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Construction Work Regulated?

Who Regulates Construction?

Requirements?

Reciprocal Agreements

National Exams
National Exams

Construction Work Regulated?

A state contractor license is required for the construction, alteration, or repair of any structure. With the exception of electrical and asbestos abatement contractors, contractor licensing is primarily administered for revenue and registration purposes.

Contractors seeking to bid on Department of Transportation projects must be properly registered before submitting bids.

Who Regulates Construction?

Highway registration information can be obtained from:

Delaware Department of Transportation
Attn: Contract Administration
Post Office Box 778
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 760-2031 Fax (302) 739-2895
E-Mail: [email protected]
https://www.deldot.gov

Applications for all types of contractor business licenses are filed with:

Delaware Department of FinanceDivision of Revenue
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 577-8200 Fax (302) 575-8202
https://revenue.delaware.gov

For electrical licensure application and information:

Delaware State Board of Electrical Examiners
Cannon Building, Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Boulevard
Dover, DE 19904
(302) 744-4500 Fax (302) 739-2711
https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician/index.shtml

Solid and hazardous waste transporters may obtain permit information and
applications from:

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Section
89 Kings High way
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-9403 Fax (302) 739-5060
https://www.awm.delaware.gov/SHWMB/Pages/SHWMB.aspx

For a permit application:

https://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/shwmb/pages/formsandapplications.aspx

Underground Storage Tank Contractors may obtain application packages from:

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Tank Management Section
391 Lukens Drive
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 395-2500
https://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/tanks/pages/contractor-certification.aspx

Asbestos contractors may obtain certification information from:

Delaware Office of Management and Budget Division of Facilities Management - Asbestos Office
540 South DuPont Highway, Suite #1
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-5644 Fax (302) 739-3037
https://dfm.delaware.gov/envsrv/asbestos/

Asbestos Contractors remediation or renovation notifications must be sent to:

New Castle County Air Quality Management Section
715 Grantham Lane
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 323-4542 Fax (302) 323-4598
or
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Kent and Sussex County
Blue Men Corporate Center
Suite SN, 655 South Bay Road
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-4791 Fax (302) 739-3106

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Kent and Sussex County
Blue Men Corporate Center
Suite SN, 655 South Bay Road
Dover, DE 19901
(302) 739-4791 Fax (302) 739-3106

Requirements?

December 31. The license fee is $75. For competitively bid projects exceeding $50,000, a contractor license application must be submitted before or at the time a bid is filed.

Contractors are subject to a gross receipts tax of 0.499% on taxable construction revenue. However, the first $80,000 in construction gross receipts received each month ($240,000 per quarter) is exempt from this tax.

Any contractor entering into a contract with a nonresident contractor must file a statement with the Division of Revenue within 10 days of contract execution, identifying the total contract value. Failure to comply may result in a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per occurrence.

Electricians: Electrical contractors must either hold a Master Electrician license or employ a licensed Master Electrician recognized by the State Board of Electrical Examiners. All electrical license classifications require applicants to pass an examination, which is administered six times annually. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass.

Depending on the license classification, applicants must satisfy experience and education requirements ranging from three to six years. Applicants for Master Electrician and Master Special Electrician licenses must also provide proof of liability insurance with a minimum coverage amount of $300,000.

Electrical licenses may be issued for terms of up to two years and expire on June 30 of even-numbered years.

Electrical fees are as follows:

License Type / Processing Fee / Exam Fee
Master/Master Special / $157 / Determined by Testing Provider
Limited/Limited Special / $84 / Determined by Testing Provider
Journeyperson / $74 / Determined by Testing Provider
Apprentice / $59 / Determined by Testing Provider
Continuing Education Requirements: As a condition of license renewal, applicants must complete Board-approved continuing education. Licensees whose licenses have been active for more than two years must complete 10 hours of approved continuing education, including at least five hours related to code updates.

Licensees with licenses active for more than one year but less than two years must complete five hours of approved continuing education. Those renewing a license that has been active for less than one year are not required to complete continuing education.

Asbestos Abatement: Contractors performing asbestos abatement work must be certified by the Division of Facilities Management and are required to notify the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control before beginning any asbestos-related project.

Requirements / Class A Supervisor / Class A Worker / Class B Super/Worker

Physical Exam / Yes / Yes / No
Pulmonary Function Report / Yes / Yes / No
Chest X-ray / Yes / Yes / No
CPR Card / Yes / No / No
Required Training Course / 40 Hours / 32 Hours / 14 Hours
Examination Questions / 100 / 50 / 35
Within the past year / initial, then per OSHA / Minimum score of 70%

All licenses are issued for a one-year term beginning on the date the required training is completed. The average processing time for license applications is approximately three weeks.

Applications for Project Monitor certification are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must include a photograph, résumé, and proof of qualifying training credentials.

Individuals receiving Delaware asbestos-related identification cards must pick up their cards in person. A valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or state identification card, must be presented at the time of pickup.

license Type / Training Fee / Re-certification Training Fee / Application Fee / Renewal Fee

Supervisor Class A / $595 / $150 / $50 / $50
Worker Class A / $495 / $150 / $25 / $25
Supervisor/Worker Class B / $325 / $195 / $20 / $20
Class A Contractor / N/A / N/A / $100 / $100
Class B Contractor / N/A / N/A / $100 / $100
Project Monitor 1-Day / $195 / $195 / $50 / $50
2-Day / $395 / N/A / $50 / $50
5-Day / $695 / N/A / $50 / $50
Professional Service Firm / N/A / N/A / $100 / $100

Solid Waste Transporters: Any company transporting solid waste, including infectious waste or asbestos, into, out of, or through Delaware must obtain the appropriate state permit. Applicants are required to provide proof of liability insurance and submit driver training and spill response plans. Permit holders must also comply with annual reporting requirements. The annual permit fee is $350, which includes a $300 permit fee and a $50 public notice fee.

Underground Storage Tanks (USTs): Companies and supervisors performing underground storage tank installations, retrofits, removals, or closure-in-place activities must obtain certification. Applicants must demonstrate relevant training or experience and pass a certification examination with a minimum score of 80%.

Certification is valid for two years. Initial and renewal fees are $250 for companies and $100 for supervisors. Certified companies must maintain a current Delaware Business License, at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance, and a minimum of $250,000 in pollution liability insurance coverage.

Division of Revenue Requirements: Nonresident contractors performing construction work in Delaware must provide the Division of Revenue with a surety bond, cash bond, or approved bank letter of credit equal to 6% of the total value of all construction contracts exceeding $20,000 within the state.

Reciprocal Agreements

Asbestos Reciprocity: Delaware offers reciprocity for Class "A" asbestos supervisors and workers who have completed training through EPA-approved providers. Reciprocity is available only for individual supervisors and workers and does not extend to asbestos contractors.

Eligibility for reciprocity is based on completion of EPA-approved training courses conducted within the boundaries of an EPA Region III jurisdiction. Region III includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, the City of Philadelphia, and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Applicants seeking reciprocity must provide documentation demonstrating successful completion of the required EPA-approved training within one of these approved jurisdictions.