Wilmington Vacant Property Fee Calculator
Enter when the house became vacant to estimate what each November 1 bill could be. Confirm your actual bill with Wilmington Licenses and Inspections.
Calculator
Estimate only. It assumes the building stays vacant and no waiver, exemption or abatement applies, and it bills each November 1 by full years vacant on that date. The two schedules differ, so confirm your bill with Wilmington Licenses and Inspections at (302) 576-3096 before you rely on it. General information, not legal or tax advice.
How the fee is calculated
Under Wilmington City Code §4-27, Section 120.0, a building vacant for more than six consecutive months must be registered, and the annual fee depends on how many full years it has been vacant as of November 1. The owner on November 1 pays, notices go out by November 1, and payment is due by the first business day of January. The years-vacant count carries over when the property changes hands. Full details, waivers and appeals are in the Wilmington vacant property fee guide.
| Years vacant on Nov. 1 | City Code & 2025 fee sheet | 2017 proposed schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | $0 | $0 |
| 1 | $500 | $500 |
| 2 | $2,500 | $1,000 |
| 3 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| 4 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| 5 | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| 6 | $12,000 | $14,000 |
| 7+ | $12,000 | $16,000 + $2,000 per year beyond 7 |
The first column comes from the City Code and the city's Summary of Annual Vacant Registration Fees 2025. The second is from a November 2017 city announcement of a proposed schedule that we could not find in the current code. We show both because both are on the city's website. Checked Oct 11, 2026.
Outside Wilmington: New Castle County's schedule
If the house is in unincorporated New Castle County (outside Wilmington and the other towns), the county runs its own vacant property registration. Substitute No. 1 to Ordinance 25-046 (New Castle County Code Chapter 7, Article 2) sets the annual fee by continuous years vacant. Notices go out on or about November 1 and the renewal fee is due before January 1. Choose "New Castle County" in the calculator above to use this schedule.
| Continuous vacancy | New Castle County annual fee |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | $250 |
| 1 to 2 years | $750 |
| 2 to 3 years | $2,500 |
| 3 to 5 years | $5,000 |
| 5 years or more | $7,500 plus $1,000 for each year over 5 |
The county also charges $100 for each inspection while the property stays vacant, and a building vacant for three consecutive years needs an inspection report from a design professional. Source: New Castle County Vacant Property Registration and the linked Ordinance 25-046. The calculator starts county billing after 90 days of vacancy (the county's registration trigger) and does not add inspection fees. Checked Oct 11, 2026.
Paying to keep a vacant house?
We buy vacant Wilmington houses as-is, including ones with open violations, and price the next bill into a written offer that shows the math.
Get My Written Offer Call (302) 525-0787Frequently asked questions
Who pays the Wilmington vacant property fee?
The owner of the property as of November 1 of each year (City Code §4-27, Sec. 120.0(b)(3)).
Does the vacancy count restart when a house is sold?
No. The city's 2025 fee sheet says years vacant are counted regardless of varying ownership.
Why does the calculator show two schedules?
The City Code and 2025 fee sheet cap the fee at $12,000, while a 2017 city announcement described a steeper proposed schedule. Both appear on city websites, so confirm with L&I.
