Pole barns and barndominiums in Milford, Delaware.
Building in Milford.
Milford was incorporated in 1807 on the Mispillion River, built ships through World War I, and grew into the commercial hub for southern Delaware’s farm community. The city still straddles the county line: in 2020, 4,116 residents lived on the Kent side and 7,074 on the Sussex side. The Parson Thorne Mansion and the Milford Shipyard Area Historic District are both on the National Register.
The drive down from our office takes 31 minutes, and DE 1 (the Milford Bypass), US 113, DE 14 and DE 36 all reach the city. Our designers draw the building and price it in an organized, easy-to-read quote, we apply through the City’s online Civic Access portal, our crews build, and a project manager keeps you posted through each inspection.
- County
- Kent County and Sussex County, Delaware
- Population
- 11,190 (2020 Census)
- ZIP code
- 19963
- From our office
- About 31 minutes (21 miles) by car
- Permits
- City of Milford Planning Department, Building Inspections & Permitting Division
- Main roads
- DE 1 (Milford Bypass), US 113, DE 14, DE 36
Permits and rules in Milford.
Inside city limits, permits come from the City of Milford Planning Department’s Building Inspections & Permitting Division at 180 Vickers Drive (302-424-8396, option 3 for inspections, option 6 for zoning). The division administers Chapter 88 of the City Code and the ICC codes, enforcing the 2018 IBC and IRC, and Kent County lists Milford as a city where no county permit is required. The general contractor must confirm that it and every subcontractor are licensed to work in the City, and no permit is issued while the owner is delinquent on City taxes or utilities or has open code violations.
A garage, shed or other accessory-building permit needs construction drawings, a truss package if the design uses one, a survey or plot plan, and HOA approval where an HOA exists. Inspections follow in order: footer, pre-slab, as-built where needed, framing, insulation and final. We line the drawings and the schedule up with that list so each inspection has what it needs.
Who issues the permit
City of Milford Planning Department, Building Inspections & Permitting Division
- Address
- Public Works Facility, 180 Vickers Drive, Milford, DE 19963
- Phone
- (302) 424-8396 (option 3 inspections, option 6 zoning)
- Website
- Permit information(opens in a new tab)
Where this comes from
Permit details checked October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the current requirements for your parcel before anything is drawn.
What people build around Milford.
Milford’s accessory rules are about fit: at least 5 ft from property lines and from the house, nothing in a utility easement, and all accessory buildings together covering no more than 30% of the rear and side yard area, with sheds and gazebos anchored. Within those limits, a detached garage or workshop suits an in-town lot. Beyond city limits, the farm community that made Milford a hub has use for equipment buildings, hay storage and horse barns.
Milford questions.
Have a question about your property? Call 302-399-4420 and we’ll look it up.
I live on the Sussex side of Milford. Do I need a Sussex County permit too?
Possibly. The City issues the building permit inside city limits on both sides, but its accessory-building guideline tells Sussex-side applicants to contact Sussex County (302-855-7860) to find out whether a county permit is also necessary. The guideline lists no matching step for the Kent side.
How far is Milford from your office?
Milford is about 21 miles south of our office at 575 N Dupont Hwy in Dover, a 31-minute drive. We work on both sides of the county line, inside the city and on the farmland around it.
My subdivision has an HOA. Does Milford need its approval?
Yes. Milford’s accessory-building permit asks for any HOA approval along with the drawings, so the HOA’s sign-off has to come before the City’s. We prepare the drawings early enough for the HOA to review them first.
Let’s plan your building in Milford.
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
- Milford and all of Kent County