Delaware Short-Term Rental Laws by City (2026)
Short-term rental rules in Delaware are set city by city — a property that is legal to rent nightly in one town can be prohibited a few miles away. The table below covers 1 Delaware city (1 human-verified against official sources), with each city's legal status, permit cost, and last-verified date.
Statewide short-term rental rules in Delaware
Delaware has no statewide short-term rental permit and no state land-use restrictions on STRs; the state's only STR framework is a tax regime. Since January 1, 2025, a 4.5% state short-term rental lodging tax (30 Del. C. ch. 62) applies to stays of 31 nights or less, collected by the booking platform ('accommodations intermediary') or by owners who rent directly, who must hold a $25/year accommodations intermediary business license. There is no state preemption law: municipalities keep full zoning power (22 Del. C. § 301) to restrict, license, or ban STRs, and New Castle and Sussex Counties may add a local lodging tax of up to 3% (9 Del. C. § 8112).
| City | Status | Permit fee | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehoboth Beach | Permit required | $50 | July 21, 2026 |
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This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Regulations change frequently — verify current requirements with each jurisdiction before operating. HOA and condo rules may prohibit short-term rentals regardless of city law.