31 Del. C. ch. 41 § 4124
Conflict of interest
Operative Text
No officer or employee who has an official duty in connection with the administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be financially interested in the furnishing of labor, materials or appliances for the construction, alteration or maintenance of a building or in making the plans or specifications therefor, unless that person is the owner of such building. No such officer or employee shall engage in any activity which is inconsistent with the public interest and the officer’s official duties.
Section 4124 of Title 31, Delaware Code, Chapter 41 establishes conflict-of-interest rules for government officials and employees who carry out duties under the chapter's building administration and enforcement functions. Specifically, it bars those individuals from holding a financial stake in the supply of labor, materials, or appliances used in building construction, alteration, or maintenance, or in the preparation of related plans or specifications — unless the official is themselves the building's owner. The provision also contains a broader prohibition against any conduct by such officers or employees that conflicts with the public interest or their official responsibilities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Delaware's housing code framework governed by 31 Del. C. ch. 41 § 4124 can take note that this rule is directed at government personnel, not private parties. However, compliant operators generally remain alert to situations where an inspector or enforcement officer may have a financial relationship with contractors or suppliers involved in a property's work, as such a relationship could implicate this provision. Documenting the independence of any government-directed inspections or enforcement actions is a practice consistent with transparent property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 31 Del. C. ch. 41 § 4124, tenants have an interest in knowing that the officials who inspect and enforce building standards are prohibited from having financial ties to the construction or maintenance trades they oversee. If a tenant has reason to believe an enforcement officer holds a conflicting financial interest in work performed on their building, that concern can generally be raised with the relevant Delaware state or local oversight body or a tenant-rights organization. Understanding this provision can also be relevant when evaluating the integrity of any enforcement action — or lack thereof — affecting a tenant's housing conditions.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation