Sussex County, Delaware
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Rehoboth Beach is an incorporated municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The 2020 Census counted 1,108 residents. Sussex County lists Rehoboth 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
- 1,108 (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- https://www.rehobothbeachde.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 Rehoboth Beach
- Land use and zoning (16 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (13 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (16 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (21 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 2,275 tax parcels in Rehoboth Beach, covering 502.2 mapped acres (median parcel 0.118 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Rehoboth Beach, see Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth Beach
The basics
Is Rehoboth Beach a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Rehoboth Beach is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Rehoboth Beach city, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in?
Rehoboth Beach is in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Rehoboth Beach in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 1,108 residents in Rehoboth Beach (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Rehoboth Beach?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 2,275 tax parcels in Rehoboth Beach (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth Beach City Hall?
City Hall is at 229 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, phone 302-227-6181, open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
Who handles planning and zoning in Rehoboth Beach?
The city has a Director of Planning, Zoning, and Development, a Planning Commission established by Chapter 51 of the city code, and a Board of Adjustment that met October 26, 2026. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov, ecode360.com.
Does Rehoboth Beach have its own code?
Yes. The City of Rehoboth Beach Code is published on ecode360 (for example Chapter 51, Planning Commission, at ecode360.com/7147066). Source: ecode360.com.
Who provides water in Rehoboth Beach?
The city. Its budget page says it budgets water and wastewater enterprise funds reflecting "the City's responsibility for providing utility services," and the city is replacing water mains on Sussex Street, Kent Street and Silver Lane this fall. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov, rehobothbeachde.gov.
What is the Rehoboth Beach property tax rate?
The city's budget comparison page states $0.0775 per $100 of property value. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
History and lore
When was Rehoboth Beach founded?
In 1873 Rev. Robert W. Todd of Wilmington and a group of Methodists formed the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association, buying about 414 acres for a seaside camp meeting ground. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
How did Rehoboth Beach get its name?
The camp meeting association's charter was revoked in 1891 and the land became Cape Henlopen City. It was renamed Rehoboth in 1893, from a Hebrew word meaning roughly "broad spaces." Source: archives.delaware.gov, rehobothbeachde.gov.
Why is Rehoboth Beach called the Nation's Summer Capital?
A paved highway from Georgetown linked Rehoboth Beach to Washington, D.C. in 1925, and legislators, diplomats and government workers began vacationing there. That earned it the nickname Nation's Summer Capital. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
How did the railroad help Rehoboth Beach?
The Junction and Breakwater Railroad connected Lewes and Rehoboth Beach in 1878, and passenger service ended in 1928. A paved highway from Georgetown followed in 1925. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
What was Rehoboth Beach's role in World War II?
Civil Air Patrol Coastal Patrol Base Two operated at Rehoboth Beach during World War II, on a small unpaved airfield on Airport Road. Volunteers flew private light aircraft over Atlantic waters looking for German submarines, and flew many missions in 1942 and 1943. It was the second of 21 East Coast submarine-detection bases. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
Events, holidays and occasions
When is the Sea Witch Festival in Rehoboth Beach?
The Sea Witch Halloween and Fiddlers Festival is held in late October and is hosted by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce. The 2026 edition is listed for October 23 to 25, with a parade on Rehoboth Avenue on Saturday at 11 a.m. and a 5K on Sunday. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
Does Rehoboth Beach hold a Fourth of July fireworks show?
Yes. The city lists the Independence Day fireworks over the beach and Boardwalk at about 9:30 p.m., after a bandstand concert at 8 p.m. In 2026 the city listed the show for Sunday, July 5, not July 4, so check the city calendar each year. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
Is there a farmers market in Rehoboth Beach?
The Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market meets Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 2026, running May 5 to October 27, according to the Delaware Department of Agriculture list. Source: agriculture.delaware.gov.
When is the Rehoboth Beach holiday tree lighting?
The city holds a bandstand sing-along and tree lighting in late November, around Thanksgiving weekend. Its 2026 calendar entry shows Friday evening at 6:30 p.m., though the page has conflicting year labels, so confirm with the city. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
What other annual events happen in Rehoboth Beach?
Southern Delaware Tourism lists the Chocolate Festival (spring), Beach Goes Blue and Restaurant Week (June), the Garlic Festival (September), the Jazz Festival (October), and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (November). Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com, visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Weather, geography and hazards
What is the climate like in Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth Beach, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth Beach in a flood zone?
Part of Rehoboth 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 19 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 Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth Beach on?
Rehoboth Beach lies on Delaware's southern Atlantic coast, between Delaware Bay and Rehoboth Bay. Lake Gerar, a freshwater lake with a fishing pier, is within the city. Source: history.delaware.gov, rehobothbeachde.gov.
Schools, parks and getting around
What school district serves Rehoboth Beach?
Rehoboth Beach is served by the Cape Henlopen School District, whose schools are in Rehoboth, Lewes and Milton. The district runs Rehoboth Elementary School and Cape Henlopen High School, which it describes as centrally located on Kings Highway. The district says some elementary boundary lines have changed, so check its boundary map for a specific address. Source: capehenlopenschools.com, capehenlopenschools.com.
What ZIP code covers Rehoboth Beach?
Rehoboth Beach uses ZIP code 19971. City Hall is at 229 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov.
Is there a public library in Rehoboth Beach?
Yes. Rehoboth Beach Public Library is on Rehoboth Ave. The Sussex County list gives 227 Rehoboth Ave. and a second state list gives 226 Rehoboth Ave., so confirm the number with the library. Source: sussexcounty.lib.de.us, lib.de.us.
What parks or outdoor areas are in or near Rehoboth Beach?
City parks include Grove Park, Stockley Park, Deer Park (one acre, at Dover and Kent streets), Martin's Lawn on Christian Street and Teardrop Park at the end of Silver Lane. Lake Gerar Park is a 15-acre park with a freshwater lake and fishing pier. Cape Henlopen State Park, whose Deauville Beach is just north of Rehoboth Beach, has ocean beaches, Fort Miles and trails. Delaware Seashore State Park is about six miles south. Source: rehobothbeachde.gov, rehobothbeachde.gov, destateparks.com.
Is there public transit in Rehoboth Beach?
DART First State Route 201 runs between the Lewes Transit Center and the Rehoboth Park & Ride, with a stop at Rehoboth Avenue at the Boardwalk. Route 215 runs between the Rehoboth Park & Ride and Millsboro. DART lists the Rehoboth Beach Park & Ride, at DE 1 and Shuttle Road, as served year-round by routes 201 and 215, and it runs Beach Bus service on a summer schedule. Source: dartfirststate.com, dartfirststate.com, dartfirststate.com.