Delaware Demolition Permits by County: New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Compared
Fees verified September 2026 against county and DSWA sources. Updated each July.
All three Delaware counties require a demolition permit before a structure comes down, but each county sets its own fee, its own paperwork, and its own review steps. In New Castle County, a permit runs $88 for a detached garage or other accessory structure and $143 for a single-family house, including the county's 10% historic review fee. In Kent County, it's $140 for any demolition. Sussex County sets its demolition fee in its annual budget rather than its code, so the current figure comes from the Building Permit Office in Georgetown.
This page covers what each county charges, what it asks for, how long approval takes, and the disposal fees that come after the permit. We update it every July, when county and DSWA fee schedules change.
How Much Does a Demolition Permit Cost in Delaware?
A Delaware demolition permit costs between $88 and $143 in New Castle County and $140 in Kent County. Sussex County's fee is set each year in the county budget.
New Castle County charges by structure type, under its Demolition Permit Requirements (revised June 16, 202
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$80 per structure for a residential structure that isn't a single-family dwelling, such as a detached garage or shed
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$130 per structure for a single-family dwelling or a non-residential structure
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A historic review fee of 10% of the permit fee on every application, which brings those totals to $88 and $143
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A floodplain or wetland review fee of $65 per review, where that review applies
The county's fee list doesn't say whether an attached garage takes the $80 or the $130 rate, so confirm that one with the Department of Land Use before applying.
Kent County charges a flat $140: a $40 application fee, which is nonrefundable once the application is accepted, plus a $100 demolition fee, under Kent County Code § 128-42C(1).
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Sussex County doesn't state a demolition fee in its code. Sussex County Code § 62-7 says the fee "shall be included in the schedule of fees adopted as part of the annual Sussex County budget," so the current amount comes from the Sussex County Building Permit Office at (302) 855-7720.
Disposal fees come after the permit. Once a structure is down, the debris has to go somewhere, and in Delaware that's usually a DSWA landfill. For fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027), DSWA charges $80 per ton for construction and demolition debris at all three of its landfills: Cherry Island in Wilmington, Sandtown in Felton, and Jones Crossroads near Georgetown, with a $7.50 minimum per vehicle. Asbestos is priced separately, at $125 per ton for non-friable material and $250 per ton plus $250 per load for friable material.
None of these figures include what a demolition contractor charges for labor, equipment, hauling, or grading. Those costs depend on the project and are quoted by the contractor directly.
How Do You Apply for a Demolition Permit in Delaware?
You apply to the county where the property sits, and in New Castle County the application needs five to seven documents depending on what's coming down.
New Castle County permits come from the Department of Land Use. The application needs:
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A drawing or plot plan showing where the structure sits on the property
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A dated letter from the property owner or title holder authorizing the demolition
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A building contractor license, or an owner-occupier affidavit if the owner is acting as their own contractor
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A signed Demolition Disconnection Verification Form
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A plumbing permit for terminating the sewer and water lines, issued before the demolition permit
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For a single-family house or a non-residential building: copies of letters notifying every adjacent property owner (any neighboring parcel that touches the project parcel) of the proposed demolition
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For a non-residential building: the State of Delaware Asbestos Inspection Form
The sewer and water lines have to be capped at the property line by a county-licensed plumber, and that plumbing permit has to be in hand before the county will issue the demolition permit.
Kent County permits come from the Division of Inspections and Enforcement. Kent sets its own application requirements, so confirm the document list with that office before applying.
Sussex County permits come from the Building Permit Office in Georgetown, at (302) 855-7720. Sussex requires a county building permit even for properties inside town limits, so a demolition in Milton, Lewes, or Millsboro still goes through the county.
What Has to Happen Before a Demolition Permit Is Issued?
In New Castle County, utilities come first: the plumbing permit to cap sewer and water must be issued before the demolition permit, and the signed Disconnection Verification Form goes in with the application. The county's permit also carries conditions for the work itself:
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The foundation must be removed to 18 inches below grade, and the site leveled with topsoil and seede
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Any buried propane or fuel oil storage tank must be removed
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Any land disturbance over 5,000 square feet needs an erosion and sediment control plan
Two state requirements sit alongside the county permit. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) requires electronic notification at least ten working days before a demolition starts, even when no asbestos is present, and any asbestos in poor condition or that will be disturbed must be removed before demolition begins. DNREC's homeowner guidance exempts homeowners living in single-family dwellings from the notification requirement when they remove asbestos from their own homes. Utility marking through Delmarva 811 is also required before any demolition that disturbs the ground; our residential demolition guide covers 811, asbestos, and lead paint in detail.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Demolition Permit in Delaware?
New Castle County is the only one of the three counties that publishes a timeline, and it applies to every demolition application: the county determines the structure's age and historic significance within 20 working days of the application.
A structure under 50 years old clears that review without a delay. A structure at least 50 years old that the county finds historically significant can have its permit held by the Historic Review Board for up to 9 months from the application date while alternatives to demolition are considered. Plan the utility and plumbing permits around that clock, since the plumbing permit has to issue first.
Kent and Sussex don't publish a processing time for demolition permits. It depends on each office's current queue, so call before setting a demolition date.
Can a Historic Home Be Demolished in Delaware?
Yes, but in New Castle County an old enough house can wait up to 9 months for its permit. Every New Castle County demolition application goes through a historic significance determination within 20 working days, and if the structure is at least 50 years old and found historically significant, the Historic Review Board can delay the permit for up to 9 months while alternatives are considered. The review delays the permit; it doesn't by itself prohibit the demolition.
In Kent and Sussex counties, and inside incorporated towns, ask the permit office whether the property sits in a historic district before applying.
Do You Need a Separate Permit Inside Town Limits?
Often, yes. Delaware's incorporated cities and towns can set their own demolition rules and fees on top of the county's. Wilmington, Middletown, Milford, Georgetown, and Frederica each publish their own demolition permit application or guidelines. If the property is inside town limits, check with the town as well as the county.
Sussex County is the clearest case: a county permit is required even inside municipalities, so a Sussex town property may need both.
Rebuilding After a Teardown in Sussex County
If you're tearing down a house in Sussex County to build a new one, time the rebuild. Sussex County adds a school surcharge to building permits, but it exempts reconstruction of a demolished structure when the replacement has the same or less square footage and is built within 24 months of the demolition (Sussex County Code § 62-7J(4)(f)). The building permit application for the new house has to include evidence that it sits on the same footprint. If the new house is larger, the surcharge applies only to the value of the added square footage.
How We Handle Permits on Demolition Jobs
When Wilhelm Site Services takes on a demolition in Sussex, Kent, or New Castle County, the permit application is part of the job. We identify which county and town permits apply before work starts, and the property owner provides the dated letter authorizing the demolition. Wilhelm is family-owned, and co-owners Jacob and Peter oversee projects directly.
Planning a teardown and not sure which permits apply? Get a project quote or see our demolition services.
Frequently asked questions
Wilhelm Site Services brings 15+ years of excavation expertise to your Delaware property. Whether you're preparing a building site, excavating a foundation, installing a driveway, or solving drainage problems, our family-owned company delivers quality work and honest communication.
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