Are Rental Application Fees Legal in Delaware?
What Delaware lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
greater of $50 or 10% of monthly rent — An application fee may not exceed the GREATER of $50 or 10% of the monthly rent — so for a $1,500/mo unit the cap is $150, not $50. Charging more than the cap entitles the tenant to damages of double the application fee.
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup, and in Delaware that overage is refundable or unlawful.
| Cap type | Hard cap — % of rent or $ floor |
|---|---|
| The legal line | greater of $50 or 10% of monthly rent |
| Refund rights | If the landlord charges more than the greater of $50 or 10% of monthly rent, the tenant is entitled to double the amount charged as damages (25 Del. C. § 5514(d)). |
| Receipt required | Not specified |
| Reusable screening report | Not specified |
| Statute | 25 Del. C. § 5514(d) |
Check your Delaware application fee
We'll compare it to the law and the real cost of screening.
How Delaware compares
See every state's cap, the real cost of screening, and the markup landlords add — the full picture in one place.
Laws verified as of July 12, 2026. Informational only, not legal advice — verify 25 Del. C. § 5514(d) and current screening costs before acting.