Governor Matt Meyer signed an executive order on Thursday to streamline permitting regulations for certain targeted projects.
“For too long, Delawareans have watched essential projects get stuck in red tape that can stretch on for years, driving up costs and stifling progress,” Gov. Meyer said.
As stated in a news release issued by the governor’s office, “Delaware’s permitting and regulatory review processes play a critical role in delivering housing, energy, transportation, broadband, and water infrastructure. In recent years, however, state permitting timelines have often stretched 18–24 months or longer, increasing project costs, discouraging private investment, constraining housing supply, and slowing delivery of essential infrastructure. These delays have placed Delaware at a competitive disadvantage relative to neighboring states with more predictable and coordinated review processes.”
Executive Order 18 is intended to achieve the following goals:
- Accelerate delivery of priority infrastructure—housing, energy, broadband, water/sewer, and mixed-use development—through coordinated and parallel permitting.
- Reduce uncertainty and delays by establishing clear timelines, agency points of contact, accountability mechanisms, and escalation procedures.
- Support smart growth by prioritizing infill, growth-area, and infrastructure-ready development rather than greenfield sprawl.
- Preserve statutory authority and protections, ensuring full compliance with Delaware law.
- Improve transparency and performance tracking through public dashboards, reporting requirements, and measurable metrics.
State House Republican Whip Jeff Spiegelman (R-Townsend, Smyrna, Clayton–in photo), who works in the commercial real estate industry, said he was cautiously optimistic about the announcement.
“House and Senate Republicans, and the state’s business leaders, have consistently advocated for streamlining the permitting process and reducing the regulatory burdens on the business community, which have needlessly delayed projects and placed us at a considerable disadvantage when competing with other states,” he said. “I’ve personally seen Delaware lose job-creation opportunities because of bureaucratic hurdles standing in the way of people willing to invest here.
“I see the governor’s action as a promising first step, but the proof of this initiative will not be in its good intentions but in its successful execution,” Rep. Spiegelman continued. “That’s going to require more than an executive order. While the 14 members of the House Republican Caucus will do whatever we can to facilitate this effort, I urge any businessperson with a project potentially covered by the initiative to reach out to the governor’s office with any concerns they may have.”
