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Delaware tax sales: the season preview

What's actually for sale

Delaware sells redeemable tax deeds. Delaware has no single statewide rule: the monition method (all three counties, court-driven, 100% due at sale in New Castle County) gives only 60 days at a 15% penalty, while the Kent/Sussex direct-sale subchapter gives a full year at 20% — always identify which subchapter a sale is brought under before pricing redemption risk. Wilmington's own city monition process also uses a 60-day redemption.

The rate that decides your return

Depends on the method: monition sales — 15% penalty on the purchase price (9 Del. C. § 8729); direct sales in Kent and Sussex Counties — 20% interest on the purchase money (9 Del. C. § 8776)

The clock you're investing against

Sale schedule: Year-round as scheduled by county — New Castle County monition (sheriff) sales are held monthly, on the second Tuesday of the month; Kent and Sussex sales are scheduled by the county tax collecting authority and returned to Superior Court for approval

Redemption: Depends on the method: monition sales — 60 days from Superior Court approval/confirmation of the sale (§ 8729); direct sales in Kent and Sussex Counties — 1 year from the time of sale, and no deed may be made until that year expires (§ 8776)

Where the sales happen

mostly in-person — county sheriff sales supervised by Superior Court (e.g. New Castle County, City/County Building, Wilmington), municipality/county-specific; no statewide online platform verified. Lists post on the county's schedule, change as owners redeem, and registration typically closes before sale day — the investors who see the list first set the market.

Deep dives: Delaware laws · Delaware investing guide · Delaware sale calendar. Law verified 2026-10-30.