RPC · Residential Planned Community District
RPC zoning in Sussex County, Delaware
RPC is the Residential Planned Community District, superimposed on residential zoning for large unified developments. The minimum site is 40 acres in AR, MR and GR districts and 10 acres in HR districts. Single-family lots may shrink to two-thirds of the base size, but not below 7,500 square feet.
Purpose
The district encourages large-scale developments that create a better living environment through unified design, with design flexibility and protection for existing and future development. § 115-118
Permitted uses
Uses, accessory uses and signs allowed in any residential district are permitted, subject to the article. Commercial uses of convenience to residents are allowed up to one acre per 100 dwelling units, and open space is a permitted use. Conditional uses under Article XXIV are also possible. § 115-119
Conditional or special uses
The article refers to conditional uses under Article XXIV and this article but does not list them. The Planning and Zoning Commission reviews the location and character of townhouse, multifamily and commercial parts of a plan. §§ 115-119C, 115-125C
Lot and building rules
| Rule | Requirement | Code section |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum district area, AR, MR and GR | 40 acres | § 115-121A(1) |
| Minimum district area, HR | 10 acres | § 115-121A(2) |
| Minimum district area, single-family detached only | 10 acres | § 115-121A(3) |
| Commercial component | 1 acre per 100 dwelling units | § 115-119B |
| Dwelling units | Net development area divided by the minimum lot area per unit of the underlying district; net area deducts 25% of the remainder or actual street area if less | § 115-126 |
| Single-family lot area and width | At least two-thirds of the base district minimums, never below 7,500 sq ft and 60 ft wide | § 115-127 |
| Lots without central sewer | 3/4 acre minimum | § 115-127 |
| Yards and maximum height | Not specified in the district article; the Commission may require base-district standards near the boundary | § 115-125A |
| Density in units per acre | Not specified in the district article | § 115-126 |
Each value links to the Article XVI 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
RPC is an overlay that a developer applies for, not a district most homeowners choose. If your parcel sits in an RPC, the approved site plan, not the base district, controls lot sizes and layout. Ask Planning and Zoning for the recorded plan and any deed restrictions.
Official text
Read the district's own article: Article XVI, §§ 115-118 to 115-131, 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.