Property maintenance across Delaware
What are the rules on junk, derelict cars, and unsightly property?
25 of 57 municipalities in Delaware have an adopted ordinance on property maintenance on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arden Village |
Ordinance 15 - Vacant Dwellings and Registration Fees | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Bellefonte Town |
Ordinance 2005-03 - Adoption of NCCo Property Maintenance Code | standards: Unsafe condition includes high weeds and grass, vermin/rodent infestation, accumulation of refuse, rubbish, trash, junk, debris, waste, or abandoned vehicles · enforcement: Regulation, inspection, enforcement, and correction transferred to New Castle County; county may remedy violation and seek indemnification/lien | 2026-06-05 |
| Bethany Beach Town |
Chapter 179 - Property Maintenance | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Blades Town |
Ordinance 304 - Nuisances and Public Health
+1 more |
standards: Owner or tenant allowing weeds to grow or rubbish to collect on any lot and neglecting to remove after five days' notice is guilty of a common nuisance · enforcement: Fine plus additional $5.00 penalty for each day the nuisance remains after notice period; conviction before alderman · standards: Owner/occupier must remove all cuttings/clippings from sidewalk or street abutting the lot; cuttings, clippings, branches and yard waste must be removed within 7 calendar days and not visible in front/side yards | 2026-06-05 |
| Bridgeville Town |
Ordinance 24-06 - International Property Maintenance Code
+5 more |
standards: Building deemed vacant if no person conducts a lawfully licensed business or lawfully resides in it; owner of building vacant 60+ consecutive days must file a notarized vacant property registration statement · enforcement: Registration required with fee ($100 first year, $300/year years 2-5, $500/year after 5 years); unpaid fees constitute a debt due the Town collectible by civil action · standards: Vacant building registration applicability changed so that it applies to owners of buildings vacant for more than one hundred and eighty (180) consecutive days | 2026-06-05 |
| Camden Town |
Ordinance 88 - Property Maintenance Code
+5 more |
standards: Buildings deemed 'dangerous' if walls list/lean/buckle beyond middle third of base; 33% damage to supporting members or 50% to non-supporting walls; overloaded; fire/wind damaged; dilapidated/unsafe/unsanitary; inadequate egress; declared public nuisances · enforcement: Building Inspector orders repair, vacation or demolition; on owner non-compliance within 10 days Council causes repair/vacation/demolition and charges cost as municipal lien/special tax against the land · standards: Buildings deemed 'dangerous' if walls list/lean/buckle beyond middle third of base; 33% damage to supporting members or 50% to non-supporting walls; overloaded; fire/wind damaged; dilapidated/unsafe/unsanitary; inadequate egress; declared public nuisances | 2026-06-05 |
| Delaware City City |
Chapter 22 - Public Health and Chapter 52 - Property Maintenance | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Dewey Beach Town |
Chapter 138 - Property Maintenance | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Dover City |
Chapter 22 - Buildings and Building Regulations (Articles IX, X, XI, XII) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Elsmere Town |
Chapter 171 - Property Maintenance
+1 more |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Felton Town |
Article IV, Title 34 - Obstructions, Nuisances, Hazards or Unsanitary Conditions
+1 more |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Georgetown Town |
Chapter 165 - Property Maintenance
+1 more |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Greenwood Town |
Ordinance D-18 - Disorderly Houses / Crime-Free Rental Unit Requirements | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Harrington City |
Chapter 305 - Property Maintenance | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Kenton Town |
Vegetation Control Ordinance – Title II / Art. 13 | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Laurel Town |
Inoperable Vehicles Ordinance – Sections 165-181 | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Little Creek Town |
Little Creek International Property Maintenance Code
adopted 2021-04-26 |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Magnolia Town |
Article VII – Residential and Commercial Properties
adopted 2021-05-10 |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Milford City |
Chapter 174: Property Maintenance
adopted 2025-02-24 |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Millville Town |
Chapter 111: Property Maintenance | — | 2026-06-05 |
| New Castle City |
Chapter 226: Vehicles, Abandoned | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Newport Town |
Ordinance 444A – International Property Maintenance Code | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Odessa Town |
Ordinance 2016-02: Adopt The 2015 International Property Maintenance Code
+1 more |
— | 2026-06-05 |
| Smyrna Town |
Chapter 18: Buildings and Building Regulations | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Wilmington City |
Chapter 4: Buildings and Building Regulations | — | 2026-06-05 |
Nothing on file for property maintenance
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Checked, nothing adopted (4) — Delmar (2026-06-05), Frankford (2026-06-05), Hartly (2026-06-05), Houston (2026-06-05).
Other ordinances on file, none on this topic (23) — Ardentown, Bowers, Cheswold, Clayton, Dagsboro, Ellendale, Fenwick Island, Frederica, Henlopen Acres, Lewes, Middletown, Millsboro, Milton, Newark, Ocean View, Rehoboth Beach, Seaford, Selbyville, Slaughter Beach, South Bethany, Townsend, Viola, Wyoming.
No ordinances published online (1, verified negatives) — Farmington.
Unconfirmed (4, leads but nothing verified) — Ardencroft, Bethel, Leipsic, Woodside.