms/contractors-resident-and-non-resident/License lookup
https://delpros.delaware.govHomeowner exemption
Summary
Check with your local building department
Electrical
Check with your local building department
Plumbing
Check with your local building department
HVAC
Check with your local building department
Permit notes for common projects
Permit triggers are set and enforced locally (county/city building department), under the state code listed. Always confirm with the local building department.
Governing code
Check with your local building department
Water heater
Check with your local building department
Toilet
Check with your local building department
Ceiling fan, outlet, or GFCI
Check with your local building department
Fence
Check with your local building department
Deck
Check with your local building department
Shed
Check with your local building department
What this page does not confirm
- Homeowner trade exemptions and permit triggers are unverified.
- Some details came from secondary sources (qualifyingagents.com, bulletproofhandyman.com).
- The governing code is unverified.
Sources
Projects that hit these rules
Published by Fixit Express. Last verified October 15, 2026. Full disclaimer