Sussex County building department

In Sussex County, three county offices share the permit process from the county administrative offices at 2 The Circle in Georgetown:

Office	Role	Phone
Building Permit Office (Assessment)	Issues building permits and records them	(302) 855-7720
Building Code Office	Plan review and construction inspections	(302) 855-7860
Planning & Zoning	Setbacks, zoning, certificates of occupancy, signs	(302) 855-7878

Electrical permits come from the State Division of Professional Regulation. Plumbing permits come from the State Division of Public Health at (302) 933-3430. Septic permits come from DNREC.

Getting a building permit

The Building Permit Office handles walk-in applications Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Check in with security in the lobby of the County Administrative Offices first. Most applications must be filed in person in Georgetown. Some can be done by mail; call (302) 855-7720 to ask.

• Erosion control plan: A project that disturbs 5,000 sq ft or more, including a new single-family home, needs a Sediment and Erosion Control Plan before the permit is issued. For a house, this is the Sussex Conservation District’s Residential Standard Plan. Apply online or at 23818 Shortly Road, Georgetown. Approval usually takes 24–48 hours. Questions go to the district’s stormwater program at (302) 856-2105.
• Realty transfer tax: For a new dwelling, you may have to pay county and state realty transfer tax before the permit is issued. This applies when the construction contract was signed before the land transfer or within one year after it.

Where the county does plan review and inspections

The Building Code Office enforces the building code (Chapter 52 of the County Code) in all unincorporated areas. It also handles plan review and inspections for 14 incorporated towns, where projects need a county certificate of occupancy:

• Bethel, Blades, Bridgeville, Dagsboro
• Dewey Beach, Ellendale, Fenwick Island, Frankford
• Georgetown, Greenwood, Henlopen Acres, Ocean View
• Slaughter Beach, South Bethany

Other towns, including Rehoboth Beach, run their own building inspections. Even so, state law (9 Del. C. § 6302) requires a county permit filing for construction anywhere in Sussex County, including incorporated towns. Town building officials must report every permit they issue to the county (§ 6303).

Adopted codes

Sussex County has enforced the 2021 IBC and IRC since January 1, 2023. The county lists two energy code changes:

• Starting April 11, 2027, new homes, conditioned residential additions and accessory structures, and commercial buildings must meet the 2024 IECC.
• Plans submitted after April 10, 2026, must include an energy compliance report, such as REScheck or COMcheck.

Commercial design wind speeds range from 105 to 140 mph, depending on location and risk category. The frost line for footings is 24 inches.

Plan review and fees

The Building Code Office publishes plan requirements and sample drawings for the following project types:

• New single-family homes
• Additions, sunrooms, garages, and sheds of 400 sq ft or more
• Decks over 30 in. above grade, and open or screened porches
• Pole buildings
• Residential ramps

No Building Code plan review or inspection is required for unattached, unfinished buildings under 400 sq ft, or for deck additions 30 in. or less above finished grade. A county permit and zoning setbacks may still apply.

Single-family plan review and inspection fees

Square footage (all constructed or renovated area)	Fee
0–599	$120
600–2,349	$205
2,350–2,999	$230
3,000–3,499	$255
3,500–3,999	$280
4,000–4,499	$305
4,500–4,999	$330
5,000–5,999	$450
6,000 and above	$550

The square footage counts storage areas, decks, porches, balconies, and basements. The fee covers plan review and up to five inspections. Each extra trip costs $40, payable before the certificate of occupancy is issued. Modular homes pay a flat $150, or $190 total when they include site-built additions such as garages or decks.

Scheduling inspections

• Online: Submit the county’s Inspection Request form. An automatic reply only confirms the county received it. The inspection isn’t scheduled until a second email gives the date.
• Phone: Call (302) 858-5500, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Have the application number, 911 address, contact name, and phone number ready.

Give at least 48 hours’ notice. Requests are booked for the earliest available business day.

Before you request an inspection, email any third-party reports to [email protected] with the application number. These include engineered footing or pre-slab reports, piling blow counts, waterproofing certificates, stamped truss repairs, and energy reports. Requests missing a required report won’t be scheduled.

County-approved plans and manufacturer certifications for engineered components such as trusses, I-joists, and beams must be on site, or the inspection fails.

Typical residential inspections:

1. Footing: before concrete is placed. Footings must be at least 24 in. below finished grade and 12 in. below original grade. Pole-building footings must be 36 in. deep for walls up to 12 ft.
2. Pre-slab: for conditioned slab-on-grade space. Proof of the state plumbing inspection must be on site.
3. Setback: required only when a third-party engineer did the footing inspection. A sealed foundation as-built survey can be submitted instead.
4. House wrap: can be done separately or as part of the framing inspection.
5. Framing: the building must be weather-tight, with electrical and plumbing already inspected.
6. Energy inspection
7. Final inspection

Before the final inspection, submit the DNREC septic completion report, a DelDOT entrance permit for new construction, and a lot grading certificate if required. In flood zones you may also need an elevation certificate and flood vent certification. The certificate of occupancy is issued after the documents are in and the field inspections pass. Processing can take up to 48 hours, so plan closings accordingly.

Self-Service Portal

The county’s Citizen Self Service portal shows permits and inspection results, including failed-item checklists, and lets you print a certificate of occupancy. You can also pay extra inspection fees there. Create an account, open Permits and Inspections, and search by the application reference number or the parcel ID (not both). Both numbers are on your building permit.

State law (9 Del. C. Chapter 63)

This state law applies only to Sussex County:

• Who can get a permit: contractors; owners of farm buildings; owners of property in an incorporated town; and owners doing their own work on their own building (§ 6302).
• Nonresident contractors: no permit is issued until the county confirms they have met 30 Del. C. § 2502(b).
• Small jobs: no permit is needed when the fair value of the construction is under $300 (§ 6307).
• School surcharge: the county may add up to 1.25% of construction value. Work valued at $30,000 or less that is filed after the original certificate of occupancy is exempt (§ 6305).
• Tall structures: anything over 200 ft tall, or within 3,000 ft of a public-use airport runway, needs state aeronautics approval first.

Homeowner electrical work

A homeowner can get a state homeowner electrical permit only for a single-family home they occupy, and must do all the work themselves. Before applying, a licensed Delaware electrical inspection agency must review, approve, and stamp the plan. Homes for sale or rent, condos, townhomes, and duplexes don’t qualify, and neither does pool or hot tub wiring. Homeowner permits are valid for one year and can’t be renewed.