Skip to content
Oakclause

Rental Application Fee Laws in Delaware

In Delaware, a rental application fee may not exceed the greater of $50 or 10 percent of the monthly rent, and the landlord must give a receipt and keep records for 2 years.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Delaware at a glance

Fee limit
Greater of $50 or 10% of monthly rent
A landlord who demands more owes the tenant double the fee charged.
Refund required
No refund rule
Portable screening report rule
Not addressed

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Delaware

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in Delaware?

Fee limit in Delaware: Greater of $50 or 10% of monthly rent. A landlord who demands more owes the tenant double the fee charged.

Does a landlord in Delaware have to refund an unused application fee?

No refund rule. Refund required in Delaware: no refund rule.

Does Delaware law address reusable (portable) tenant screening reports?

Not addressed. Portable screening report rule in Delaware: not addressed.

Where do the Delaware rental application fee laws come from?

The rules above come from Del. Code tit. 25, 5514(d). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Before collecting a fee, landlords can tell applicants in writing how much it is, what it pays for, and the screening criteria that will be used. Several statutes require some of this disclosure, and it also reduces disputes when an application is denied.

Keep a copy of the invoice or receipt from the screening company. Where the law ties the fee to actual cost or requires an itemized receipt, that record shows the fee was lawful.

Check local law as well as state law. In many states a city or county ordinance can set a lower limit or add refund and notice rules, and the stricter rule usually applies. A few states bar local rules on application fees.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.