Delaware

Delaware uses a revenue-based licensing model for general contractors — the license is a business registration, not a competency credential. Competency-based licensing applies only to electrical work and asbestos abatement, each administered by a separate board. Six distinct agencies handle different work lanes.

Always verify statutes, fees, and application details with the live regulator before making bidding, licensing, or legal decisions.

At a glance

The fastest way to orient yourself in Delaware is to know that most contractor licensing is revenue-only — the real compliance gates are trade-specific.

Signal	Value
General contractor license model	Revenue-based business registration (not competency)
Competitive bid filing threshold	Contracts exceeding $50,000
Non-resident contractor bond	6% of contracts exceeding $20,000
Electrical exam passing score	75%
Electrical liability insurance (Master)	$300,000
UST certification exam score	80%
Reciprocity model	Asbestos only (EPA Region III states)

Frequently asked questions

Pick the tab that matches your situation. Each FAQ gives a direct answer and points you to the full detail below.

Contractors
Regulators

What type of contractor license does Delaware require?

Delaware’s general contractor license is a revenue-based business registration through the Division of Revenue, not a competency credential. The annual fee is $75. There is no exam, experience, or qualification test for the general license. Competency-based licensing only applies to electrical work and asbestos abatement. See Construction work regulated.

Do I need a separate license for electrical work?

Yes. Any electrical contractor must employ or be a licensed master electrician through the State Board of Electrical Examiners. This is a competency-based license requiring a 75% exam score, 3 to 6 years of experience, and $300,000 liability insurance for master/master special. See Electricians.

Where do I go to get licensed in Delaware?

Delaware has 6 separate agencies. General contractor licenses go through the Division of Revenue. Electrical licensing goes to the Board of Electrical Examiners. Asbestos to the Division of Facilities Management. UST work to DNREC Tanks. Waste transport to DNREC Waste Division. Highway work to DelDOT. See Who regulates construction.

How much does it cost to get licensed?

The general contractor license is $75 per year. Electrical licensing fees range from $59 (apprentice) to $157 (master) plus exam fees set by the testing provider. Asbestos training runs $325 to $695 with $20 to $100 application fees. UST certification is $250 for companies and $100 for supervisors. See Requirements.

What are the bonding and insurance requirements?

Non-resident contractors must post a surety or cash bond equal to 6% of contracts exceeding $20,000. Master electricians need $300,000 liability insurance. UST contractors need $1,000,000 general liability plus $250,000 pollution liability. Solid waste transporters need proof of liability insurance. See Requirements.

Can I use my out-of-state license in Delaware?

Reciprocity is very limited. Only asbestos credentials from EPA Region III states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC) qualify, and only for Class A supervisors and workers — not contractors. No other trades have any reciprocity path. See Reciprocal agreements.

Do I need my license before bidding on a contract?

Yes, for competitively bid contracts exceeding $50,000, your general contractor license must be on file before you submit the bid. See General Contractors.

What are the requirements for non-resident contractors?

Non-resident contractors must file a surety or cash bond with the Division of Revenue equal to 6% of total contracts exceeding $20,000. Bank letters of credit are accepted. You must report contracts with non-resident subcontractors within 10 days — failure carries a $10,000 civil penalty per occurrence. See Construction work regulated.

Does Delaware require licensing for roofing or residential work?

General roofing and residential work only require the $75 revenue-based business registration — no competency credential is needed unless the work involves electrical or asbestos abatement. The revenue license applies to any construction, alteration, or repair of a structure. See Construction work regulated.

What are the continuing education requirements?

Only electricians have CE requirements: 10 hours per two-year renewal cycle (5 must be code-related). If licensed 1 to 2 years, only 5 hours are required. If licensed less than 1 year, none. General contractors and other trades have no CE requirement. See Electricians.

What about underground storage tank work?

UST installations, retrofits, removals, and closure-in-place require certification from DNREC. Companies and supervisors must pass an exam with a score of 80%. The certification fee is $250 for companies and $100 for supervisors, with $1,000,000 general liability and $250,000 pollution liability insurance required. See Underground Storage Tank Contractors.

How does Delaware's licensing model compare to qualification-based states?

Delaware’s general contractor license is atypical — it is a revenue-based business registration, not a competency credential. Most states require exams, experience, and financial qualifications. Delaware reserves competency testing for only two specific trades: electrical and asbestos abatement. This makes Delaware one of the least restrictive states for general contracting. See Construction work regulated.

How does Delaware's $50,000 competitive bid threshold compare to other states?

The $50,000 threshold applies only to competitive bid filing — it requires a license on file before bidding, not a separate license tier. The $20,000 non-resident bond trigger is a separate compliance gate. Most states trigger licensing at much lower contract values. For cross-state comparison, see Licensing thresholds.

What types of construction work are regulated at the state vs. local level?

Delaware regulates at the state level through 6 agencies: general contractor revenue licensing (Division of Revenue), electrical competency licensing (Board of Electrical Examiners), asbestos certification (Division of Facilities Management), UST certification (DNREC Tanks), waste transport permits (DNREC Waste), and highway registration (DelDOT). Local jurisdictions may impose additional permit requirements.

What agency handles electrical licensing vs. general contractor licensing?

Completely separate agencies. The Division of Revenue handles the general contractor business license (revenue-only, no exam). The State Board of Electrical Examiners handles electrical licensing (competency-based, exam required, experience required, insurance required). They have different application processes, fees, and renewal cycles.

What are the fees across different trades?

General contractors pay $75 per year (revenue license). Electrical licensing ranges from $59 to $157 processing fee plus exam fees. Asbestos contractor licenses are $100 per year. UST certification is $250 for companies. Solid waste transport is $350 per year. See Requirements for complete fee tables.

What license classifications does Delaware use?

Delaware has a simple classification structure. General contractors have only two categories: General Contractor and Subcontractor. Electricians have six levels: Master, Master Special, Limited, Limited Special, Journeyperson, and Apprentice. Asbestos has Class A (Contractor, Supervisor, Worker) and Class B (Contractor, Supervisor/Worker) plus project monitors. See Types of licenses.

How does reciprocity work in Delaware?

Delaware’s reciprocity is narrow. Only asbestos credentials qualify, and only Class A supervisors and workers from EPA Region III states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC). Contractors are excluded. No other trade has any reciprocity path. See Reciprocal agreements.

What exam requirements exist?

Only two trades require exams: electricians need a 75% passing score (exam given six times per year), and UST contractors and supervisors need an 80% passing score. Asbestos workers need 70% on a written exam (35 to 100 questions depending on class). General contractors have no exam. See Requirements.

What are the renewal cycles?

General contractor licenses expire December 31 annually. Electrical licenses are biennial, expiring June 30 of even-numbered years. Asbestos licenses are annual from the date of training. UST certifications are biennial. Solid waste transport permits are annual. See Requirements.

How does the non-resident contractor bond work?

Non-resident contractors must post a surety or cash bond equal to 6% of all contracts exceeding $20,000. Failure to report a contract with a non-resident contractor within 10 days triggers a $10,000 civil penalty per occurrence. This is a revenue compliance mechanism, not a competency gate.

How does Delaware compare to neighboring Mid-Atlantic states?

Delaware is significantly less restrictive than most neighboring states. Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia all have competency-based licensing for multiple trades. Delaware only requires competency credentials for electricians and asbestos workers. The revenue-based general contractor model is unusual in the region. See the South region guide.

Start with your goal

Pick the card that matches what you need right now. Each one links to the relevant section on this page.

Is licensure triggered?

Start with threshold and work-lane rules, then confirm which agency owns the lane.

Find the right regulator

Use the regulator directory to route your question to the correct Delaware agency.

Application and renewal details

Exams, fees, bonds, continuing education, and renewal cycles for each trade.

Reciprocity direction

Find out which agencies recognize out-of-state credentials.

Special considerations

Different roles need different things from a Delaware page. Use the tab that matches your situation to see what matters most before you read the full detail below.

Contractors
Regulators

Most Delaware contractor licenses are revenue-only — the real compliance question is whether your trade requires a separate competency credential.

General contractor licensing is a business registration through the Division of Revenue, not a competency test. The annual fee is $75.
You must have your license on file before submitting a competitive bid on contracts exceeding $50,000.
Non-resident contractors must post a surety or cash bond equal to 6% of contracts exceeding $20,000.
Electrical work requires a separate competency license from the Board of Electrical Examiners (exam, experience, insurance).
Asbestos abatement requires certification from the Division of Facilities Management (training, exam, medical clearance).
UST work requires separate certification with an 80% exam score.

Readiness checklist

Four things you need to confirm before you can treat Delaware as “ready” for a bid or an application. If any of these are unclear, you are not ready yet.

Classify the project lane

Identify whether the work is general construction, electrical, asbestos, environmental, or highway-related.

Apply the right threshold test

Check $50,000 (competitive bid filing) and $20,000 (non-resident bond trigger) against your project scope.

Route to the correct agency

Use the regulator directory below. Delaware has 6 separate agencies — do not assume a single contractor board.

Confirm the requirement set

Confirm whether your lane requires only a revenue license or a full competency credential with exams, experience, insurance, and CE.

If you can identify lane, threshold, agency, and requirement set, you have the minimum package needed for a Delaware readiness check.

Use these links to jump to related cross-state comparisons and workflows.

New state evaluation if you are screening Delaware for the first time.
Multi-state bid readiness if you need to compare Delaware with nearby jurisdictions.
Licensing thresholds or prequalification patterns for cross-state context.

Construction work regulated

Any construction, alteration, or repair of a structure in Delaware requires a state contractor license. However, for most trades the license is revenue-only — it does not test competency. Electrical and asbestos abatement are the exceptions.

Work lane	What triggers regulation
General construction	Any construction, alteration, or repair (revenue license required)
Competitive bid contracts	License must be filed before bidding on contracts exceeding $50,000
Electrical work	Must employ or be a licensed master electrician (competency exam required)
Asbestos abatement	Certification required from Division of Facilities Management (training + exam)
Solid and hazardous waste transport	Permit required from DNREC
Underground storage tank work	Company and supervisor certification required (exam score of 80%)
Highway and DOT contracts	Registration with DelDOT required to bid

Non-resident contractors must file a surety or cash bond with the Division of Revenue equal to 6% of all contracts exceeding $20,000. Failure to report a contract with a non-resident contractor within 10 days may trigger a $10,000 civil penalty per occurrence.

Common determination scenarios

If you are trying to figure out where to start, expand the scenario that is closest to your situation.

General construction work

Register with the Division of Revenue for a $75 annual business license. This is a revenue license, not a competency credential. If you are bidding on competitively bid contracts exceeding $50,000, your license must be on file before you submit the bid.

Non-resident contractor entering Delaware

Post a surety or cash bond with the Division of Revenue equal to 6% of total contracts exceeding $20,000. Bank letters of credit are accepted. You must also report contracts with non-resident subcontractors within 10 days.

Electrical work

Route to the State Board of Electrical Examiners. Any electrical contractor must employ or be a licensed master electrician. Exams are given six times per year with a 75% passing score. Experience requirements range from 3 to 6 years depending on license class.

Asbestos abatement

Route to the Division of Facilities Management Asbestos Office. Certification requires training (14–40 hours depending on class), a medical exam (Class A), and a written exam with a 70% passing score. Remediation notifications must go to the county air quality office.

Reciprocity request

Delaware reciprocity applies only to asbestos — and only for Class A supervisors and workers, not contractors. You must have EPA-approved training from a Region III state to qualify.

Who regulates construction

Delaware splits construction regulation across 6 separate agencies. Use this directory to find the agency that owns the lane you need. Each entry includes address, phone, and website.

Highway registration — Department of Transportation

Post Office Box 778, Dover, DE 19903Phone: (302) 760-2031 | Fax: (302) 622-4183Email: dot-ask@delaware.govWebsite: deldot.gov

General contractor business licenses — Division of Revenue

Carvel State Office Building, 820 North French Street, 8th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801Phone: (302) 577-8200 | Fax: (302) 577-8202Website: revenue.delaware.gov

Electrical licensing — State Board of Electrical Examiners

Cannon Building, Suite 203, 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, DE 19904Phone: (302) 744-4500 | Fax: (302) 739-2711Website: dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician

Solid and hazardous waste transport — DNREC Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances

Compliance and Permitting Section, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901Phone: (302) 739-9403Website: dnrec.delaware.gov/waste-hazardousPermit application: dnrec.delaware.gov/waste-hazardous/management/solid/transporter

Underground storage tank contractors — DNREC Tanks Compliance Branch

391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720Phone: (302) 395-2500Website: dnrec.delaware.gov/waste-hazardous/tanks/underground/contractors

Asbestos certification — Division of Facilities Management

540 South DuPont Highway, Suite #1, Dover, DE 19901Phone: (302) 739-5644 | Fax: (302) 739-3037Website: dfm.delaware.gov/envsrv/asbestosRemediation or renovation notifications must be sent to the county air quality office: New Castle County Air Quality Management Section at (302) 323-4542, or DNREC Kent and Sussex County at (302) 739-4791.

Requirements

Each Delaware agency has its own inputs, exams, fees, and renewal cycles. Expand the trade that applies to your situation. Fee tables are included in each section.

General Contractors

Requirement	Detail
License type	Revenue-based business registration (no exam or competency test)
License fee	$75 per year
Renewal cycle	Annual, expires December 31
Competitive bid filing	License must be on file before bidding on contracts exceeding $50,000
Gross receipts tax	0.499% of taxable construction gross receipts; first $80,000 per month ($240,000 quarterly) is exempt
Non-resident bond	6% surety or cash bond on total contracts exceeding $20,000
Non-resident reporting	Must report contracts with non-resident contractors within 10 days; $10,000 civil penalty per occurrence for failure

Electricians

Requirement	Detail
Exam	Six times per year; minimum passing score of 75%
Experience	3 to 6 years depending on license class
Insurance	$300,000 liability (Master/Master Special)
Renewal cycle	Biennial, expires June 30 of even-numbered years
Continuing education	10 hours per two-year cycle (5 must be code-related); 5 hours if licensed 1–2 years; none if licensed less than 1 year

License Type	Processing Fee	Exam Fee
Master / Master Special	$157	Set by testing provider
Limited / Limited Special	$84	Set by testing provider
Journeyperson	$74	Set by testing provider
Apprentice	$59	Set by testing provider

Asbestos Workers and Supervisors

Requirement	Class A Supervisor	Class A Worker	Class B Supervisor/Worker
Physical exam	Yes	Yes	No
Pulmonary function report	Yes	Yes	No
Chest X-ray	Yes	Yes	No
CPR card	Yes	No	No
Required training course	40 hours	32 hours	14 hours
Exam questions	100	50	35
Passing score	70%	70%	70%

All licenses are issued annually from the date of required training. Average processing time is three weeks. ID cards must be picked up in person with a valid government-issued photo ID.

License Type	Training Fee	Recertification Fee	Application Fee	Renewal Fee
Supervisor Class A	$595	$150	$50	$50
Worker Class A	$495	$150	$25	$25
Supervisor/Worker Class B	$325	$195	$20	$20
Class A Contractor	N/A	N/A	$100	$100
Class B Contractor	N/A	N/A	$100	$100

Project Monitor Type	Training Fee	Recertification Fee	Application Fee	Renewal Fee
1-Day	$195	$195	$50	$50
2-Day	$395	N/A	$50	$50
5-Day	$695	N/A	$50	$50
Professional Service Firm	N/A	N/A	$100	$100

Solid Waste Transport

Requirement	Detail
Permit scope	Transport of all solid waste, infectious waste, or asbestos in or through Delaware
Permit fee	$350 per year ($300 permit + $50 public notice fee)
Insurance	Proof of liability insurance required
Driver training	Submission of driver training and spill control plans required
Reporting	Annual reporting requirement with all renewals

Underground Storage Tank Contractors

Requirement	Detail
Scope	UST installations, retrofits, removals, or closure-in-place
Exam	Must pass exam with score of 80% (companies and supervisors)
Certification fee	$250 for companies; $100 for supervisors
Renewal cycle	Biennial
Insurance	$1,000,000 general liability + $250,000 pollution liability
Business license	Current Delaware business license required

Reciprocal agreements

Delaware’s reciprocity is narrow: it applies only to asbestos, and only for Class A supervisors and workers — not contractors. The arrangement covers EPA Region III states.

If you hold an asbestos credential from a Region III state, you may request certification by reciprocity. All other trades have no reciprocity path.

Board	Reciprocal jurisdictions	Coverage
Asbestos (Class A supervisors and workers only)	Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC	5 jurisdictions

Asbestos reciprocity details

Reciprocity applies only to Class A supervisors and workers, not to contractors.
Applicants must have EPA-approved training from a course taught within a Region III state’s boundaries.
Region III states: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington DC (includes City of Philadelphia and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania).
No other Delaware trade or license category has reciprocity with any state.

Types of licenses

This section lists the credential categories Delaware offers across its major agencies. Use it when you need to confirm the exact license name for an application or comparison.

General Contractors

General Contractor
Subcontractor

Electricians

Master
Master Special
Limited
Limited Special
Journeyperson
Apprentice

Asbestos

Class A:

Contractor
Supervisor
Worker

Class B:

Contractor
Supervisor/Worker

Other:

Professional Service Firm
Project Monitor

South region guide

Browse all South jurisdictions for comparison.

Contractors guide

Cross-state guidance for contractors evaluating new jurisdictions.

Regulators guide

Cross-state guidance for comparing regulatory models and agency structures.

Neighboring jurisdictions with reciprocity ties:

Maryland

Asbestos reciprocity with Delaware through EPA Region III.

Pennsylvania

Asbestos reciprocity with Delaware through EPA Region III.

Virginia

Asbestos reciprocity with Delaware through EPA Region III.

Start Here

Northeast

South

Midwest

West

Territories and DC

At a glance

Frequently asked questions

Start with your goal

Is licensure triggered?

Find the right regulator

Application and renewal details

Reciprocity direction

Special considerations

Readiness checklist

Navigation

Construction work regulated

Common determination scenarios

Who regulates construction

Requirements

Reciprocal agreements

Types of licenses

See also

South region guide

Contractors guide

Regulators guide

Maryland

Pennsylvania

Virginia

​At a glance

​Frequently asked questions

​Start with your goal

Is licensure triggered?

Find the right regulator

Application and renewal details

Reciprocity direction

​Special considerations

​Readiness checklist

​Navigation

​Construction work regulated

​Common determination scenarios

​Who regulates construction

​Requirements

​Reciprocal agreements

​Types of licenses

​See also

South region guide

Contractors guide

Regulators guide

Maryland

Pennsylvania

Virginia

At a glance

Frequently asked questions

Start with your goal

Special considerations

Readiness checklist

Navigation

Construction work regulated

Common determination scenarios

Who regulates construction

Requirements

Reciprocal agreements

Types of licenses

See also