6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in New Castle County, Delaware.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational fire pits in unincorporated New Castle County are permitted when there is no active burn ban. Fires must use only clean firewood, be attended at all times, and be fully extinguished after use.
Consumer fireworks (Class C/1.4G) are legal in Delaware for persons 18+, and New Castle County does not have a blanket countywide ban for unincorporated areas. However, restrictions may apply during dry conditions.
16 Del. C. § 6901 (Fireworks)
§ 6901. Selling or possessing fireworks; exceptions. (a) A person may not store, sell, offer or expose for sale, or have in possession with intent to sell or to use, discharge or cause to be discharged, ignited, fired, or otherwise set in action within this State, any fireworks, firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes, Roman candles, fire balloons, or other fireworks or substances of any combination d...
New Castle County has no wildfire defensible space mandate. Brush and overgrown vegetation are regulated under NCC Code property maintenance and nuisance provisions (Chapter 9) plus the county weed ordinance. Fire hazards from accumulated vegetation can trigger code enforcement correction orders. The humid Mid-Atlantic climate limits wildfire risk but does not eliminate liability for dead vegetation near structures.
Outdoor burning in unincorporated New Castle County is regulated by the Delaware Division of Air Quality. Burn bans are declared during poor air quality events. Open burning requires compliance with state regulations.
New Castle County is not a designated wildfire hazard zone. Delaware Forest Service manages forest fire risk statewide. No defensible space ordinance applies. Standard fire code (IFC) covers structure protection.
Delaware Code Title 16, Chapter 66, Subchapter IV (§§6631-6634) requires smoke detectors in every residential occupancy in New Castle County, including 1- and 2-family dwellings, mobile/modular homes, townhouses, apartments, hotels, and dormitories. Devices must be installed outside each sleeping area and on every story including basements. Homes built after July 8, 1993 require hard-wired, interconnected detectors; older homes may use battery units. The State Fire Marshal enforces, and owners are responsible for installation - tenants on month-plus leases are responsible for batteries.
1 cities in New Castle County have their own fire regulations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for New Castle County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
New Castle County Ordinance Hub →