Wilmington, DE Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Vacate deadline
- 10 days after condemnation
- First-offense fine
- $250 to $1,000
- Repeat-offense fine
- up to $5,000+
- Appeal fee
- $50, refunded if you win
Summary
Wilmington's licenses-and-inspections commissioner can condemn any dwelling that's damaged, unsanitary, or unsafe as unfit for human habitation, placard it, and force occupants out within 10 days: condemned buildings are declared public nuisances under the Housing Code.
Any dwelling or dwelling unit which the commissioner of licenses and inspections shall find to have any of the following defects shall be condemned as unfit for human habitation: One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, difficult to heat, unsafe or vermin-infested that it creates a hazard to the health or welfare of the occupants or of the public...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 34-112, a dwelling gets condemned as unfit for human habitation if it's damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, hard to heat, unsafe, vermin-infested, or lacks adequate light/ventilation/sanitary facilities. The commissioner placards it "Condemned as Unfit for Human Habitation" and owners must vacate within 10 days (§ 34-116); § 34-119 declares condemned dwellings public nuisances subject to repair or removal. Owners can appeal to the board of license and inspection review within 20 days (§ 34-38).
Violations & Fines
First offense is a misdemeanor: $250-$1,000 fine plus prosecution costs. Repeat violations escalate to $500-$2,500, then $1,000-$5,000, then a flat $5,000+ for the fifth offense; courts can also add $50/day until the defect is fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Wilmington building "unfit for human habitation"?
How long can occupants stay after a building is condemned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
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