7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in New Castle County, Delaware.
Verified from official government sources
New Castle County does not have a specific STR permit system for unincorporated areas. STRs must comply with zoning (UDC Chapter 40), Delaware's 8% lodging tax, and applicable building safety standards.
STR guests in unincorporated New Castle County are subject to the county noise ordinance (§22.02.008). Quiet hours are 9 PM–7 AM weekdays.
STR hosts in New Castle County must collect and remit Delaware's 8% state lodging tax. No separate county lodging tax currently applies.
STR guests in unincorporated New Castle County must comply with county and state parking regulations. No specific STR parking rules exist.
New Castle County short-term rentals under UDC 40.03.510 are limited to 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional, with a total cap tied to unit size. Wilmington requires separate STR registration with similar occupancy limits.
New Castle County STR permit applicants must demonstrate liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence covering rental activity. Platform-provided coverage (Airbnb AirCover) may satisfy if policy terms are met.
Unincorporated New Castle County imposes no maximum-night cap, annual day limit, or stay-length restriction specific to short-term rentals. The county does not currently have a dedicated STR ordinance under Chapter 40 (Unified Development Code) or Chapter 19 (Rental Housing). All rental properties, including STRs, must register for free with the Department of Land Use under the Property Maintenance Code, and Delaware's 8% state lodging tax (Del. Code Title 30 §6101) applies to stays under 120 days. City of Wilmington and other incorporated municipalities (Newark, Middletown, New Castle) are excluded and set their own rules.
1 cities in New Castle County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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New Castle County Ordinance Hub →