Delaware Plumbing Permits: Fees and Filing by Jurisdiction

Delaware Splits Plumbing Permits Across Multiple Authorities

Holding a statewide Master Plumber license doesn't mean you file every permit in the same place. Delaware divides plumbing permit authority across the Division of Public Health, three county governments, and several incorporated municipalities — each with its own portal, fee schedule, and inspection process.

The system breaks down into two layers. The state DPR issues your individual license. But the permit to actually do work on a specific job site comes from whichever Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) covers that address.

Division of Public Health (State-Level Permits)

The Delaware Division of Public Health handles plumbing permits in areas of Kent and Sussex Counties that don't have their own local code enforcement departments. DPH also enforces the state plumbing code statewide and has direct authority over plumbing systems connected to public water supplies.

Fee: Flat $100 per plumbing permit, regardless of project size.

Inspections: The first three inspections per permit are included in the $100 fee. Each additional re-inspection costs $50. DPH requires three business days' advance notice for scheduling.

Code base: DPH enforces the 2021 International Plumbing Code with Delaware-specific amendments, including lead service line replacement requirements, temperature-pressure relief valve configurations on water heaters, and elevation rules for equipment in coastal flood zones.

New Castle County

The New Castle County Department of Land Use manages permits for unincorporated areas and participating municipalities in the county. This covers the largest population center in the state.

Portal: NCC eServices at ePlans.nccde.org handles digital plan submissions, permit applications, and inspection scheduling.

Registration: Contractors must hold an active NCC business registration ($400 annual fee plus $10 ICC Digital Code Access fee) before the county will accept permit applications.

Process: Submit plans through eServices, wait for the prescreen review to clear, then track discipline-specific reviews (zoning, plumbing, fire marshal) through the dashboard. Permits are typically issued within 24–48 hours once all reviews pass.

City of Wilmington

Wilmington operates its own Department of Licenses and Inspections, separate from the New Castle County system. If the job site is within Wilmington city limits, you file here, not with the county.

Permit fee: $20 base permit fee for standard trade permits. Larger commercial projects use a valuation-based schedule at $12 per $1,000 of project value. A $50 Certificate of Compliance fee applies on top.

Inspections: Wilmington schedules rough-in, top-out, and final inspections through the Department of Licenses and Inspections. The city enforces building subcode compliance alongside the adopted plumbing code.

Exempt work: Standard faucet replacements and minor fixture swaps that don't involve in-wall modifications are generally exempt from permits.

City of Dover

Dover maintains its own Planning and Inspections Department with independent contractor licensing, zoning reviews, and permit approval tracks.

Re-inspection fees: Dover charges escalating re-inspection fees — the first re-inspection is free, the second is $25, the third is $50, and subsequent visits are $100. This makes getting inspections right the first time financially important.

Water connections: Projects involving connections to Dover's municipal water system may also require coordination with the Dover Water and Wastewater Department.

Kent County (Outside Dover)

For plumbing work in Kent County outside Dover city limits, permits typically run through the Division of Public Health unless the specific municipality has established its own code enforcement. The flat $100 DPH permit fee applies.

Sussex County

Sussex County follows a similar pattern to Kent — areas without local code enforcement departments fall under DPH jurisdiction for plumbing permits. The coastal flood zone amendments in the Delaware plumbing code are particularly relevant here, as much of Sussex County sits in FEMA-designated flood areas.

Who Can Actually Pull a Permit

Only licensed Master Plumbers — or registered contracting firms with a master of record — can pull plumbing permits in Delaware. Licensed journeypersons cannot pull permits in their own name, regardless of how much experience they have.

This is one of the key reasons the Master license carries significantly higher earning potential. Without it, a plumber can do the work but can't legally initiate a project.

The Delaware Plumber License Guide includes a municipal permitting directory that maps each jurisdiction's portal, fee schedule, and inspection requirements so you know exactly where to file before you start a job.

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