Handyman License Requirements in Sussex County, DE
No Sussex County license; state Division of Revenue business license; town licenses apply to contractors working inside towns such as Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.
Sussex County requirements
No Sussex County license; state Division of Revenue business license; town licenses apply to contractors working inside towns such as Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.
Source link: sussexcountyde.gov · delcode.delaware.gov · rehobothbeachde.gov · checked November 2, 2026
County business license
None found on official sources
- Name: No Sussex County business license; business licenses are issued by the State (Delaware Division of Revenue). Incorporated towns issue their own licenses, and some require them of any contractor working in town (e.g.
- Office: Delaware Division of Revenue (state); town halls for municipal licenses
"Business licenses ... Provider: State ... Phone Number: (302) 856-5358"
Source: sussexcountyde.gov · checked November 2, 2026
Local contractor or handyman license
None found on official sources
- Name: No county contractor license found. County building permits (9 Del. C. ch. 63) are issued only to contractors or owners doing their own work; contractors register/obtain a business license with the Delaware Division of Revenue (state).
"Permits shall be issued only to contractors, the owner of any building necessary to the operation of farm lands, the owner of property located in any incorporated city or town in Sussex County, or any owner of property desiring to do his or her own work"
Source: delcode.delaware.gov · 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.
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.
Source: delcode.delaware.gov · checked November 2, 2026
What to do, in order
- Read the Delaware rule and confirm with 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..
- Line up the Sussex County items listed on this page.
- Get your insurance and rate in place before the first paid job.
Nearby places
Rules change. This page shows what official sources said on the dates above. It is not legal advice.
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