Welcome to your daily briefing on construction developments in Delaware. Today we're covering 8 key stories including updates on delaware construction headlines, background & context. Let's dive in.
5 stories
A comprehensive guide breaks down the complicated rules and requirements for obtaining a Delaware contractor license.
For construction professionals in DE, understanding licensing requirements is essential to legally operate and avoid costly compliance issues.
Levelset provides resources to help contractors resolve payment problems and streamline their payment processes every day.
Delaware construction professionals can utilize these tools to navigate payment hurdles and maintain steady cash flow on their projects.
The Delaware Department of Transportation maintains an online portal listing its infrastructure projects.
Construction firms in DE can identify bidding opportunities, track project timelines, and plan resource allocation around state-funded transportation work.
ConstructConnect is offering quick, comprehensive access to new commercial construction projects in Delaware, including exclusive projects, plans, specs, bidder lists, and project details.
Delaware construction professionals can streamline their bidding process with centralized access to project opportunities and critical documentation in one platform.
Kent County offers an online building permit application system that allows users to create an account, save information, and apply for permits digitally.
DE construction professionals can streamline project start times by submitting Kent County building permits online instead of in person.
Connect with contractors and builders
3 stories
"Pay-when-paid" generally sets a timing condition in many jurisdictions, while "pay-if-paid" may create a condition precedent depending on state law. Enforcement of pay-if-paid clauses varies significantly by state, and some states require specific language to enforce them. Delaware contractors should consult with a qualified construction attorney to understand how these clauses are treated under Delaware law and to review contract terms before signing. This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
The risk allocation between subcontractors and GCs hinges on this one phrase. Subs who sign pay-if-paid contracts effectively underwrite owner credit risk on top of project risk.
Foundation failures rarely originate at the slab; they originate in soil bearing capacity, drainage, or expansive-clay behavior that was either uninvestigated or not honored in the design. A geotechnical report that is older than the building's design or that did not sample at the actual building footprint is a red flag.
Foundation remediation costs typically exceed the original foundation cost by 5-10x. Investing in current, footprint-specific geotechnical work is the cheapest insurance a project carries.
Most construction contracts require change orders to be in writing, but many states enforce an "oral modification" exception when the parties' conduct shows agreement — especially when the changed work is performed and accepted without protest. Continued performance without written change orders can waive the writing requirement entirely.
Contractors who do extra work hoping to "true it up later" routinely lose those claims because the conduct shows acceptance of the original scope. A signed change order before the work is the cleanest evidence of agreement.
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