Pole barns and barndominiums in Magnolia, Delaware.
Building in Magnolia.
Magnolia was incorporated in 1885 and laid out with a circular boundary a quarter mile in diameter. The circle is still there, because the town council has declined to annex land, and 277 people lived inside it in 2020. Main Street, the former US 113 Alt., crosses town, the John B. Lindale House carries a ‘Center of the Universe’ sign, and the Matthew Lowber House and Gov. George Truitt House are on the National Register.
Magnolia is a 15-minute trip from our office, and inside a town this compact, the 10 ft lines on the town permit form decide what fits on a lot, so we measure first. Then we draw the building to those lines, get the town permit from the Mayor or Vice Mayor, and carry it to Kent County for the building permit.
- County
- Kent County, Delaware
- Population
- 277 (2020 Census)
- ZIP code
- 19962
- From our office
- About 15 minutes (9 miles) by car
- Permits
- Town of Magnolia (Mayor / Vice Mayor)
- Main roads
- Main Street (former US 113 Alt.), Walnut Street / Barkers Landing Road, DE 1
Permits and rules in Magnolia.
Magnolia enforces its own zoning, and Kent County issues the building permit. Under Town Ordinance 701, anyone building or adding on to a structure must first get a construction/building permit from the Mayor or Vice Mayor (Town of Magnolia, 3 East Walnut Street, 302-335-5891). The town permit costs $75 and is good for one year, and none is issued while the owner is behind on taxes, water bills or other town fees. That permit then goes to Kent County, whose inspectors review the plans and visit the site.
Who issues the permit
Town of Magnolia (Mayor / Vice Mayor)
- Address
- 3 East Walnut Street, Magnolia, DE 19962 (mail: P.O. Box 233)
- Phone
- (302) 335-5891
- Website
- Permit information(opens in a new tab)
Where this comes from
- magnolia.delaware.gov (opens in a new tab)
- magnolia.delaware.gov (opens in a new tab)
- magnolia.delaware.gov (opens in a new tab)
Permit details checked October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the current requirements for your parcel before anything is drawn.
What people build around Magnolia.
Per the town permit form, buildings must sit 10 ft from any road or street, and no structure may be closer than 10 ft to a side or rear property line. On an in-town lot, that leaves room for a one- or two-car garage, a workshop or a storage building set back from the street. Because Magnolia follows Kent County’s guidelines on when a permit is required, a garage or pole building needs one at any size. Larger horse barns and farm buildings belong on bigger parcels outside the circle.
Magnolia questions.
Have a question about your property? Call 302-399-4420 and we’ll look it up.
Do I need both a town and a county permit in Magnolia?
Yes, in that order. The town permit from the Mayor or Vice Mayor comes first, then Kent County’s building permit. Magnolia follows the county’s guidelines on when a permit is required, and the county requires one for a detached garage or pole building of any size.
How far is Magnolia from your office?
Magnolia is a 15-minute drive from our office at 575 N Dupont Hwy in Dover, about 9 miles. Call 302-399-4420 and we can meet you on the lot to measure those 10 ft lines first.
Is Magnolia in the flood insurance program?
Yes. Magnolia joined the National Flood Insurance Program effective April 5, 2018. If your lot is in a mapped flood hazard area, Kent County requires a permit for any work there, sheds of any size included, so we check the flood maps before we draw.
My address says Magnolia. Am I inside town limits?
Not necessarily. The town limits are a circle a quarter mile across, so a nearby property with a Magnolia address may sit outside them. If it does and the land is unincorporated, there is no town permit, and Kent County handles both zoning and the building permit. We check the parcel before anything else.
Let’s plan your building in Magnolia.
Tell us what you’d like to build and where, and we’ll come back with drawings and a free quote.
- info@pbuincde.com
- Office
- 575 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901 (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
- Hours
- Mon to Fri, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
- We build in
- Magnolia and all of Kent County