Deed Transfer Affidavit Process During City Hall Closure

March 24, 2020
Walk-in services, including those for Deed Transfer Affidavits, are currently suspended as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of community spread of the respiratory virus COVID-19. 

If you are purchasing property in the City of Newark and require a Deed Transfer Affidavit, please contact the Planning and Development Department by email planning-dept@newark.de.us or phone (302) 366-7000, and provide the address or parcel ID of the property being purchased, names of all persons who will be listed on the deed, and a phone number where you may be contacted.  Upon receipt of your request, Planning and Development Department staff will respond by phone and/or email with instructions for completion of the process.

Welcome packets will be available for pick-up once municipal offices have reopened or one can be mailed to you upon request.

About Deed Transfer Affidavit

The City Zoning Code requires that all purchasers of property in the City of Newark must visit the Planning and Development Department on the first floor of the Newark Municipal Building and sign a statement called a Deed Transfer Affidavit, sometimes referred to as a Buyer's Affidavit. This statement certifies that the purchaser has been told about the zoning of the property being acquired, zoning of adjacent land, and, if applicable, the location of the 100 year floodplain in relationship to the property.

The affidavit must be signed by at least one person whose name will appear on the property deed. If a purchaser is unable to visit the Planning and Development Department in-person, a power-of-attorney is required for the affidavit to be completed by a third party.

There is no fee for the affidavit and the process takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Planning and Development Department office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Buyer's Packet

Upon completion of the Deed Transfer Affidavit, purchasers are provided with a Buyer’s Packet which contains useful information for those new to the City of Newark, such as refuse and recycling collection schedules, local bus schedules, downtown Newark and bicycling maps, and a community events calendar.