LI-2 · Light Industrial District
LI-2 zoning in Sussex County, Delaware
LI-2 is the Light Industrial District for light manufacturing, fabricating, processing, wholesale distribution and warehousing near major roads or railroads. Lots need 1 acre (43,560 square feet), 150 feet of width and 200 feet of depth. Yards are 50 feet in front and 20 feet at sides and rear, and height is capped at 52 feet.
Purpose
The district is for a broad mix of light manufacturing, fabricating, processing, wholesale distribution and warehousing near major thoroughfares or railroads. Commercial uses and open storage are allowed, but new residential development is excluded. § 115-101
Permitted uses
A long list covers business and office uses from any commercial district, service industries, laboratories, contractors' shops, farms and animal uses, vehicle and boat repair and assembly, truck terminals, food and beverage processing, pharmaceuticals, metal products and machine shops, electronics, textiles, wood products, building material sales, printing, broadcasting, rail yards, theaters, cannabis facilities and manufactured home manufacturing. The Commission may approve a similar unlisted use. § 115-102
Conditional or special uses
Conditional uses need Article XXIV approval: airports and heliports, bus terminals, borrow pit and excavation operations, public or governmental buildings and public utility uses. The Board of Adjustment grants special use exceptions for temporary uses and parking relief. §§ 115-104, 115-105
Lot and building rules
| Rule | Requirement | Code section |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum lot area | 43,560 sq ft (1 acre) | § 115-107A |
| Minimum lot width | 150 ft | § 115-107A |
| Minimum lot depth | 200 ft | § 115-107A |
| Yards | Front 50 ft, side 20 ft, rear 20 ft | § 115-107B |
| Maximum height | 52 ft | § 115-107C |
Each value links to the Article XIV 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
LI-2 is the workhorse industrial district: it allows open storage and a wide use list. A one-acre minimum with 150 feet of width keeps tiny lots out. Because it excludes new housing, a residential plan on LI-2 land would need a rezoning.
Official text
Read the district's own article: Article XIV, §§ 115-101 to 115-108, 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.