Cleaning Service Permit Requirements in Newark, DE

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Delaware — No Sales Tax

   Delaware has no state or local sales tax. Instead, Delaware levies a Gross Receipts Tax on the seller of goods or provider of services, based on total receipts. Register with the Delaware Division of Revenue.

   Official government source

   Free (gross receipts tax registration)·Immediate (online)

   Free (gross receipts tax registration)

   Immediate (online)

2. Delaware Workers' Compensation Insurance

   Delaware requires every employer with one or more employees to carry workers' compensation insurance through a licensed carrier or an approved self-insurance program. The Office of Workers' Compensation, within the Department of Labor's Division of Industrial Affairs, administers the system and runs an Employer Look-Up tool for verifying coverage. A cleaning-service sole proprietor with no employees is not required to cover themselves, though limited exemptions and inclusions for independent contractors and agricultural workers are set out in 19 Del.C. §§ 2307 and 2308 — confirm your status with the Office of Workers' Compensation before relying on an exemption.

   Official government source

   No state filing fee; premiums are paid to a licensed carrier and vary with payroll and class code — commonly $500–$2,000/year for a small cleaning business·Immediate to 1 week to bind coverage with a carrier

   No state filing fee; premiums are paid to a licensed carrier and vary with payroll and class code — commonly $500–$2,000/year for a small cleaning business

   Immediate to 1 week to bind coverage with a carrier

1. City of Newark Code Enforcement Division — Business License

   Newark requires a Business License, administered by the Planning Department's Code Enforcement Division (not the City Clerk), for businesses operating within city limits. Fees are set per Newark Code Chapter 13, Article VII §13-43 et seq. based on estimated demand/cost of municipal services and vary by business type; contact Code Enforcement (302-366-7000) for the applicable fee. License must be renewed annually and displayed at your place of business.

   Official government source

   Varies by business type and estimated municipal service cost; not a published flat fee — confirm with Code Enforcement·1–3 weeks

   Varies by business type and estimated municipal service cost; not a published flat fee — confirm with Code Enforcement

   1–3 weeks

2. New Castle County / Newark Home Occupation or DBA Registration

   If operating a cleaning service from your home, you may need a Home Occupation Permit from Newark's Planning Department. If using a trade name, register it with the Delaware Division of Revenue via Delaware OneStop (not a county clerk — Delaware has no county clerk offices; as of Feb 2, 2026 trade names moved from Superior Court to the Division of Revenue).

   Official government source

   $25 for trade name registration via OneStop; Home Occupation Permit fee varies·1–2 weeks

   $25 for trade name registration via OneStop; Home Occupation Permit fee varies

   1–2 weeks

Official Sources

• City of Newark City Clerk
• Delaware — No Sales Tax

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