DELAWARE’S CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION ACT
19 DEL. CHAPTER 36
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2021

Pursuant to 19 Del. Chapter 36, All contractors must obtain their Contractor Registration Certificate prior to performing construction services or maintenance work throughout Delaware. Regarding public works projects only, contractors working on July 1, 2021, must submit their application and fee by August 1, 2021.

“Construction Services” includes, without limitation all building or work on the following: buildings, structures, and improvements of all types such as bridges, dams, plants, highways, parkways, streets, tunnels, sewers, mains, power lines, pumping stations, heavy generators, railways, airports, terminals, docks, piers, wharves, buoys, jetties, breakwaters, levees, canals, dredging, shoring, rehabilitation and reactivation of plants, scaffolding, drilling, blasting, excavating, clearing and landscaping and tree cutting.

PURPOSE OF THE ACT:
The Act creates a fair bidding environment for contractors who obey the law and ensures that all are properly licensed and are providing required protections to all of their workers. The Delaware Contractor Registration Act creates a contractor registration system to effectively regulate employee misclassification by doing all of the following:

1. Requires contractors to pay a small annual fee and apply for a certificate of registration to engage in construction activities in this State.
2. Requires registered contractors to establish compliance with State labor and revenue laws.
3. Requires that all contractors who work on a public works contract comply with the new contractor registration requirement.
4. Provides contractors and constituents a public portal to view compliant contractors for services.
   
   

If you have questions, contact the Office of Contractor Registration at (302)430-7739 or Contract.Registry@delaware.gov.

CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION RESOURCES:

• Contractor Registration FAQ’s
• Read the Contractor Registration Act – Effective July 1, 2021
• Apply for Contractor Registration Certificate – Delaware One Stop
• Contractor Registration Checklist
• Contractor Registration Checklist (En Español)
• Contractor Registration Brochure
• Contractor Registration Application
• Contractor Registration Application (En Español)