STATE LICENSE
RequiredDelaware Board of Electrical Examiners — …
Under 24 Del. C. § 1407 no one may provide electrical services in Delaware without a license from the Board of Electrical Examiners, administered by the Division of Professional Regulation (DPR). A master electrician may plan, lay out, and supervise work in any structure and needs six years' supervised experience, or 8,000 hours plus 576 hours of related instruction, or four years plus two years of technical training, and an exam (§ 1408(a)(1)). A limited electrician covers structures of four or fewer dwelling units (three years, or 4,000 hours plus 288 hours); master and limited 'special' licenses cover specialties such as pools, HVAC, signs, and refrigeration. Journeyperson (age 20, apprenticeship or 8,000+ hours) and residential (4,000+ hours and an exam) electricians, and apprentices, are licensed too; apprentices work under direct onsite supervision (§ 1422).
Board rules require masters and limited electricians — not journeypersons, residential electricians, or apprentices — to keep at least $300,000 of general liability insurance (24 DE Admin. Code 1400-6.1). DPR application fees are $203 (master), $127 (limited), and $105 (journeyperson or residential). Licenses renew every two years, expiring June 30 of even years, with continuing education. Every job must receive a certificate of inspection from a Board-licensed inspection agency, with the inspection application filed within 5 working days of starting work (§ 1420). A business must also hold the Division of Revenue contractor license.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Electrical licensing is state-only through DPR. Inspections are performed statewide by private inspection agencies licensed by the Board (24 Del. C. §§ 1420–1421), and the power company may not connect current without the agency's cut-in card. Counties and municipalities may still require building permits and local business licenses, and the business needs the Division of Revenue contractor license.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Delaware county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
DPR charges a late fee of 50% of the renewal fee; working on an expired license is illegal even during the one-year late period.
Masters, master specials, limited, and limited specials must display 'Licensed Electrician' and the license number in letters at least 3 inches high (§ 1406(b)).
The electrical chapter does not restrict anyone from servicing heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, or appliances (§ 1419(b)).
A practical sequence for a new electrical contractor in Delaware. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Performing electrical work, or holding out as qualified, without a license or exemption.
Fraud to obtain a license, letting others use it, or working outside your license category; other violations.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Continuing education conflict: 24 DE Admin. Code 1400-8.3 says 'Licensees shall complete 10 hours,' while DPR's CE page lists 5 hours for journeyperson, residential, and apprentice electricians — the rule text controls if they differ · Biennial renewal fee amounts (DPR states the fee only at renewal time) · Exam vendor and exam fee for the master, limited, journeyperson, and residential exams · Whether a business entity itself needs any electrical license beyond employing a licensed electrician (the chapter licenses individuals; § 1418 assumes firms have a license holder)
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.