Sussex County, DE Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Under § 52-16, any owner, agent or contractor who wants to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, erect a sign, install or alter fire-extinguishing apparatus or elevators, or install a steam boiler, furnace, heater, incinerator or other heat-producing apparatus regulated by the Building Code must first apply to the Building Official and obtain a permit. A general permit covers related installations like elevators, vaults, chutes and cranes when they're shown on the filed drawings. While a permit application is pending, the Building Official may, at his discretion, issue a special permit just for the foundation, at the applicant's own risk.

Applications must be filed on the county's form with the required fee, and the Building Official must act within 15 working days for commercial and multifamily projects, or five working days for one- and two-family dwellings, or the permit is deemed granted. Permits become invalid if work is not started within 12 months of issuance, or is suspended for 12 months once begun, though a one-time 12-month extension is available. Farm buildings and land in bona fide agricultural use are exempt from these requirements, though obtaining a permit for assessment purposes still applies.