Lewes · Land use
Lewes, Delaware: land use, zoning and development
Lewes has 3,134 tax parcels on 2,084 mapped acres. 55 Sussex County land-use cases in the SussexCounty.ai docket list Lewes as their area, as of 2026-10-24.
Most recent land-use applications listing Lewes
| Case | Type | Applied | Status entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13238 | Variance / Special Use Exception | 2026-10-02 | Pending |
| S-26-40 | Site Plan | 2026-09-23 | Approved, Pending |
| S-26-46 | Site Plan | 2026-09-04 | Pending |
| 13232 | Variance / Special Use Exception | 2026-09-01 | Pending |
| 2026-10 | Major Subdivision | 2026-08-21 | Pending |
| 2026-08 | Major Subdivision | 2026-07-09 | Pending |
| 13217 | Variance | 2026-06-18 | Pending, Withdrawn |
| 13215 | Special Use Exception | 2026-06-08 | Approved, Pending |
Applicant names are available to SussexCounty.ai Pro subscribers. Full records are on the Sussex County land use docket.
More about Lewes
Questions about land use in Lewes
How many tax parcels are in Lewes?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 3,134 tax parcels in Lewes, covering 2,083.5 mapped acres. The median parcel is 0.197 acres. Source: Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records.
What share of Sussex County parcels are in Lewes?
Lewes holds 1.9% of the 164,169 tax parcels SussexCounty.ai counts countywide. Source: Parcels by jurisdiction.
How many Sussex County land-use cases list Lewes as their area?
55 of the 610 cases in the SussexCounty.ai compiled docket list Lewes 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 Lewes?
By application type: 14 variance, 13 site plan, 10 minor subdivision, 6 conditional use, 6 change of zone, fewer than 5 major subdivision, fewer than 5 variance / special use exception, fewer than 5 special use exception. Source: Planning docket statistics.
How many Lewes-area land-use cases were approved?
32 have an approval among their status entries, 16 are pending, fewer than 5 were denied and 5 were withdrawn, per the compiled record as of 2026-10-24. Source: SussexCounty.ai land-use docket.
How many land-use applications near Lewes were filed each year?
By application date: 33 in 2025, 22 in 2026 (through 2026-10-24). Source: SussexCounty.ai land-use docket.
Who issues building permits in Lewes?
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 Lewes City Hall?
City Hall is at 114 E. Third Street, P.O. Box 227, Lewes, DE 19958, phone 302-645-7777. Source: ci.lewes.de.us.
When does Lewes Mayor and City Council meet?
The city site says: "The Mayor and City Council meets regularly at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of every month," in Council Chambers at City Hall. Source: ci.lewes.de.us.
When does the Lewes Planning Commission meet?
Monthly on the third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Rollins Community Center, 101 Adams Ave., unless noted. It reviews land development, subdivisions, Zoning Ordinance changes and Comprehensive Plan updates. Source: ci.lewes.de.us.
Does Lewes have its own zoning rules?
Yes. Lewes has its own Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment, and the Planning Commission reviews changes to the city Zoning Ordinance. Source: ci.lewes.de.us, ci.lewes.de.us.
Who provides utilities in Lewes?
The city site lists the Lewes Board of Public Works (BPW) as a community partner under "BPW / Utilities" with its own site. The city page does not itemize which services BPW provides. Source: ci.lewes.de.us.
Does Lewes have its own police department?
Yes. The Lewes Police Department has 16 state-certified sworn officers and 8 Parking Ambassadors; the non-emergency number is 302-645-6264. Source: ci.lewes.de.us.
What is the Lewes property tax rate?
Rehoboth Beach's budget comparison page states "The Lewes property tax rate is $.285 per 100." Confirm with the City of Lewes finance office. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
What lighting project is Lewes running?
The city homepage says streetlight installation for the Night Sky Pilot Project begins August 3, 2026, as part of an outdoor lighting initiative. (Reported 2026-08-03.) Source: ci.lewes.de.us.
When is Lewes leaf pickup in 2026?
The city runs leaf pickup October 7 through December 4, 2026; leaves must be raked to the curb and residents schedule pickup at 302-645-7777. (Reported 2026-10-07.) Source: ci.lewes.de.us.
Related
Sussex County zoning districts · Glossary · Planning docket statistics · Parcels by jurisdiction