Sussex County Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Sussex County Assessment, Building Code, and Planning and Zoning provide the county building and land-use process for applicable county jurisdictions, especially unincorporated areas. Incorporated towns may have their own permitting authority or an agreement with the county, so identify the parcel’s town status before relying on a county permit path.

Sussex County building permits and permit search

The county’s Assessment Division issues building permits and maintains property and permit records. The Citizen Self Service portal lets users log in or create an account to view permits and inspections using an application reference number or parcel ID. Planning and Zoning’s building-permit process guide explains the county’s initial zoning and dwelling-process steps.

Inspections and certificates of occupancy

Building Code handles plan review and construction-code questions, while the inspection function schedules and records required field inspections. The county’s current building-code materials identify inspection and plan-review contacts and explain that required inspections, including final work where applicable, must be completed before occupancy documentation is issued. Electrical and plumbing requirements may involve State of Delaware agencies.

Zoning and plan review

Contact Planning and Zoning before applying when the project involves a new dwelling, manufactured home, change of use, subdivision, conditional use, rezoning, floodplain, or other land-use issue. County zoning approval is separate from building-code review; both may be required before construction or occupancy.

Official contact information

Sussex County Building Permits lists (302) 855-7720. Building Code lists (302) 855-7860, inspection scheduling lists (302) 858-5500, and Planning and Zoning lists (302) 855-7878. County administrative offices are at 2 The Circle, Georgetown, Delaware 19947.