Pole barns and barndominiums in Townsend, Delaware.
Building in Townsend.
Townsend grew up around a railroad station. Once the Delaware Railroad arrived in 1856, the station here became the principal shipping point for the area’s farm products. The Townsend Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1986, counts 216 contributing buildings, and the town counted 2,717 residents in 2020. DE 71 runs along the east side of town, and US 13 is reached by following DE 71 south.
Townsend is an easy 29-minute run from our Dover office, about 19 miles, and it keeps its building decisions local. Town Hall issues the permits, licenses contractors and enforces a zoning code with firm limits on accessory buildings in the residential districts. So we check your zoning district first, then draw the building, price it in an organized quote and file the paperwork.
- County
- New Castle County, Delaware
- Population
- 2,717 (2020 Census)
- ZIP code
- 19734
- From our office
- About 29 minutes (19 miles) by car
- Permits
- Town of Townsend Town Hall
- Main roads
- DE 71, US 13
Permits and rules in Townsend.
No construction can begin in Townsend until the Town issues a building permit. Applications go to Town of Townsend Town Hall, 141 Main Street, (302) 378-8082. The permit lists the required inspections, and the Town issues the Certificate of Occupancy that closes it out. A garage application needs construction plans, a property survey showing every existing and proposed structure (hand-drawn lot lines are not accepted), the contract between you and your builder and HOA or deed-restriction compliance. Electrical work is permitted by the State of Delaware, not the Town.
Every contractor named on the application needs a Town of Townsend Contractor’s License; builders based outside town, like us, complete a Contractor’s License Application. Garages are charged $15 per $1,000 of valuation, figured from ICC building valuation data with a 0.75 local factor, while a shed of 200 square feet or less is a flat $155. Building without a permit can bring a $100 to $500 penalty for a first violation.
Who issues the permit
Town of Townsend Town Hall
- Address
- 141 Main Street, Townsend, DE 19734
- Phone
- (302) 378-8082
- Website
- Permit information(opens in a new tab)
Where this comes from
- townsend.delaware.gov (opens in a new tab)
- townsendde.municipalcodeonline.com (opens in a new tab)
- townsendde.municipalcodeonline.com (opens in a new tab)
- townsendde.municipalcodeonline.com (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 Townsend.
Private garages and detached workshops are permitted accessory uses in Townsend’s R district, and the 12-foot height limit in four of the residential districts favors a wide, low building with a modest roof pitch over a tall barn. Near the 216 contributing buildings of the Historic District, a garage with simple lines and colors that suit the older houses looks at home. Where zoning allows 35 feet, a pole barn with a loft or a camper door becomes possible.
Townsend questions.
Have a question about your property? Call 302-399-4420 and we’ll look it up.
Who issues pole barn permits in Townsend?
The Town of Townsend, through Town Hall at 141 Main Street, (302) 378-8082. The Town reviews the application, lists the required inspections on the permit and issues the Certificate of Occupancy at the end. Electrical permits come from the State of Delaware. We assemble the survey, plans and contract the Town asks for.
How tall can a garage be in Townsend?
It depends on the zoning district. In R, R-1A, R-1 and R-2, accessory structures are limited to 12 feet, with 5-foot rear and side setbacks. The P, R-AA and C districts allow 35 feet, with 10-foot setbacks in R-AA and C and 40-foot rear and 50-foot side setbacks in P. Every accessory building must sit behind the required front yard.
Is Townsend close to your Dover office?
Yes. It is roughly 29 minutes by car, about 19 miles north of our office on North Dupont Highway, which makes Townsend one of the closer New Castle County towns we serve. Site visits and inspections are easy to fit into the schedule.
Let’s plan your building in Townsend.
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
- Townsend and all of New Castle County