Sussex County, Delaware
Bethany Beach, Delaware
Bethany Beach is an incorporated municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The 2020 Census counted 954 residents. Sussex County lists Bethany Beach among its 25 municipalities, and the town's official website is linked below. SussexCounty.ai is an independent site and is not the county government.
Key facts
- Type
- Incorporated municipality
- County
- Sussex County, Delaware
- 2020 population
- 954 (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- http://www.townofbethanybeach.com/
- Current officials
- See the town website
Ask SussexCounty.ai
Look up Sussex County building permits by PIN on the permits page. Official records are kept by Sussex County at sussexcountyde.gov.
Go deeper on Bethany Beach
- Land use and zoning (17 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (13 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (19 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (22 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 2,233 tax parcels in Bethany Beach, covering 611.2 mapped acres (median parcel 0.166 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Bethany Beach, see Bethany Beach on The Sussex Ledger. The Sussex Ledger is a publication of The Conscient Group LLC, which also publishes SussexCounty.ai.
Terms used in Sussex County property records
Tax map parcel number, zoning district, building permit, FEMA flood zone and realty transfer tax. See the full Sussex County glossary, official sources and weather and hazard sources.
Questions about Bethany Beach
The basics
Is Bethany Beach a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Bethany Beach is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Bethany Beach town, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Bethany Beach, Delaware in?
Bethany Beach is in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Bethany Beach in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 954 residents in Bethany Beach (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Bethany Beach?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 2,233 tax parcels in Bethany Beach (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Bethany Beach?
Sussex County issues building permits countywide, including inside municipalities, per the county building permits page. Check with the town as well for any town requirements.
Government, zoning and services
Where is Bethany Beach Town Hall?
Town Hall is at 214 Garfield Parkway, P.O. Box 109, Bethany Beach, DE 19930, phone 302-539-8011. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.
When does Bethany Beach Town Council meet?
Council holds regular meetings on Fridays; the January 16, 2026 regular meeting was at 2:00 p.m. in the Town Meeting Room at 214 Garfield Parkway and streamed on the town website and YouTube. Check the agenda center for the current date. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.
Does Bethany Beach have its own zoning code?
Yes. The Town Code and Charter are on ecode360 (ecode360.com/BE1351), linked from the town website. The town also has a Board of Adjustment and a Planning Commission. Source: townofbethanybeach.com, ecode360.com.
Who provides water in Bethany Beach?
The Town of Bethany Beach Water Department supplies water and mails semi-annual usage bills. The town FAQ does not name a sewer provider. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.
Who collects trash in Bethany Beach?
The town FAQ does not name a hauler. Pickup dates are set by Public Works and listed on the town Trash Collection Schedule page; special collections are scheduled through Town Hall at (302) 539-8011. Source: townofbethanybeach.com, townofbethanybeach.com.
History and lore
When was Bethany Beach founded and incorporated?
The town marks its founding in 1901, when the Disciples of Christ laid out a seaside resort on the site. Bethany Beach was incorporated in 1909. Source: townofbethanybeach.com, archives.delaware.gov, charters.delaware.gov.
How did Bethany Beach get its name?
Bethany Beach was named by H. L. Atkinson, who won a nationwide contest to name the new resort and received a beach lot as his prize. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.
What is Bethany Beach known for?
Bethany Beach is one of Delaware's "Quiet Resorts," a group that also includes South Bethany and Fenwick Island. Source: fenwickisland.delaware.gov.
What historic sites are in or near Bethany Beach?
The Dinker-Irvin House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. The register also lists the Indian River Life Saving Service Station (1976) and the Wilgus Site (1978) in the Bethany Beach area. Source: history.delaware.gov, npgallery.nps.gov, npgallery.nps.gov.
What major events shaped Bethany Beach's history?
The resort's first building, a tabernacle, was dedicated in July 1901. The town repaired damage from the 1944 hurricane, grew after the Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened in 1952, and lost buildings in the Storm of 1962. Source: history.delaware.gov, archives.delaware.gov, townofbethanybeach.com.
Events, holidays and occasions
What annual events happen in Bethany Beach?
Southern Delaware Tourism lists the Fire and Ice Festival (winter), the Ocean to Bay Bike Tour (April), the Poseidon Festival (May), the Seaside Craft Show (June), and the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral and Boardwalk Arts Festival (September). Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
When is the Fire and Ice Festival?
It is held in late January or early February, led by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce. The 2026 festival ran January 30 to February 1 and was the ninth annual, with ice sculptures in Bethany Beach, Ocean View, Millville and Frankford. No 2027 dates were found. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov.
Does Bethany Beach have a Fourth of July parade and fireworks?
Yes. Recent listings show a hometown parade at noon, a bandstand concert in the evening, and fireworks afterward (about 9:30 p.m. in 2025). Fireworks depend on beach conditions. Source: bestofbethany.com, wdel.com.
Is there a farmers market in Bethany Beach?
The Bethany Beach Farmers Market meets Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon, May 31 to September 6 in 2026. A separate market at Sea Colony meets Wednesdays 8 a.m. to noon, June 3 to September 2, 2026. Source: agriculture.delaware.gov.
When is the Bethany Beach holiday tree lighting?
The town holds its tree lighting in early December as part of Holiday Happenings. In 2025 it took place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 6. Source: coastalpoint.com, visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Weather, geography and hazards
What is the climate like in Bethany Beach, Delaware?
Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals from the Lewes station, the nearest of the stations we use, the average January low is 30.2 degrees F and the average July high is 87.7 degrees F. Annual precipitation averages 47.28 inches. The station is not inside Bethany Beach, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Bethany Beach get per year?
The 1991 to 2020 normal for the Lewes station, the nearest station we use, is 10.5 inches of snow a year. Individual winters vary a lot around that average. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
Is Bethany Beach in a flood zone?
Part of Bethany Beach may sit in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, and the answer depends on the address, so we do not give a town-wide yes or no. The USGS elevation at the town's Census center point is only about 6 feet, which is low ground. Look up a specific property in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the DNREC Delaware Flood Planning Tool. Source: msc.fema.gov, floodplanning.dnrec.delaware.gov, epqs.nationalmap.gov.
Is Bethany Beach in a hurricane evacuation zone?
Delaware labels hurricane evacuation zones A, B, C and D, and describes them as low-lying areas susceptible to flooding and storm surge. The state page does not list communities by zone, so we cannot say which zone Bethany Beach or a given address falls in. Use the Know Your Zone lookup tool or interactive map to check an address. Source: preparede.org, dema.delaware.gov.
What body of water is Bethany Beach on?
Bethany Beach is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. The Bethany Beach Improvement Company dug the Loop Canal, at the foot of First Street, in 1910. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.
Schools, parks and getting around
What school district serves Bethany Beach?
Bethany Beach is in the Indian River School District. Source: irsd.net.
What ZIP code covers Bethany Beach?
Bethany Beach uses ZIP code 19930. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.
Is there a public library in Bethany Beach?
Yes. South Coastal Library is at 43 Kent Avenue in Bethany Beach. Source: sussexcounty.lib.de.us, lib.de.us.
What parks or outdoor areas are in or near Bethany Beach?
Delaware Seashore State Park lies north of the town. Fenwick Island State Park is to the south and has three miles of ocean beach, with lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Source: destateparks.com.
Is there public transit in Bethany Beach?
In summer, DART First State Route 208 runs between the Lewes Transit Center and Ocean City, Maryland, with stops in Bethany Beach including on Garfield Parkway. The town also runs the Bethany Beach Trolley from the Friday before Memorial Day through mid-September. Source: dartfirststate.com, townofbethanybeach.com.