Delaware General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Delaware does not issue a state-level general contractor license. Instead, any individual or business performing contracting work in Delaware must register with the Delaware Division of Revenue under Title 30 of the Delaware Code and obtain a Contractor Business License. The license is administered by the Division of Revenue (not the Division of Professional Regulation) and covers residential and commercial general contracting, remodeling, and home improvement. Trade work such as electrical, plumbing, and HVACR still requires the separate occupational license from the relevant DPR board. Nonresident contractors must additionally post a surety bond equal to 6% of the contract value for any contract of $20,000 or more and file a Nonresident Contractor Affidavit with each project.

Regulatory Body Profile

Delaware Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Delaware Code Title 24 (Professions and Occupations); Title 30 (Business License, Division of Revenue). The Delaware Division of Professional Regulation administers the trade licensing boards for electricians, plumbers, HVACR, and master pipefitters. Delaware does not issue a state general contractor license — any person doing contracting work in Delaware must instead hold a Delaware Business License from the Division of Revenue.

Official portal: https://dpr.delaware.gov/
Address: Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Blvd, Suite 203, Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 744-4500

The Eligibility Audit

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). No residency requirement. Nonresidents must file Form 5060 (Nonresident Contractor Affidavit) per contract.

Good moral character

No fitness review for the Business License itself. The Division of Revenue focuses on tax compliance.

Background investigation

No state-level background check for the Contractor Business License.

Experience and Education Standards

The sources cited here stop short of naming a year requirement; the operative standard is Delaware does not require documented experience, examination, or qualifying individual for the general contractor Business License. This is an honest limitation of Delaware law — anyone who registers and pays the fee may hold the license..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

No experience documentation is collected by the Division of Revenue

Education substitution

Not applicable. Delaware does not have an experience or education requirement for general contracting.

The Exam Syllabus

There is no statewide written trade test for this credential in the cited record; the controlling process is: None

Examination fee: No examination fee. Delaware does not require a trade or business-and-law exam for general contracting.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

Delaware does not impose a state general liability minimum for general contractors. Most commercial owners and lenders contractually require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation coverage is mandatory under Delaware Code Title 19 Chapter 23 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

Nonresident contractors must post a surety bond equal to 6% of the contract amount for any single contract of $20,000 or more, per 30 Del. C. § 375.

Schedule of Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$75
Initial license	$75
Renewal (every year)	$75

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Delaware Contractor Business License (Division of Revenue) runs on a year renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $75. The Contractor Business License renews annually on December 31. Three-year licenses are also available at a discounted rate.

Continuing education: None. Delaware does not require continuing education for the contractor business license.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Delaware General Contractor License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Delaware does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Reciprocity does not apply. Delaware issues no general contractor trade license, so there is no credential to reciprocate. Out-of-state contractors simply register for the Delaware Business License.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares General Contractor license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Application Roadmap

Form the business entity. Register the LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship with the Delaware Division of Corporations if organizing in Delaware, or register as a foreign entity if organized elsewhere.
Obtain a federal EIN. Apply for a free EIN from the IRS. Required for business license registration.
Register through Delaware One Stop. Use https://onestop.delaware.gov to file the combined Business License application with the Division of Revenue.
Pay the Contractor Business License fee. The annual fee for a contractor business license is $75 for the first location. An additional $25 applies to each branch.
Register for gross receipts tax. Contractors owe Delaware gross receipts tax on all in-state contract receipts. Filing frequency is assigned by the Division of Revenue based on volume.
Nonresident bond (if applicable). Nonresident contractors post a 6% surety bond on any contract of $20,000 or more and file Form 5060 before starting the work.
Secure workers compensation coverage. Required for any contractor with employees.
Pull local building permits. Delaware permitting is handled by the county (New Castle, Kent, Sussex) or municipality where the work occurs.

Pre-Application Checklist

Ahead of submission to DPR, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ Registered business entity (Division of Corporations or foreign qualification)
☐ Federal EIN
☐ Delaware One Stop Business License application
☐ $75 annual contractor business license fee
☐ Gross receipts tax account
☐ Nonresident 6% surety bond on contracts of $20,000+ (nonresidents only)
☐ Workers compensation policy (if employees)
☐ Local county or municipal building permits

Where Applications Stall

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Delaware General Contractor applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Assuming no license is needed

Delaware has no trade exam, but the Division of Revenue Business License is still mandatory before any contracting work begins.

Skipping the nonresident bond

Nonresident contractors who miss the 6% bond on a $20,000+ contract face withholding by the project owner and late penalties.

Ignoring gross receipts tax

Delaware charges gross receipts tax on contractor revenue. Filing is separate from the annual license renewal.

Mixing trade work into general contracting

Electrical, plumbing, and HVACR work require the corresponding DPR trade license even if the GC holds a business license.

Missing local permits

Delaware building permits are issued at the county and municipal level, not by the state. Confirm requirements with the local permit office.

Recommended Study Materials

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

Delaware Code Title 30 Chapter 23 (Occupational License Tax) — State of Delaware. Statutory basis for the contractor business license and 6% nonresident bond.
Delaware Division of Revenue — Contractor Guide — Delaware Division of Revenue. Official instructions for gross receipts tax and business license compliance.
Delaware One Stop Business Portal — State of Delaware. Online filing system for license registration and renewal.

Other Delaware Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Delaware licensing guides:

Common Questions

Does Delaware have a state general contractor license?

No. Delaware is one of the few states that does not issue a state-level general contractor trade license. Contractors instead register for a Delaware Business License with the Division of Revenue.

Do I need an exam to do general contracting in Delaware?

No. There is no state trade or business-and-law exam for general contracting. Trade-specific work (electrical, plumbing, HVACR) still requires a DPR-issued occupational license.

What does the Delaware contractor business license cost?

The annual contractor business license fee is $75 for the primary location, plus $25 for each additional branch.

What is the nonresident contractor bond?

Nonresident contractors must post a 6% surety bond on any single contract of $20,000 or more under 30 Del. C. § 375, and file the Nonresident Contractor Affidavit with the Division of Revenue before starting the job.

Does the Delaware license cover electrical or plumbing work?

No. Electrical, plumbing, and HVACR work requires a separate occupational license from the relevant Delaware Division of Professional Regulation board.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-19 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-17