Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) A person is guilty of burglary in the first degree when the person knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in an occupied dwelling with intent to commit a crime therein.
(b) A person is guilty of home invasion burglary first degree if the elements of subsection (a) of this section are met and in effecting entry or when in the dwelling or immediate flight therefrom, the person or another participant in the crime engages in the commission of, or attempts to commit, any of the following felonies:
(1) Robbery in the first or second degree;
(2) Assault in the first or second degree;
(3) Murder in the first or second degree;
(4) Manslaughter;
(5) Rape in any degree;
(6) Kidnapping in the first or second degree;
(c) Burglary in the first degree is a class C felony. A person convicted of burglary in the first degree shall receive a minimum sentence of 1 year at Level V.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or Code to the contrary, where a person is convicted of burglary in the first degree pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and who either (1) is armed with explosives or a deadly weapon; or (2) causes physical injury to any person who is not a participant in the crime, burglary in the first degree is a class B felony.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or Code to the contrary, any person convicted of home invasion burglary first degree as defined in subsection (b) of this section, shall receive a minimum sentence of 6 years at Level V.
(f) The sentencing provisions applicable to this section apply to the attempted burglary in the first degree as well as attempted home invasion burglary in the first degree.
(g) It is no defense that the accused did not know that the dwelling was occupied at the time of entry.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Delaware Code Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 826. Burglary in the first degree; class C or B felony - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-11-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/de-code-sect-11-826/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)