Sussex County Assessment Division, Building Permit Office

Sussex County Building Permit (countywide, including inside municipalities)

Sussex County Code Chapter 62, Article III provides that no person shall construct or commence construction of a building without first filing an application with the Sussex County Assessment Division and obtaining a permit, and that the article "applies to all property owners within Sussex County, with no exemptions to property owners within municipalities where town permits are required." The county's Building Permits and Licenses page states: "All construction in Sussex County, whether new, remodeling or additions, requires a Sussex County issued building permit." Applications are usually made in person at the Building Permit Office in Georgetown (walk-in 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; (302) 855-7720). Chapter 62 says the fees are set in the schedule of fees adopted with the annual county budget. As published in the county's Building Permit Fee Guide (published July 13, 2026, after the FY2027 budget was adopted on June 16, 2026), the permit fee is $5.00 for the first $1,000 of construction value plus $2.50 for each additional $1,000 outside town limits, or $1.50 for each additional $1,000 within town limits; the guide's own example puts a $50,001 project outside town limits at $127.50. Construction value comes from the guide's cost-per-square-foot table or the actual value. The guide and the county's June 16, 2026 release on the adopted FY2027 budget both describe a new school surcharge of $5 per $1,000 of construction value. Under §62-7J the surcharge on non-residential buildings is limited to the first $1,000,000 of construction value, residential construction is not limited, an application with a construction value under $150,000 submitted after the original certificate of occupancy is exempt, and the section lists further exemptions (501(c)(3) organisations, state or local government applicants, the Sussex County Rental Program, Delaware State Housing Authority projects, buildings devoted to active agricultural or public safety uses, and like-for-like replacement within 24 months). The guide also adds a Fire District Fee to the total permit fees; the Building Permit Office gives its current rate. Plan review and inspection fees are not part of this fee. Under Chapter 62 a violation brings a late charge equal to the building permit fee, and repairs that will not improve more than 10% of an existing structure need no permit. Sussex County Code §52-22C: a permit becomes invalid unless the authorised work is commenced within 12 months after issuance, or if the work is suspended or abandoned for 12 months after it is commenced; one twelve-month extension is allowed.