Delaware building code
Delaware does not adopt one unified statewide building code. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Delaware cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- No unified state code. Statewide pieces: 2024 IECC + ASHRAE 90.1-2022 energy (eff. 2026-04-11); 2021 IPC-based Delaware Plumbing Code (eff. 2022-08); 2026 Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations adopting NFPA 1-2024, NFPA 101-2024, NEC (NFPA 70) 2023, NFPA 54-2024 (eff. 2026-01-01)
- Prior edition
- Energy: 2018 IECC & ASHRAE 90.1-2016 (7 DE Admin Code 2101, Secretary's Order 2020-CCE-0014, eff. 2020-06-11). Fire: prior (pre-2026) edition of the DSFPR; its NFPA editions were not verified this session.
- Code authority
- No single statewide building-code agency. Discipline-specific: DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal & Energy (energy, 7 DE Admin Code 2101); DHSS Division of Public Health (plumbing, 16 DE Admin Code 4455); Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission / Office of the State Fire Marshal (fire, life safety, electrical, fuel gas via DSFPR Reg. 701); OMB Division of Facilities Management, Architectural Accessibility Board (accessibility, 29 Del. C. ch. 73)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before Energy: until 2026-04-11. Fire: until 2026-01-01 (projects submitted on/after 2025-12-31 must use the 2026 DSFPR). may still be reviewed under the Energy: 2018 IECC & ASHRAE 90.1-2016 (7 DE Admin Code 2101, Secretary's Order 2020-CCE-0014, eff. 2020-06-11). Fire: prior (pre-2026) edition of the DSFPR; its NFPA editions were not verified this session..
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 2026 Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations, Regulation 701 (1 DE Admin Code 701), 2026 edition based on NFPA 1 Fire Code 2024; NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 2024 (plus ~25 other NFPA standards incl. NFPA 13-2025, 72-2025, 30-2024, 99-2024, 855-2023) | n/a |
| Electrical | 2023 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, adopted statewide via DSFPR Reg. 701 ch. 7 based on 2023 NEC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2021 Delaware Plumbing Code (16 DE Admin Code 4455) based on 2021 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2024 Delaware State Energy Conservation Code (7 DE Admin Code 2101) based on 2024 IECC (residential); 2024 IECC + ASHRAE 90.1-2022 (commercial and high-rise residential) | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2017 State of Delaware Architectural Accessibility Standards (Architectural Accessibility Board, 29 Del. C. ch. 73) based on ICC/ANSI A117.1-2017 | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2024 NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code, adopted statewide via DSFPR Reg. 701 ch. 7 based on NFPA 54-2024 | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Delaware. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
- California Coastal Zone
Sources
- https://dnrec.delaware.gov/climate-coastal-energy/efficiency/building-energy-codes/
- https://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title7/2101
- https://statefiremarshal.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/110/2025/12/2026-DSFPR-update.pdf
- https://regulations.delaware.gov/register/december2025/final/29%20DE%20Reg%20509%2012-01-25
- https://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title1/701
- https://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title16/4455
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/delaware/16-Del-Admin-Code-SS-4455-2.0
- https://dfm.delaware.gov/aab/ada.shtml
- https://dfm.delaware.gov/aab/documents/aabstand.pdf
- https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/adoptions-map/delaware/
- https://statefiremarshal.delaware.gov/regulations-appeals-alternatives/
- https://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/
Common questions
What building code does Delaware use?
Delaware does not adopt a single unified statewide building code for general construction. Building, residential, and trade codes are adopted locally by ordinance, so the governing edition is whatever the city or county reviewing the permit has enacted. Narrow-scope state programs: No single statewide building-code agency. Discipline-specific: DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal & Energy (energy, 7 DE Admin Code 2101); DHSS Division of Public Health (plumbing, 16 DE Admin Code 4455); Delaware State Fire Prevention Commission / Office of the State Fire Marshal (fire, life safety, electrical, fuel gas via DSFPR Reg. 701); OMB Division of Facilities Management, Architectural Accessibility Board (accessibility, 29 Del. C. ch. 73)
Do cities in Delaware amend the state code?
Local amendments are adopted by ordinance at the city or county level. Confirm with the building department that reviews your permit.
Which edition applies to a permit already in review in Delaware?
Projects with a complete application on or before Energy: until 2026-04-11. Fire: until 2026-01-01 (projects submitted on/after 2025-12-31 must use the 2026 DSFPR). may still be reviewed under the Energy: 2018 IECC & ASHRAE 90.1-2016 (7 DE Admin Code 2101, Secretary's Order 2020-CCE-0014, eff. 2020-06-11). Fire: prior (pre-2026) edition of the DSFPR; its NFPA editions were not verified this session..
Check a plan set against Delaware code
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
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Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.