What do these permits involve in Sussex County?

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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.

Building Code Plan Review, Inspections and Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy (unincorporated Sussex County and 14 towns)

The county's Building Code page states that the Sussex County Building Code Office "is responsible for enforcing building codes as adopted under Chapter 52 of the Sussex County Code for all unincorporated areas of the county, as well as 14 incorporated towns." The office's town list names Bethel, Blades, Bridgeville, Dagsboro, Dewey Beach, Ellendale, Fenwick Island, Frankford, Georgetown, Greenwood, Henlopen Acres, Ocean View, Slaughter Beach and South Bethany, and says those towns "Will Require a County Certificate of Occupancy". Under Chapter 52 the Building Official inspects work for which a permit is required, makes a final inspection before the certificate of occupancy is issued, and a new building may not be occupied, nor its occupancy or use changed, until a certificate of occupancy has been issued. The county's Commercial Intake Form (published July 28, 2026) states "FIRE MARSHAL APPROVAL NEEDED PRIOR TO BUILDING PERMIT ISSUANCE", "DEL DOT APPROVAL REQUIRED BEFORE FINAL INSPECTION CAN BE SCHEDULED" and that "ALL NEW STRUCTURES OR ADDITIONS MUST HAVE TWO COPIES OF A COUNTY P&Z APPROVED SITE PLAN". The office's Final Completion Requirements form lists the DNREC septic completion report, the DelDOT entrance permit for commercial projects and a final elevation certificate in a flood zone, and states that the certificate "must be issued prior to any occupancy or intended use". Plan review and inspection fees are separate from the building permit fee; the Building Code Office ((302) 855-7860) gives the current amount. 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.

Zoning Certificate of Compliance, Site Plan Review and Special Use Exceptions (unincorporated Sussex County)

The county's Planning & Zoning page states that the office is responsible for administering the land use process within unincorporated areas of the county and is the point of entry for subdivision, zoning change, conditional use, special use exception and accessory use requests. Sussex County Code §115-223 provides that no premises shall be used and no buildings hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be used, occupied or changed in use until a certificate of compliance has been issued by the Director, stating that the building or proposed use complies with the building laws and the zoning regulations; vacant land may not be occupied or used, except for agricultural uses, until a certificate is issued. As published in Planning & Zoning's fee sheet headed "Fee from July 1, 2026", site plan review for business, commercial, industrial and other buildings costs $300 where no floor area is created and otherwise $100 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, capped at $5,000 per phase, with hospitals, schools, institutional buildings and places of worship exempt. The same sheet lists $150 for a Certificate of Use or Zoning Verification Letter and $500 for a Board of Adjustment special use exception. Day nurseries or child-care centres in the AR-1 and AR-2 districts are among the uses that need a special use exception (§115-23C(4)). A business inside a town applies to that town for zoning.

Sign Permit (unincorporated Sussex County)

A business in unincorporated Sussex County that puts up an on-premises wall or ground sign, or an off-premises billboard, applies to Sussex County Planning & Zoning on the county's Sign Permit Application (form updated May 8, 2025), giving the sign wording, dimensions, number of faces, total square footage, tax map number and zoning, with a sketch of the sign. The form's information sheet summarises the standards in §115-159.5: wall signs up to 150 square feet or 15% of the wall area, whichever is greater; ground signs up to 200 square feet per side, with a survey where the sign is near setbacks or within 100 feet of a dwelling, church, school or public lands; and billboards only in the C-1, CR-1, LI-1, LI-2 and HI-1 districts, with a Board of Adjustment special use exception and a DelDOT approval letter. Sussex County Code Chapter 62, Article III requires a construction permit fee and annual or one-time sign fees set in the schedule of fees adopted with the annual budget; the amounts are not published on the form, and Planning & Zoning ((302) 855-7878, pandz@sussexcountyde.gov) gives them. A business inside a town applies to that town.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Sussex County Building Permit (countywide, including inside municipalities)only if it applies to you	Sussex County Assessment Division, Building Permit Office	Building permit fee by construction value (Sussex County Building Permit Fee Guide): property outside town limits, $5.00 for the first $1,000 plus $2.50 for each additional $1,000; property within town limits, $5.00 for the first $1,000 plus $1.50 for each additional $1,000 (Chapter 62, Article III sets separate fees for properties within and outside incorporated municipalities that have their own zoning code). Plus, where it applies, a school surcharge of $5.00 per $1,000 of construction value (non-residential construction: on the first $1,000,000 of construction value only, §62-7J). Plus a Fire District Fee; contact the Building Permit Office (302) 855-7720 for its current rate. Plan review and inspection fees are separate. Starting work before the permit: a late charge equal to the building permit fee.	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	2026-10-12
Building Code Plan Review, Inspections and Certificate of Compliance/Occupancy (unincorporated Sussex County and 14 towns)only if it applies to you	Sussex County Building Code Office	Plan review and inspection fees are charged separately from the building permit fee; contact the Sussex County Building Code Office, (302) 855-7860, for the current amount.	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	2026-10-12
Zoning Certificate of Compliance, Site Plan Review and Special Use Exceptions (unincorporated Sussex County)only if it applies to you	Sussex County Planning & Zoning	Site plan review for business, commercial, industrial and other buildings: $300 where no floor area is created; otherwise $100 per 1,000 sq ft, capped at $5,000 per phase (hospitals, schools, institutional buildings and places of worship exempt). Certificate of Use or Zoning Verification Letter: $150. Board of Adjustment special use exception: $500 (Planning and Zoning Fees, from July 1, 2026).	certificate of compliance: issued once for the use; site plan and Board of Adjustment approvals per application	2026-10-12
Sign Permit (unincorporated Sussex County)only if it applies to you	Sussex County Planning & Zoning	Sussex County Code Chapter 62, Article III requires a sign construction permit fee and annual or one-time sign fees, set in the schedule of fees adopted with the annual county budget; the amounts are not published on the sign permit form. Contact Planning & Zoning, (302) 855-7878, for the current amount.	per sign; annual or one-time fees as Chapter 62, Article III provides	2026-10-12

Business licenses and permits in Sussex County, Delaware

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