Sussex County adopts first in series of land use reform ordinances

Georgetown, Del., June 9, 2026: Sussex County is taking several small steps that officials hope will represent one giant leap forward when it comes to southern Delaware's future.

County Council, at its regular meeting Tuesday, June 9, 2026, adopted the first in a series of ordinances aimed at addressing the pace and intensity of residential development in the county.

Two ordinances - one revamps the Sussex County Rental Program to entice more developer participation, the other makes technical changes in County code - are an outgrowth of 20 recommendations by the County's Land Use Reform Working Group, a Council-appointed panel comprising an array of stakeholders that came together in 2025 to formulate possible solutions. Those included channeling growth to designated areas through zoning reform, increasing housing diversity and affordability, strengthening resource protections in rural and environmentally sensitive areas, and improving planning transparency and predictability.

This spring, Council began the process of converting some of the easier recommendations into actionable plans. Staff drafted the first in a series of ordinances for Council's consideration, focusing on priorities such as affordable housing, design standards, and density allowances. This comes as the County embarks on its State-mandated update of the overall comprehensive plan, a sort of development vision for the next 30 years, which must be adopted by 2028.

"The County has heard the public's concerns, especially when it comes to affordable housing, loud and clear," Council President Douglas B. Hudson said. "Hopefully, these are just the first of many changes, big and small, that will lead to tangible results and a better Sussex County."

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