Deck Removal in Georgetown, DE: Permits, 811 and Where the Lumber Goes (2026 Guide)
An old deck usually comes down for one of three reasons: the boards have gone soft, the framing has pulled loose, or you're replacing it with something new. Taking it apart is the easy part. The questions that slow people down come before and after: which permits apply in Georgetown, what you have to mark before pulling posts and footings, and where Sussex County lets you take the lumber. This guide pulls together what Sussex County, the Town of Georgetown and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) publish, so you can plan the job before anyone picks up a pry bar.
If you'd rather have the deck taken down and hauled away, request a free estimate or call or text (443) 365-1942. We're open Monday–Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM, and we handle light demolition such as decks, sheds, garages and interior tear-outs in Georgetown.
Quick answer: DIY or hire it out?
| Situation | DIY is reasonable | Hiring out makes more sense |
|---|---|---|
| Size and height | A small, low deck you can reach from the ground | A tall or multi-level deck, or one with a roof, pergola or hot tub on it |
| How it's attached | Freestanding, with no connection to the house | Attached to the house, where the connection and the siding or door behind it need careful handling |
| Footings | Posts you can pull or cut off after the utility locate is done | Poured footings, or posts set close to a septic system, well, or buried lines |
| The debris | You have a truck and a DSWA scale within reach | No truck, a large pile, or several trips to make |
| Tools and help | You have the tools, a second pair of hands and time | You'd rather not carry old lumber, screws and nails yourself |
Step 1: Check permits before the first board comes off
Both the County and the Town have rules, and they're easy to confuse, so check each one.
- Sussex County. The County building code says no one may remove or demolish a building or structure without first getting a separate building permit from the Building Official (Sussex County Code, Chapter 52). The County also says its building permits apply to all construction activity, whether the property is in a town or in the unincorporated county (Sussex County building permits). Wood decks are on the County's list of projects that need a permit to build (County permitting requirements). What the County needs for taking one down is a question for the Building Permit Office at 2 The Circle, Georgetown, open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, phone (302) 855-7720.
- Town of Georgetown. Inside town limits, the Town's building code says a written permit is required before the construction, alteration, repair, placement, removal or demolition of any building or structure, and that starting work without a needed permit carries a $750 fine (Georgetown Code, Article I: Building Permits). The Town posts a Demolition Application and Demolition Guidelines on its forms page. Town Hall is at 37 The Circle, phone (302) 856-7391.
A Georgetown mailing address isn't always inside the town limits, so find out which side of the line you're on before deciding who to call. If you're replacing the deck, the new one needs its own permit, and the County's own requirements sheet says decks over 30 inches need a drawn plan. Neighborhoods with a homeowners' association may have deed restrictions as well, and the County says it doesn't enforce those.
Step 2: Know what's coming apart
- Deck boards and railings. The easiest layer to remove, but old boards are full of screws and nails, and splintered or rotted boards are heavier and more awkward than they look.
- Framing, joists and beams. These carry the weight of the deck, so the order of work matters: take off the surface before the structure, and don't let anyone stand on a section that has already been cut loose.
- The connection to the house. If the deck is attached, the point where it meets the house also touches siding, flashing and sometimes a door threshold. Removing it can leave holes to patch.
- Posts, footings and stairs. Posts may be buried or set in concrete. Pulling them means digging, which brings up the next step.
- Anything built on it. Lighting, outlets, a hot tub, a pergola or built-in seating have to be disconnected or removed first. Electrical disconnects are a job for a licensed electrician.
When you ask us for an estimate, it helps to know the approximate size, how high it is off the ground, whether it's attached to the house, whether it has stairs or a roof, and how we'd get a truck near it. Photos help.
Step 3: Call 811 before pulling posts or footings
Pulling deck posts or concrete footings is digging. Delaware requires a locate request through Delmarva 811 (dial 811) at least two full working days and no more than ten working days before you dig, and the service is free (Miss Utility Delaware). Doing it early also avoids a surprise if the deck sits over buried lines.
Step 4: Where deck lumber can go in Sussex County
Deck boards, framing, railings and concrete are construction and demolition (C&D) debris. They don't belong in household trash, and DSWA's yard waste category covers grass, leaves, brush and tree limbs, not lumber from a structure.
Not the collection stations
DSWA's collection stations are meant for bagged household trash and recycling and don't take construction and demolition debris. See our Sussex County transfer and collection station guide for what each site takes.
Transfer stations: only if your load qualifies
The Rt. 5 Transfer Station (29997 John P. Healy Drive, Harbeson) and the Milford Transfer Station take C&D from homeowners only when the truck or trailer doesn't display a construction company logo and the load isn't in a dump trailer or a double-axle trailer. If any one of those conditions isn't met, the load is directed to a landfill (DSWA transfer stations).
Jones Crossroads Landfill, right in Georgetown
- Location: 28560 Landfill Lane, Georgetown, DE 19947. Open Monday–Saturday, 7 AM–5 PM. DSWA lists construction and demolition debris among the materials it accepts (DSWA landfills).
- How it works: drive onto the scale, stop at the scale house, follow the weighmaster's directions to the disposal area, weigh out and pay for the difference. Loads must be covered or tarped, and DSWA accepts Delaware waste only.
- Rate: DSWA's fiscal year 2027 fee schedule (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027) lists C&D at $80 per ton with a $7.50 minimum per vehicle (DSWA user fees).
- Special materials: if you're unsure about an item, such as a deck that was built with materials you can't identify, call the Citizens' Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 before loading.
Holiday closings for the rest of 2026 (from DSWA's facility holidays page): all DSWA offices and facilities are closed Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving) and Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day). On Wednesday, November 11 and Friday, November 27 only the administrative offices are closed and the other facilities keep normal hours. Confirm with DSWA before you go, since schedules change.
Planning a replacement deck?
Tearing the old deck out is usually step one of a bigger project. Settle the permit for the new deck at the same time you sort out the removal, because the County says its permits cover work inside towns as well, and the Town of Georgetown has its own application on top of that. If the old deck is coming down because a shed or garage is also on the list, our shed removal guide for Sussex County covers the same permit and debris questions for outbuildings.
What we do
We handle light demolition in Georgetown and nearby Sussex County towns: sheds, decks, garages and interior tear-outs, along with hauling the debris away. Every job starts with a free estimate, and the quote depends on the size, height and access of the structure. Tell us about your deck and we'll take it from there.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to take down a deck in Georgetown, DE?
The Town of Georgetown's code requires a written permit before any building or structure is removed or demolished within town limits, and Sussex County's building code requires a separate building permit to remove or demolish a building or structure. The County Building Permit Office (302-855-7720) and Georgetown Town Hall (302-856-7391) can tell you what applies to your address.
Do I have to call 811 before removing a deck?
If you'll be digging to pull posts or footings, yes. Delaware requires a locate request through Delmarva 811 at least two full working days and no more than ten working days before you dig, and the service is free.
Where can I take old deck lumber in the Georgetown area?
Deck lumber is C&D debris. Jones Crossroads Landfill at 28560 Landfill Lane in Georgetown accepts construction and demolition debris Monday–Saturday, 7 AM–5 PM, paid by weight at the scale house. DSWA's transfer stations take homeowner C&D only if the truck or trailer has no construction company logo and the load isn't in a dump trailer or double-axle trailer.
Can I put deck boards in my regular trash or the yard waste pile?
No. DSWA's collection stations don't accept construction and demolition debris, and its yard waste category covers grass, leaves, brush and tree limbs rather than lumber from a structure.
Does INSTA Junk Removal & Demolition remove decks in Georgetown?
Yes. We take on light demolition in Georgetown and nearby Sussex County towns, including decks, sheds, garages and interior tear-outs, and we haul the debris away. Request a free estimate at /contact#estimate or call or text (443) 365-1942.
How much does deck removal cost?
It depends on the size, height, how the deck is built, access for a truck and how much debris there is, so we quote each job after we hear the details or see photos. The estimate is free.
Permit, utility and disposal details were checked against Sussex County, the Town of Georgetown, Miss Utility of Delmarva and DSWA on November 9, 2026. They can change, so confirm before you start. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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