Delaware’s Environmental Permitting Process - DNREC Divisions Office of the Secretary Div. of Climate, Coastal and Energy Div. of Air Quality Div. of Water Div. of Waste and Hazardous Substances Div. of Fish and Wildlife Div. of Parks and Recreation Div. of Watershed Stewardship About DNREC DNREC Divisions Boards and Councils Vision and Mission Delaware Coastal Cleanup Environmental Justice at DNREC Civil Rights and DNREC Work for DNREC! Internships with DNREC Natural Resources Police Topics of Interest Open Data Online Apps E-Mail Lists Coastal Zone Act Admin. Law Regulatory Development Regulations Environmental Permitting DNREC Permit Fees Secretary’s Orders Public Notices Public Meetings Public Hearings Environmental Appeals Board Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board FOIA Requests DNREC News Newsroom Meetings and Events Outdoor Delaware Brand and Logo Social Media Digital Newsletter Be the First to Know DNREC Menu Listen Admin. Law Administrative Law Section Permitting & Regulation DNREC Regulations Regulatory Development Environmental Permitting DNREC Permit Fees DNREC Public Notices DNREC Calendar All Meetings and Events Public Meetings Education and Outreach Outdoor Recreation Public Hearings DNREC Public Hearings Public Comment Rules and Restrictions Public Hearing Comment Registration Public Hearing Comment Form Secretary’s Orders Regulatory Orders Permitting Orders Enforcement Orders Civil Rights and DNREC Environmental Appeals Board Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board DNREC FOIA Requests The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is an executive state agency with the responsibility to protect both the environment of Delaware and the health of our residents. When certain types of commercial or industrial facilities want to open or change their operations in Delaware, they must obtain a permit (or permits) from DNREC for potentially polluting activities. This guide to the Delaware’s environmental permitting process is also available as a printable, sharable document in English en español and an Kreyòl Ayisyen Facilities submit permit applications to DNREC and they are reviewed by subject-matter experts to determine whether the proposal may be permitted under state or federal laws and regulations. The laws and regulations are meant to ensure that both public health and the environment are protected. DNREC does not advocate for or against any permit. The DNREC Secretary makes the final decision as to whether a permit will be granted. The Secretary relies on information submitted with the permit application, reviews of the application performed by DNREC’s subject-matter experts, and comments received from the public during the permit process. It is important for DNREC to hear opinions from neighbors of a proposed activity, and other members of the public. These opinions can be in support of the project or opposed to the project. You Can Be Part of the Process Information About Permit Applications DNREC Public Notices DNREC publishes legal notices in Delaware newspapers and online to make the public aware of applications, permitting matters and other actions taken by the Department. Application materials are posted online; some are also available for review by appointment. DNREC Meetings Once a permit application has been reviewed and determined to be complete, the application is publicly noticed. At this time, DNREC may choose to hold a Community Information Session offering members of the public the opportunity to ask questions regarding the application before submitting comments. At a Community Information Session, DNREC may provide information and questions may be asked about information contained in the permit application. Nothing in a Community Information Session is part of the official record for the permit application. Such meetings are posted on the State’s Public Meeting Calendar and on the DNREC Calendar of Events If Needed, Public Hearings DNREC Public Hearings Public Comment Protocols Public Comment Registration For some permit applications, a Public Hearing may be held to allow the public to hear the details of specific permitting matters and to submit comments. If a resident wants to request a public hearing, they should contact the Department to make an official request for a public hearing. The request must be made in the time frame specified in the public notice and must contain a reasoned statement of the permit’s probable impact. If a hearing is not requested, the permit can be issued without a hearing. A formal Public Hearing differs from a Community Information Session; DNREC staff cannot answer questions at a hearing, and the applicant does not engage in discussion with the public at the hearing. Those who want to offer comments during the hearing must pre-register. Find information on DNREC Public Hearings Public Comment Protocols , and Public Comment Registration Following the Public Hearing, written public comments are accepted for at least 15 days. This length of time may be extended further, should circumstances require. This time allows people to submit comments based upon what they learn at the hearing. All relevant public comments, whether verbal in the Public Hearing or in writing before or after the hearing, have the same weight and will be considered equally by the Secretary. As of Feb. 1, 2026, comments submitted by individual members of the public will be posted for public view on the relevant public hearing page using only the commenter’s first name, last name initial and the comment text . All other personal information will be redacted. Comments submitted on behalf of an organization will be posted as received with all contact information visible. Review and Decision DNREC Secretary’s Orders After the close of the public comment period, DNREC subject-matter experts review the comments and provide technical responses to those comments in a Technical Response Memorandum. This document is provided to the Hearing Officer, who makes a recommendation to the Secretary based on the complete Hearing Record. After review of the entire Hearing Record, the DNREC Secretary makes a decision whether to approve or deny the permit. This decision, and the reasons for it, is formally announced through a Secretary’s Order published on the DNREC website . If the permit is issued, the Order may include special conditions or restrictions needed to protect public health and the environment. A Transparent Process Each Public Hearing has its own web page , found at de.gov/dnrechearings , that includes the full hearing record ⁠— the application, the hearing transcript, exhibits, all public comments, the Technical Response Memo, the Hearing Officer’s Report, and the Secretary’s Order. Many issued permits may also be posted online, by the permitting programs, or are available for in-person public review. A transparent process, the sharing of information and taking public comment , is fundamental to DNREC’s permit process, and DNREC is taking new steps to help Delawareans take part in determining how Delaware’s environmental laws and regulations affect them. Disclaimer: This document is intended to provide information regarding the DNREC permit process and does not capture all aspects of it or create any legal obligations. The legal requirements for the DNREC permit process can be found in Delaware’s state laws and regulations. Related Topics: permitting and regulation public comment public hearings public notice regulations Office of the Secretary Division of Air Quality Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances Division of Water Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy Division of Fish and Wildlife Division of Parks and Recreation Division of Watershed Stewardship DNREC Newsroom Public Meetings Public Notices DNREC Regulations Environmental Justice Non-Discrimination Notice DNREC Open Data FOIA Requests DNREC Divisions About DNREC Work for DNREC! 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