Do you need a license to be a carpenter in Delaware?
No. Delaware doesn't license carpenters as a trade. There is no state contractor license or registration, though cities may have their own rules.
No state requirement · By ChiselJobs Team · Updated
In short
Delaware does not license carpenters or contractors. The state requires a business license instead: every contractor registers with the Division of Revenue, which costs $75 a year and renews annually, and also registers as a contractor with the Department of Labor. There is no exam and no general, residential or home improvement contractor license. Cities can add their own rules; Dover, for example, requires a city business license for contractors. Before starting a job, confirm the business license, the Department of Labor registration and any city requirement where the work is. Delaware runs a state apprenticeship agency for those starting out through a registered apprenticeship.
Key facts
| Carpenter license | No |
| Licensing level | Business registration only |
| General contractor license | No |
| Residential contractor license | No |
| Home improvement registration | No |
| When a license is needed | All contractors |
| Carpentry classification | None |
| Exam | No |
| Fees | Business license $75/yr |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Local license | Varies by city |
| Board | Delaware Division of Revenue; Dept of Labor |
Local licenses in Delaware
Dover
CityCity business license (contractors)
Dover Department of Inspections and Planning
Contractors working within city limits need a City of Dover business license, Aug 1-Jul 31; fee 0.046% of gross receipts, minimum $128. Brochure updated Oct 21, 2025. Not a competency license.
- Source: cityofdover.gov · checked November 5, 2026
Apprenticeship
| Registering agency | State Apprenticeship Agency |
- Source: apprenticeship.gov · checked November 6, 2026