I-1 · Institutional District
I-1 zoning in Sussex County, Delaware
I-1 is the Institutional District for public, quasi-public and institutional land such as schools, hospitals, places of worship and government facilities. The article states no minimum lot area, only 75 feet of width and 100 feet of depth. Front yards are 60 feet, and height is capped at 42 feet.
Purpose
The district recognizes the "public, quasi-public, and institutional nature of particular parcels of land" and keeps those uses compatible with surrounding districts. § 115-83.39
Permitted uses
Permitted uses include restaurants up to 7,500 square feet, biotech campuses and industry, public and private schools, child care, social service establishments, places of worship, community centers, museums, hospitals, clinics, care facilities, government and public safety facilities, utilities, communication towers, parks, cemeteries, funeral homes, veterinary clinics, technology centers and vendor stands. § 115-83.40
Conditional or special uses
The article lists special use exceptions from the Board of Adjustment: parking and loading relief and temporary permits for manufactured-home-type structures. § 115-83.42
Lot and building rules
| Rule | Requirement | Code section |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum lot area | Not specified in the district article | § 115-83.44A |
| Minimum lot width | 75 ft; 150 ft where the lot fronts a numbered road on the 1964 General Highway Map, as revised | § 115-83.44A |
| Minimum lot depth | 100 ft | § 115-83.44A |
| Lot area without central sewer | 3/4 acre where the lot is not on central sewer or lies in a sewer planning area approved by County Council | § 115-83.44A |
| Yards | Front 60 ft, side 10 ft, rear 10 ft | § 115-83.44B |
| Yards next to a residential district | Side yard at least 20 ft and rear yard at least 30 ft | § 115-83.44B(2) |
| Maximum floor area | Not specified in the district article | § 115-83.44C |
| Maximum height | 42 ft | § 115-83.44D |
Each value links to the Article XIF page on eCode360. Where the code shows a front yard as 40 (30), this page reports the code's own notation. The explanatory district table (Table I, § 115-156A) is a PDF attachment that this summary did not read, so ask Planning and Zoning what the 30 figure means for your lot. Lot-size figures assume the standard option unless a row says otherwise.
What this means for a parcel owner
I-1 applies to parcels the county recognizes as public or institutional, such as school or church campuses. There is no lot-area minimum, but width, depth and the large yards still apply. Land next to residential property needs the larger side and rear yards.
Official text
Read the district's own article: Article XIF, §§ 115-83.39 to 115-83.45, Sussex County Code Chapter 115 on eCode360. The county zoning map shows which district a parcel is in: Sussex County online map.
Summary as of 2026-10-24; the code controls.