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Free Delaware Rental Application Form - Fill Online, Sign & Download the PDF

This Delaware rental application reflects the state's distinctive Section 5514 rules: an application fee capped at the greater of $50 or 10 percent of the rent, a one-month deposit limit on year-long leases, and a separate pet-deposit cap. Fill it out below with plain-English help on every field, then sign and download your completed PDF free.

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Delaware rental application rules to know

•Application fees are capped at the greater of $50 or 10 percent of one month's rent (25 Del. C. § 5514(d)). The landlord must give you a receipt and keep records for at least 2 years, and charging more than allowed entitles you to double the amount you were charged.
•Security deposits are capped at 1 month's rent on leases of a year or longer (25 Del. C. § 5514(a)). On a month-to-month tenancy there is no cap in the first year, but once you have stayed a year the landlord must credit back anything over one month's rent.
•A landlord may charge a pet deposit of up to 1 month's rent on top of the security deposit, but never for a certified service or support animal for a resident with a disability (25 Del. C. § 5514(i)).
•The landlord has 20 days after the lease ends to return your deposit (25 Del. C. § 5514(e)) with an itemized list of any damages. If they miss that deadline, the law treats it as an admission that no money is owed (§ 5514(f)), and wrongful withholding entitles you to double the amount kept (§ 5514(g)).
•Delaware does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits, but the deposit must be held in an escrow account at a Delaware bank and cannot be mixed with the landlord's own funds (25 Del. C. § 5514(b)).
•Source of income is a protected class (6 Del. C. § 4603), and since January 1, 2026 landlords generally cannot reject you just for using a Section 8 voucher. This voucher protection is set to expire December 31, 2028 unless the legislature renews it.
•Beyond the federal protected classes, Delaware's Fair Housing Act also covers creed, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, source of income, and housing status (6 Del. C. § 4603).
•Delaware has no fair-chance-housing law, so landlords may ask about criminal history, though blanket 'no record' policies can still create Fair Housing Act disparate-impact liability. Separately, the landlord must give you a summary of the Landlord-Tenant Code (25 Del. C. § 5118), and if they fail to, you may plead ignorance of the law as a defense.

Last reviewed 2026-07-15. General information, not legal advice.

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Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in Delaware?

The greater of $50 or 10 percent of one month's rent (25 Del. C. § 5514(d)). So on a $1,500 unit the ceiling is $150, while on a low-rent unit the floor is $50. The landlord must give you a receipt, and if they overcharge you are entitled to double the amount charged.

How big can a security deposit be in Delaware?

One month's rent for any lease of a year or more (25 Del. C. § 5514(a)). Month-to-month tenancies have no first-year cap, but after you have rented for a year the landlord must return anything above one month's rent. A pet deposit of up to another month's rent may be charged separately.

When do I get my security deposit back in Delaware?

Within 20 days of the lease ending (25 Del. C. § 5514(e)), along with an itemized list of any deductions. If the landlord does not send that list on time, the law treats it as agreeing that nothing is owed (§ 5514(f)), and wrongful withholding lets you recover double the amount kept (§ 5514(g)).

Can a Delaware landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher?

Generally no, as of January 1, 2026 source of income covers housing vouchers, so a landlord cannot reject you solely for using Section 8. A landlord may still deny you for other lawful reasons, such as poor rental history. Note this voucher protection is scheduled to expire December 31, 2028 unless renewed.

Can a Delaware landlord charge a pet deposit?

Yes, up to one month's rent in addition to the security deposit (25 Del. C. § 5514(i)). A landlord may not charge a pet deposit for a certified and trained service or support animal for a resident with a disability, since assistance animals are not treated as pets.

Can a Delaware landlord ask about criminal history?

Yes. Delaware has no fair-chance-housing law limiting the question, and criminal record is not a protected class. Even so, a blanket 'no felons' policy can create Fair Housing Act disparate-impact liability, so landlords are safer applying criteria consistently and looking at each applicant individually.

More free landlord & tenant forms

For landlords: the tenant application form and the rental verification form.