Permits & licensing in Delaware local government
What Delaware city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about permits & licensing — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
34 Delaware meetings since 2024 covered permits & licensing. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Delaware with the most permits & licensing activity
- Middletown, DE (12)
- Rehoboth Beach, DE (7)
- Dover, DE (5)
- Lewes, DE (5)
- Smyrna, DE (2)
- Wilmington, DE (2)
- Bethany Beach, DE (1)
Latest matching meetings
Historic District Board reviews property improvement applications
The Smyrna Historic District Review Board will meet to review and approve meeting minutes and consider applications for exterior improvements at two properties. The public may attend in person to provide verbal testimony.
Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission to hold three public hearings
The Planning & Zoning Commission will review three conditional use permits and one land development plan. These items involve business operations in residential areas and a new commercial car wash.
Council will adopt the FY 27 town budget and related utility fee resolution
The Middletown Town Council will vote on adopting the FY’27 budget and a resolution to set utility rates and fees. The meeting also includes review of several preliminary major land development plans and conditional use permit requests. Ordinance amendments for plumbing code, board procedures, and rezoning of 20 N…
Review of revised ADA ramp addition for Legislative Hall at 411 Legislative Ave
The Historic District Commission will consider a revised application (HI-24-07) to add an approximately 160‑foot ADA ramp at the west entrance of the Legislative Hall Building. The commission will also review a siding permit (HI-26-02) for 108 S. Governors Avenue. Routine agenda items include approval of minutes from…
Commissioners to set tax rate, award PFAS water treatment contract, and hold hearing on outdoor dining patio
The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on an amended permit for an outdoor dining patio with alcohol service at The Blue Hen restaurant. They will consider awarding a contract for PFAS upgrades at Wells 7 and 8 water treatment facilities and a resolution setting the real estate tax rate for the next…
Hearing on alcohol service at outdoor patio of The Blue Hen restaurant
The Mayor and Commissioners will hold a public hearing to decide on a supplemental permit of compliance request by Sharp Hospitality LLC to operate an outdoor dining patio serving alcoholic beverages at The Blue Hen restaurant, located at 33 Wilmington Avenue. The decision is under Rehoboth Beach Municipal Code…
Middletown council to consider zoning changes, permits, and road restoration contract
The Middletown Mayor and Council will consider approving public assembly permits, adopting zoning and plumbing ordinances, and ratifying contracts for road restoration and consulting services. The agenda includes multiple public hearings on land development plans and conditional use permits.
Appeals of building permit and motor vehicle citation violations
The Construction and Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals will consider two appeals. The first is an appeal of a citation for failure to obtain a building permit at 103 Lady Bug Drive under the 2009 International Residential Code. The second is an appeal of a citation and related fines at 209 West Division…
Council to adopt New Castle County All-Hazard Mitigation Plan update
The Middletown Town Council will consider a series of public hearings and motions, including a permit for music events on Cochran Square and several land development proposals. The agenda also includes lease agreements for the Hockessin Soccer Club and a request related to St. Anne’s Golf Course. A resolution to adopt…
Committee to discuss French drain building permit rules
The committee will review and discuss possible amendments to town code sections governing building permits for new and remodeling construction, specifically to include requirements for French drains. They will also review the committee's own role and function. Public comments will be taken.
Board reviews three historic district applications for window, paint, porch changes
The Historic District Review Board will review three applications for property alterations within the historic district. The items involve window work at 121 S Union St, exterior siding paint and windows at 41 W Mt Vernon St, and porch railing replacement at 133 W South St.
Mayor & City Council executive session on procedural and confidential topics
The council will hold an executive session under Delaware law to discuss confidential matters, including a citizen’s job qualifications, potential property acquisitions for capital projects, legal strategy for collective bargaining or litigation, and personnel issues. No specific actions or votes are listed on the…
Council to consider brownfields grant for former Army Reserve site
The City Council will hear presentations on a brownfields grant opportunity for the municipal campus, a pilot moped parking program, new online permitting, and a pilot parking plan. They will also discuss DNREC beach access requirements and streetscape designs for W. Fourth Street and Park Avenue.
City will decide on a supplemental permit for an outdoor dining patio at 44 Rehoboth Ave.
The Mayor and Commissioners will hold a public hearing on April 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of City Hall. They will consider a Supplemental Permit of Compliance request from Raghu Kumar and Suraj Kumar of India's Restaurant LLC to operate an outdoor dining patio serving alcoholic beverages on…
Mayor & Commissioners will vote on an amended permit for Jam Bistro outdoor dining
A public hearing will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Room of City Hall. The Mayor & Commissioners will consider an Amended Permit of Compliance and an Amended Supplemental Permit of Compliance for 305B Rehoboth Avenue. The request, submitted by Mark Hunker and Jeff McCracken of Jam…
Parking group to finalize pilot parking proposal for City Council
The Lewes Parking Working Group will discuss and potentially recommend an in-town parking pilot program on Chestnut, Market, and Mulberry streets. The proposal includes residential parking zones, 3-hour limits for non-residents, and creation of employee parking lots. The group will also consider immediate signage and…
Conditional Use Permit for RV/Boat storage at 0 Summit Bridge Road
The Middletown Planning & Zoning Commission will hold public hearings on several land development proposals. Items include a conditional use permit request for an RV/Boat storage facility at 0 Summit Bridge Road, a preliminary minor land development plan for the same site, and other minor subdivision and building…
Executive session to discuss personnel, licensing, property and litigation matters
The Lewes Mayor and City Council will approve minutes from March meetings, hear public comments, and hold a closed executive session covering four categories: citizen licensing qualifications, site acquisitions for capital projects, collective‑bargaining or litigation strategy, and personnel matters. After the…
Lewes parking group weighs pilot for residential permits, employee lots
The Parking Working Group will discuss and possibly recommend an in-town parking pilot program. The pilot would set costs for residential permits and designate employee parking locations to address a 500-space employee shortfall. The group also will hear updates from sub-working groups.
Review of 234,000‑sf warehouse site plan at 175 Commerce Way
The Development Advisory Committee will review three development applications: a minor subdivision at 7 Nixon Lane, a site‑development plan for a 234,000‑square‑foot warehouse at 175 Commerce Way, and a planned‑neighborhood design for Bay Village Residential. The committee will also consider a waiver request to…
Planning & Zoning Commission to review five land use and development requests
The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold public hearings for four conditional use permits and one land development plan. These requests involve businesses ranging from a laundry service to an RV storage facility.
Middletown Council to review new housing and business permit requests
The Mayor and Council will conduct public hearings on several land use requests, including a 30-unit townhouse community and two conditional use permits. The body will also vote on various professional service agreements and event permits for 2026.
Commissioners to hold public hearings on two restaurant permits
The Board of Commissioners will consider permit requests for two restaurants and review a Stormwater Management Plan presentation. The meeting also includes a report on traffic calming recommendations from the City Streets & Safety Advisory Committee.
City will decide permit for new restaurant with patio at 46 Baltimore Ave
The Mayor and Commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider a Permit of Compliance and a Supplemental Permit of Compliance for a new restaurant. The request is from Christene Minnick of The Sea Hag LLC to operate “The Sea Hag Champagne Lounge” at 46 Baltimore Avenue, serving alcoholic beverages with a patio…
City to hear amended permit for South Boardwalk restaurant
The Rehoboth Beach Mayor and Commissioners will hold a public hearing on February 20, 2026, to decide on an Amended Permit of Compliance for a restaurant at 105 South Boardwalk. The request involves modifying the floor plan for a business previously known as 'Baja Bob's' and now 'The Dunes'.
Conditional use permits for a martial arts school and a daycare considered
The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold public hearings on two conditional use permit applications. One request is for a Krav Maga and self‑defense martial arts school (7 Elements) at 410 Diamond State Blvd., Suite F, in an M‑I zone. The second request is for a daycare (Little Kids Swagg) at 703 Industrial Drive…
Commission will review door/window replacement permit at 1 Kings Hwy NE
The Historic District Commission will consider several agenda items, including approval of the agenda and minutes from the November 20, 2025 meeting. It will hear a summary of 2025 applications and architectural review certifications. The commission will specifically review HI-26-01, a door and window replacement…
Middletown Council to consider 2.4 million sq ft e-commerce center plan
The Mayor and Council will hold public hearings on several land development projects and conditional use permits. The body will also vote on ordinances regarding business license fees and mobile unit food sales.
Board to hear appeals regarding property registration fees and building permits
The Construction and Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals will meet to review two specific code violation appeals. The board will determine if registration fees or permit denials should be overturned.
Middletown Council to hold public hearings on retail and studio developments
The Mayor and Council of Middletown will consider land development plans and conditional use permits. The body will also discuss lease agreements and ratify several infrastructure contracts. Two new ordinances regarding business license fees and mobile unit food sales will be introduced.
Council to consider a Conditional Use Permit for PENCO Products at 700 N Broad St
The Middletown Mayor and Council will review several conditional use permit requests, including one for PENCO Products to operate a locker parts warehouse at 700 N Broad Street. They will also consider a public assembly permit for a prayer vigil at Cochran Square on Jan. 1, 2026, and motions to ratify contracts for…
Council to adopt new stormwater management ordinance (Ordinance 25-10-01)
The Middletown Town Council will consider several motions, including adopting Ordinance 25-10-01 to add sediment and stormwater management provisions to the town code. It will also vote on resolutions for a master equipment lease with M&T Bank and for declaring intent to pursue tax‑exempt borrowing. Additional items…
Street closure on Seabreeze and Benton continued to future meeting
The Planning Commission will consider a request to continue a street closure item for a portion of Seabreeze Boulevard and Benton Avenue near the Intracoastal Waterway. No new business is listed. The commission will also discuss a revised proposal for Special Use Permits and approve the June 4, 2025 minutes.
Planning Commission to consider eliminating special use permits in favor of conditional zoning
The Wilmington Planning Commission will review three new business items: two conditional district rezonings for housing developments and an amendment to replace special use permits with conditional zoning. According to the agenda, the rezonings were approved 7-0 and the amendment was continued 7-0. The agenda also…