State laws / Delaware
Delaware tax sales: liens, deeds, rates & redemption
Quick answerDelaware sells redeemable tax deeds for unpaid property taxes. Lien buyers can earn 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). 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) Sales: 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 Governing law: 9 Del. C. Chapter 87 (§§ 8701 et seq., Collection of Delinquent Taxes), esp. §§ 8729, 8776.
Where to bid: 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
| What is sold | Redeemable tax deeds |
|---|---|
| Interest / penalty | 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) |
| Redemption period | 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) |
| When sales happen | 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 |
| Governing law | 9 Del. C. Chapter 87 (§§ 8701 et seq., Collection of Delinquent Taxes), esp. §§ 8729, 8776 |
| Investor notes | 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. |
Sources
- http://delcode.delaware.gov/title9/c087/sc04/index.shtml
- https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-9-counties/de-code-sect-9-8776/
- https://deedwindow.com/
- https://www.newcastlede.gov/172/Sheriff-Sales
- https://legalclarity.org/delaware-tax-lien-sales-process-and-buyer-responsibilities/
Law verified 2026-10-30 against the sources above. Confirm current details with the county tax collector / clerk before bidding — counties can change dates and procedures.