Sussex County, Delaware
Ocean View, Delaware
Ocean View is an incorporated municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The 2020 Census counted 2,636 residents. Sussex County lists Ocean View 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
- 2,636 (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- https://www.oceanviewde.gov/
- 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 Ocean View
- Land use and zoning (15 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (12 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (18 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (19 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 3,203 tax parcels in Ocean View, covering 1,633.8 mapped acres (median parcel 0.222 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Ocean View, see Ocean View 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 Ocean View
The basics
Is Ocean View a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Ocean View is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Ocean View town, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Ocean View, Delaware in?
Ocean View is in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Ocean View in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 2,636 residents in Ocean View (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Ocean View?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 3,203 tax parcels in Ocean View (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Ocean View?
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 Ocean View Town Hall?
The Administrative Department is at 201 Central Avenue, 2nd Floor, Ocean View, DE 19970, phone 302-539-9797, open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
When does Ocean View Town Council meet?
The FY 2026 schedule lists regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. at the Town Community Center, 32 West Avenue, unless changed. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
Who handles planning and zoning in Ocean View?
The town has its own Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment. Coastal Point reported on September 22, 2026 that P&Z approved a preliminary plan for a drive-through Dunkin' on Route 26. Source: coastalpoint.com.
Does Ocean View have its own police department?
Yes. The Police Department is at 201 Central Avenue, 1st Floor, phone 302-539-1111. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
What is the Ocean View property tax rate?
Coastal Point reported on March 20, 2026 that the rate stays at $0.2578 per $100 of assessed value. Source: coastalpoint.com.
History and lore
When was Ocean View incorporated?
Ocean View was incorporated April 13, 1889, and held its first town council meeting April 20, 1889 with nine elected members. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
How did Ocean View get its name?
The village began as Hall's Store, after a general store opened by W. S. Hall shortly after 1800. After the Civil War it was renamed Ocean View, and the town says residents could see the Atlantic from the second stories of many homes. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
Is there a legend about how Ocean View was named?
The Delaware Public Archives says the village, first called Hall's Store, was renamed Ocean View because the Atlantic, about two miles east, could supposedly be seen from second-floor windows. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
Who first owned the land at Ocean View?
Matthew Scarborough received a 500-acre tract called Middlesex under a grant from Lord Baltimore. The land passed to the Hazzard family and then the Hall family, who founded the town. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
Why is Ocean View called the birthplace of the broiler industry?
In 1923 Cecile Long Steele raised her first flock of broiler-fryer chickens for commercial sale in Ocean View, which the town calls the birthplace of the commercial broiler industry. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
Events, holidays and occasions
What events does Ocean View hold at John West Park?
Ocean View's 2023 community lineup included Fire and Ice (January), Spring Fling (May), a summer concert series (June), movie nights (September), Cops and Goblins (October) and an Old Town Holiday Market (November). Lineups change each year, so check the town calendar. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
When is the Ocean View tree lighting?
The tree lighting is part of the Old Town Holiday Market at John West Park, held on a Saturday around the end of November. In 2025 it was Saturday, November 29, at dusk. Source: coastalpoint.com, oceanviewde.gov.
Is Ocean View part of the Fire and Ice Festival?
Yes. John West Park in Ocean View hosts ice sculptures, and the town is a sponsor of the festival led by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber. The 2026 festival ran January 30 to February 1. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov.
What is Cops and Goblins in Ocean View?
It is an October family Halloween event at John West Park. The town's 2023 lineup listed the eighth annual edition on a Saturday afternoon. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
Where is the nearest Fourth of July parade to Ocean View?
Bethany Beach holds a noon parade on July 4 with a concert and fireworks later that evening, per recent listings. No Ocean View parade was found. Source: bestofbethany.com, wdel.com.
Weather, geography and hazards
What is the climate like in Ocean View, 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 Ocean View, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Ocean View 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 Ocean View in a flood zone?
Part of Ocean View 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 13 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 Ocean View 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 Ocean View 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 Ocean View on?
The 1889 town charter bounded Ocean View by the Assawoman Canal, White's Creek and Route 26. White's Creek is a tributary of Indian River Bay, and the Delaware Public Archives puts the Atlantic about two miles east. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
Schools, parks and getting around
What school district serves Ocean View?
Ocean View is in the Indian River School District. Lord Baltimore Elementary School is listed with an Ocean View address. Source: irsd.net, millville.delaware.gov.
What ZIP code covers Ocean View?
Ocean View town offices use ZIP code 19970. Source: oceanviewde.gov.
What major roads serve Ocean View?
DE 26 (Atlantic Avenue) runs through Ocean View, according to DelDOT's SR 26 project from Clarksville to the Assawoman Canal. Source: deldot.gov.
Is there a public library in Ocean View?
The Sussex County Department of Libraries location list shows no branch in Ocean View. Listed branches in nearby towns include South Coastal Public Library at 43 Kent Avenue in Bethany Beach and Selbyville Public Library. Source: sussexcounty.lib.de.us.
What parks or outdoor areas are in or near Ocean View?
State parks along the Delaware coast include Delaware Seashore State Park and Fenwick Island State Park. Their ocean beaches have lifeguards in summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Source: destateparks.com, destateparks.com.