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Office of State Plannning Coordination (OSPC) Logo Office of State Plannning Coordination

Delaware Development Trends

Development Trends Data Collection

The Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination collects building permit and development application approval information annually from each of the state's three counties and 57 municipalities. This data collection started in 2008 as part of the Office's effort to inform local efforts to promote development activity around existing infrastructure and in compliance with comprehensive plans.

This data is unique in that it is collected and reported in a consistent way based on information gathered directly from all statewide jurisdictions that issue building permits and development approvals. The Development Trends Data reflect two indicators of local government activity, development approvals and actual building permits.

Building Permit and Development Application Data

Data are collected by tax parcel, which allows detailed geospatial analysis of development trends using a variety of GIS tools. The full description and detail of Development Trend analysis can be found in OSPC's Annual Report to the Governor which can be accessed on our Publications page.

Looking down from the sky on a housing development.

Access Development Application Data

Development Application Data

Development approval information shows where developers have sought and obtained approvals from local governments to build projects. These data can be used to track where developers are preparing to build in the future. This data is available as a feature services for download from Delaware FirstMap.


Looking down on a construction site from the sky.

Access Building Permit Data

Building Permit Data

The Building permit data indicate where actual land development activity is occurring. Because permit information is actual, rather than speculative, it is a better indicator of actual market demand and development trends. This data is available as a feature services for download from Delaware FirstMap.


Development Trends Dashboard


Looking down on a construction site from the sky.

Development Trends Dashboard 2025

This dashboard utilizes the Building Permit and Development Applications data sets collected by the OSPC since 2008.

This dashboard assists in visualizing building activity in Delaware in relation to the State Strategies Investment Levels. It utilizes the Building Permit and Development Applications data sets collected by the Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination since 2008. The data is collected yearly from each of the 57 jurisdictions and 3 counties.

Building Permit data only includes new residential or commercial structures and the Development Applications data only includes those applications approved by the jurisdiction to move forward.

In addition this dashboard looks at where the development is occurring with relation to the Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending Investment Levels. The State discourages development in Investment Level 4. Level 4 is where state policies will support agriculture, protection of natural and cultural resources, and open-space activities including the promotion of agriculture industry support activities.