Real Estate Agent Permit Requirements in Wilmington, 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. Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance

   Real estate agents and brokers are strongly advised to carry Errors and Omissions insurance. Many brokerages require agents to maintain E&O coverage as a condition of affiliation.

   $500–$2,000/year·Immediate to 1 week

   $500–$2,000/year

   Immediate to 1 week

1. Delaware Real Estate Commission — Salesperson or Broker License

   Real estate agents in Delaware must be licensed by the Delaware Real Estate Commission, part of the Division of Professional Regulation. A salesperson licence requires 99 hours of Commission-approved pre-licensing education and passing the two-part state examination through Pearson VUE; a broker licence additionally requires experience as a licensed salesperson and further education. Applications are filed through DELPROS and the licensee must be affiliated with a licensed office.

   Official government source

   $149 salesperson application fee, $229 associate broker, $248 broker, plus a $25 Guaranty Fund payment; the main office licence is $192 — per the DPR fee schedule. Pre-licensing course and Pearson VUE exam fees are separate.·4–8 weeks

   $149 salesperson application fee, $229 associate broker, $248 broker, plus a $25 Guaranty Fund payment; the main office licence is $192 — per the DPR fee schedule. Pre-licensing course and Pearson VUE exam fees are separate.

   4–8 weeks

2. City of Wilmington Business License (Department of Finance, Wage/Business License Division)

   Businesses operating inside Wilmington must hold a City of Wilmington business license in addition to their State of Delaware business license. Applications are filed with the Department of Finance, Wage/Business License Division (302-576-2415), and a copy of the current State of Delaware business license must be attached. Fees are set per license-type code; air conditioning, plumbing, heating, mechanical and refrigeration contractors must first pass a trade test with the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Employers also pay a head tax of $15 per month for each employee above five.

   Official government source

   Set by license-type code (fee increase effective 1/1/2024): $200/year for most non-professional services (e.g. landscaping/tree services, beauty parlor/barber shop, day care centers, janitorial, pest control, photographers) and construction trades; $300 for professional services; $250 for retailers; $151 for a mobile food vendor; $50 branch license·1–3 weeks

   Set by license-type code (fee increase effective 1/1/2024): $200/year for most non-professional services (e.g. landscaping/tree services, beauty parlor/barber shop, day care centers, janitorial, pest control, photographers) and construction trades; $300 for professional services; $250 for retailers; $151 for a mobile food vendor; $50 branch license

   1–3 weeks

Official Sources

• Delaware Real Estate Commission — Salesperson or Broker License
• City of Wilmington Revenue Division

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