Bethany Beach · Land use
Bethany Beach, Delaware: land use, zoning and development
Bethany Beach has 2,233 tax parcels on 611 mapped acres. 11 Sussex County land-use cases in the SussexCounty.ai docket list Bethany Beach as their area, as of 2026-10-24.
Most recent land-use applications listing Bethany Beach
| Case | Type | Applied | Status entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13239 | Variance | 2026-10-09 | Pending |
| S-26-49 | Site Plan | 2026-09-04 | Pending |
| S-26-27 | Site Plan | 2026-04-20 | Approved |
| 13175 | Variance | 2026-02-11 | Withdrawn |
| 13174 | Variance | 2026-02-09 | Withdrawn |
| 13173 | Variance | 2026-02-06 | Withdrawn |
| 13143 | Variance | 2025-10-10 | Approved |
| CU 2602 | Conditional Use | 2025-07-30 | Approved with conditions |
Applicant names are available to SussexCounty.ai Pro subscribers. Full records are on the Sussex County land use docket.
More about Bethany Beach
Questions about land use in Bethany Beach
How many tax parcels are in Bethany Beach?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 2,233 tax parcels in Bethany Beach, covering 611.2 mapped acres. The median parcel is 0.166 acres. Source: Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records.
What share of Sussex County parcels are in Bethany Beach?
Bethany Beach holds 1.4% of the 164,169 tax parcels SussexCounty.ai counts countywide. Source: Parcels by jurisdiction.
How many Sussex County land-use cases list Bethany Beach as their area?
11 of the 610 cases in the SussexCounty.ai compiled docket list Bethany Beach as their area. The area is the locality name in the county record; it does not by itself mean the property is inside town limits. Source: SussexCounty.ai land-use docket, compiled from the Sussex County public docket.
What kinds of land-use cases are filed near Bethany Beach?
By application type: 7 variance, fewer than 5 site plan, fewer than 5 variance / special use exception, fewer than 5 conditional use. Source: Planning docket statistics.
How many Bethany Beach-area land-use cases were approved?
5 have an approval among their status entries, fewer than 5 are pending, fewer than 5 were denied and fewer than 5 were withdrawn, per the compiled record as of 2026-10-24. Source: SussexCounty.ai land-use docket.
How many land-use applications near Bethany Beach were filed each year?
By application date: 5 in 2025, 6 in 2026 (through 2026-10-24). Source: SussexCounty.ai land-use docket.
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 for any local requirements. Look up a parcel's permits by PIN on the SussexCounty.ai permits page.
Town government and zoning
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.
Does Bethany Beach have its own police department?
Yes. The Bethany Beach Police Department non-emergency line is (302) 539-1000. The town also has a Police Accountability Committee that reports to Council. Source: townofbethanybeach.com, townofbethanybeach.com.
What is the Bethany Beach property tax rate?
The town FAQ states: "The current rate is $0.196 per $100 of assessed value." A transfer tax is not covered in the FAQ. Source: townofbethanybeach.com.
What happened with Bethany Beach beach access after the fall 2026 nor'easter?
On October 9, 2026 Coastal Point reported DNREC had restored usable beach access at crossovers where sand was available and was working with the town on further repairs. On October 1, 2026 the governor toured storm-damaged areas. (Reported 2026-10-09.) Source: coastalpoint.com.
Was there a Bethany Beach council election in 2026?
No. Coastal Point reported on August 4, 2026 that the September 12 election was canceled because the four incumbents were the only candidates to file. (Reported 2026-08-04.) Source: coastalpoint.com.
What road project did Bethany Beach complete in 2026?
On July 2, 2026 Coastal Point reported the town defended new median safety islands on Route 26 that replaced a crosswalk, despite objections from nearby businesses. (Reported 2026-07-02.) Source: coastalpoint.com.
Related
Sussex County zoning districts · Glossary · Planning docket statistics · Parcels by jurisdiction