Delaware Masonry License Requirements (2026)

Delaware does not publish a separate masonry trade license or masonry examination. Masonry is construction services, so a contractor must obtain a Division of Revenue contractor business license and, before performing construction services or maintenance, register with the Department of Labor Office of Contractor Registration. These are statewide requirements and do not replace building permits or contractor registration that a county or municipality may require. Nonresident contractor and subcontractor bonding is not a fixed $20,000 bond: Delaware law generally requires a 6% tax bond for covered contracts of $20,000 or more (including applicable annual aggregation), subject to the statute and Department of Finance procedures.

Regulatory Body

Under 30 Del. C. §§ 2502 and 375; 19 Del. C. ch. 36, Delaware Division of Revenue and Department of Labor Office of Contractor Registration (DOR / DOL) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. The Division of Revenue issues the contractor business license and administers contractor gross-receipts licensing. The Department of Labor registers construction contractors and enforces the Contractor Registration Act.

• Official portal: https://onestop.delaware.gov/Operate_Contractors
• Address: Statewide online application through Delaware One Stop
• Phone: (302) 577-8780

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Check the current application for identification and tax-number requirements. Out-of-state contractors must provide the Delaware custodian-of-records and registered-agent information required for DOL registration. Nonresident contractor/subcontractor tax-bond obligations are governed by 30 Del. C. § 375.

Good moral character

The Contractor Registration Act requires disclosure of specified labor-law, fraud, and unlawful-practice history. It does not create a masonry trade character test.

Background investigation

The cited statewide contractor sources do not list a general fingerprint or criminal-background-check prerequisite, but DOL registration requires disclosure of specified convictions, judgments, and violations.

Experience and Education

No fixed number of years of experience is set out in the cited sources for this credential; instead, the controlling requirement is No statewide masonry experience threshold or trade examination is published. To register, a construction contractor supplies the business information, Delaware workers’ compensation proof, state business-license proof, and OSHA-compliant safety plan required by the Contractor Registration Act..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

• Delaware contractor business license
• Delaware workers’ compensation insurance proof or qualifying self-insurance record
• OSHA-compliant safety plan
• DOL contractor-registration application and entity/agent/tax-identification records
• For covered nonresident work: Department of Finance bond or approved alternative documentation

Education substitution

No standalone masonry credential or education substitution is published.

Exam Requirements

No statewide examination is specified for this pathway. The controlling process is: No Delaware masonry licensing examination is published

Examination fee: There is no state masonry examination fee. The contractor business-license and DOL registration fees are separate.

Retake policy: Not applicable to a standalone masonry credential.

Insurance and Bonds

This credential carries no state-level surety bond requirement under the cited sources. Individual jobs may still trigger a permit or public-works bond, which should be verified before bidding.

General liability

The cited statewide masonry contractor sources do not set one universal general-liability limit. Workers’ compensation proof is required for the contractor business license and DOL registration; project owners and local jurisdictions may impose additional insurance requirements.

Workers' compensation

Delaware requires proof of workers’ compensation insurance or approved self-insurance for the contractor license and Contractor Registration Certificate. The One Stop checklist requires Delaware coverage as part of the registration application.

Additional financial requirements

For a nonresident contractor or subcontractor, 30 Del. C. § 375 generally requires a 6% surety bond on covered contracts of $20,000 or more, including aggregate contracts in a calendar year. The Department may accept a cash bond or letter of credit in the circumstances specified by law; do not use a fixed $20,000 bond.

Fee Schedule

To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Delaware masonry.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Expect to renew the Delaware Contractor Business License and Contractor Registration Certificate every year. Renewal currently costs $275. Division of Revenue licenses are issued by calendar year and can be renewed for one or three years. A Contractor Registration Certificate is generally valid for one year; after two compliant consecutive years, a qualifying contractor may obtain a two-year registration. Renew the certificate no less than 30 days before expiration.

Continuing education: No statewide masonry continuing-education rule is published. Maintain the OSHA-compliant safety plan and renew the business license and DOL registration on their own current schedules.

Reciprocity

Delaware does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

There is no separately published masonry license to reciprocate. Every contractor doing Delaware construction services must meet the Delaware business-license and Contractor Registration Act requirements.

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

Masonry Licensing in Neighboring States

Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Delaware's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:

• Maryland Masonry License Requirements — Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC) License
• New Jersey Masonry License Requirements — New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor Business (HICB) Registration
• Pennsylvania Masonry License Requirements — Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Confirm that the scope is construction services. Masonry work falls within construction services. The Contractor Registration Act also expressly includes broad construction and maintenance work, including subcontractor work.
2. Obtain the Division of Revenue contractor license. Apply before or with executing a contract; for competitively bid contracts over $50,000, initiate the licensing procedure before or with the bid timing specified in 30 Del. C. § 2502.
3. Address nonresident tax-bond obligations. For a covered nonresident contract or aggregate contracts of $20,000 or more, file the statutory 6% bond before construction begins unless the Department grants an available waiver or accepts an authorized alternative.
4. Register with the Department of Labor before work. Submit the Contractor Registration application with business details, state business license, Delaware workers’ compensation proof, OSHA-compliant safety plan, and required disclosures. Do this before construction services begin.
5. Pay the registration fee for the work type. Current first-year fees are $200 for private construction, $300 for public construction, and $500 for both. A qualifying timely renewal after two compliant years can use the statutory two-year option.
6. Check local permits and registrations. County and municipal authorities can require separate permits, inspections, or registrations. Verify the place of work rather than claiming that a statewide credential replaces local rules.

Application Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with DOR / DOL:

• Delaware Division of Revenue contractor business license
• For nonresidents: statutory tax-bond compliance before covered work begins
• Delaware workers’ compensation proof or approved self-insurance
• OSHA-compliant safety plan
• Department of Labor Contractor Registration Certificate before work
• Local permit and registration check for the job jurisdiction

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Delaware Masonry filing.

Stopping after the Division of Revenue license

Masonry is construction services, so DOL contractor registration is also required before work begins.

Using the old flat $20,000 nonresident bond

The current statute uses a 6% bond for covered contracts and aggregation; verify the Department of Finance process for the project.

Forgetting the OSHA safety plan

An OSHA-compliant safety plan is a listed DOL Contractor Registration application requirement.

Missing the workers’ compensation proof

Workers’ compensation proof or approved self-insurance is required for both the contractor licensing and registration paths.

Assuming the state credentials replace local permits

County and municipal permitting and registration can still apply to the particular job.

Study and Reference Materials

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

• 30 Del. C. § 2502 — Delaware General Assembly. Contractor license, gross-receipts license fee, timing, and workers’ compensation conditions.
• Delaware Contractor Registration Act — Delaware General Assembly. Registration-before-work rule, application documents, fees, term, and renewal timing.
• Division of Revenue contractor page — State of Delaware. Current resident/nonresident contractor package and contact path.

Other Delaware Trade Licenses

CLR covers other Delaware trades as well — the published guides below may be more relevant:

• Delaware General Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Electrician License Requirements
• Delaware Plumber License Requirements
• Delaware HVAC Technician License Requirements
• Delaware Roofing Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Painting Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Concrete Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Solar Installer License Requirements
• Delaware Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
• Delaware Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Home Inspector License Requirements
• Delaware Pool Contractor License Requirements
• Delaware Handyman License Requirements
• Delaware Pest Control License Requirements
• Delaware Septic Contractor License Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Delaware issue a masonry contractor license?

Delaware does not publish a separate masonry trade license. Masonry contractors need the Division of Revenue contractor business license and the Department of Labor Contractor Registration Certificate.

Is contractor registration required before masonry work starts?

Yes. 19 Del. C. § 3604 requires registration before a contractor performs construction services or maintenance, and masonry is construction work.

What does DOL registration require?

The application includes business and entity information, applicable Delaware agent information, required disclosures, tax identifiers, Delaware workers’ compensation proof, state business-license proof, and an OSHA-compliant safety plan.

What is the Delaware contractor tax rate?

30 Del. C. § 2502 sets a $75 license fee plus a 0.6472% monthly contractor license fee on aggregate gross receipts, with a $100,000 monthly deduction subject to the statute’s rules.

Is the nonresident contractor bond always $20,000?

No. The current statute uses a 6% bond on covered contracts of $20,000 or more (and applicable annual aggregation), not a flat $20,000 bond.

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