Do you need a license to work as a handyman in Kent County, DE?

Q: Do you need a license to work as a handyman in Kent County, DE?

Delaware requires state registration or licensing with no small-job dollar exemption. Kent County Code (Ch. on building admin) expressly requires contractors to hold a current State of Delaware business license; permits for unincorporated areas through Levy Court Planning Services (302-744-2471).

Handyman License Requirements in Kent County, DE

By Ray Duke, Founder of Bulletproof Handyman · Delaware rules checked November 4, 2026 · Kent County local rules checked November 2, 2026

Kent County Code (Ch. on building admin) expressly requires contractors to hold a current State of Delaware business license; permits for unincorporated areas through Levy Court Planning Services (302-744-2471).

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Kent County requirements

Source link: ecode360.com · kentcountyde.gov · kentcountyde.gov · checked November 2, 2026

County business license

None found on official sources

Office: Kent County Levy Court (permits only); State Division of Revenue

"A. Contractor's license. All contractors shall possess a current business license with the State of Delaware."

Source: ecode360.com · checked November 2, 2026

Local contractor or handyman license

None found on official sources

Name: No separate Kent County contractor license; county code only requires the state business license; building permits via Kent County Levy Court Planning Services (MyGovernmentOnline) for unincorporated areas
Trigger: building permit work in unincorporated Kent County

"All contractors shall possess a current business license with the State of Delaware."

Source: ecode360.com · checked November 2, 2026

The Delaware rule

Regulator: Delaware Division of Revenue (Department of Finance) - contractor business license; Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs, Office of Contractor Registration - contractor registry; Division of Professional Regulation (Department of State) - trade licenses through the Board of Electrical Examiners and the Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners.

Registration, no dollar exemption

Delaware

No small-job exemption found. 30 Del. C. 2502(a): 'Any person desiring to engage in business in this State as a contractor shall obtain a license upon making application to the Division of Revenue and paying a fee of $75.' 19 Del. C. 3604: 'A contractor must register under this chapter before performing construction services or maintenance.' Nonresident bond (30 Del. C. 375) triggers at contracts of $20,000 or more (single or aggregated per calendar year).

What counts toward it: other: no dollar threshold. 30 Del. C. 2501 'contractor' = anyone in the business of 'furnishing labor or both labor and materials' for construction, alteration, repairing, dismantling or demolition of any structure. 19 Del. C. 3602 covers 'construction services or maintenance' ('maintenance' = repair of existing facilities without changing size/type/extent).

"Any person desiring to engage in business in this State as a contractor shall obtain a license upon making application to the Division of Revenue and paying a fee of $75."

Source: delcode.delaware.gov · delcode.delaware.gov · checked November 2, 2026

State registration

Division of Revenue contractor license: $75/yr (renews Jan 1) plus 0.6472% gross receipts fee monthly; requires DOL certificate of notice and workers' compensation insurance certificate (30 Del. DOL Contractor Registration: $200 initial and second year for contractors without a state contract ($300 with state contract), then 2-year registration $300 ($500); requires proof of Delaware workers' comp insurance, state business license, OSHA-compliant safety plan, disclosure of home improvement fraud convictions (19 Del. Nonresident contractors: surety bond of 6% of contract price on contracts (or calendar-year aggregate) of $20,000 or more (30 Del.

Source: delcode.delaware.gov · delcode.delaware.gov · delcode.delaware.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Insurance and bond

Workers' compensation insurance certificate required for Division of Revenue contractor license and DOL registration. Nonresident tax surety bond 6% of contracts >= $20,000. No general liability minimum found in these statutes.

Source: delcode.delaware.gov · checked November 2, 2026

Forming an LLC in Delaware

State filing fee: $70.