Sussex County, Delaware
Selbyville, Delaware
Selbyville is an incorporated municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The 2020 Census counted 2,878 residents. Sussex County lists Selbyville 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
- 2,878 (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- https://selbyville.delaware.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 Selbyville
- Land use and zoning (16 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (11 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (17 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (19 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 3,027 tax parcels in Selbyville, covering 2,366.5 mapped acres (median parcel 0.237 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Selbyville, see Selbyville 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 Selbyville
The basics
Is Selbyville a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Selbyville is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Selbyville town, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Selbyville, Delaware in?
Selbyville is in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Selbyville in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 2,878 residents in Selbyville (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Selbyville?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 3,027 tax parcels in Selbyville (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Selbyville?
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 Selbyville Town Hall?
The town site gives the meeting place as Town Hall, 1 West Church Street. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov.
When does Selbyville Town Council meet?
The town site says: "Town meetings are held on the first Monday of every month at 6:00PM in the Town Hall." Coastal Point reported some 2026 meetings were rescheduled for quorum reasons. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, coastalpoint.com.
Does Selbyville have its own zoning code?
Yes. The Town Code is on ecode360 (ecode360.com/SE1825), and the town site publishes a Zoning Map and Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, ecode360.com.
Who handles planning and zoning in Selbyville?
The town has its own Planning & Zoning Commission, which met on dates such as September 8, 2026, and the Town Council makes final calls on rezoning and site plans. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, coastalpoint.com.
Who provides water and sewer in Selbyville?
The town. Coastal Point reported on July 17, 2025 that Council approved town water and sewer service for a McCabe Road property with an agreement to annex it later. Source: coastalpoint.com.
History and lore
When was Selbyville founded and incorporated?
Selbyville was founded in January 1778 when five men bought the 250-acre Sandy Branch tract with a gristmill and sawmill. It was incorporated in 1901 as "The Commissioners of the Town of Selbyville." Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
How did Selbyville get its name?
Sampson Selby began marking packages from his country store as "Selby-Ville" in 1842, and the name stuck. The place was earlier called Sandy Branch. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
Why is Selbyville tied to strawberries?
By 1918 Selbyville was the leading strawberry supplier on the East Coast, and strawberries stayed a major part of the economy into the 1930s. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov.
What is Selbyville known for?
The town says chicken processing is a main income source for area residents and farmers, and Mountaire Farms hosts a Thanksgiving for Thousands event each year. Woody's Diner at 38218 Dupont Blvd. has been owned by the Doyle family since 1983, and a state historical marker calls it the oldest operating and best-preserved Silk City diner car in the state. By 1918 Selbyville was the prime East Coast supplier of strawberries. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, archives.delaware.gov.
What famous visitors came to Selbyville?
Eleanor Roosevelt and Richard Nixon were among the visitors to the Selbyville home of John G. Townsend Jr. (governor 1917-1921, U.S. senator 1929-1941). His family donated the 1904 house after his death, and it is now the Selbyville Public Library. Source: archives.delaware.gov, selbyville.delaware.gov.
Events, holidays and occasions
When is Old Timers Day in Selbyville?
Selbyville's Old Timers Day is a June car show and festival on Church Street. The organizer lists the 70th annual event for Saturday, June 12, 2027, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with 100 or more vehicles, music and food. Source: oldtimersdayde.com.
When is the Selbyville Christmas parade?
The parade runs on Church Street at 7 p.m. on a Friday in early December. In 2025 it was Friday, December 5, billed as the 64th annual. Source: coastalpoint.com.
Is Selbyville part of the Fire and Ice Festival?
The town website promotes the festival, which is led by the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce. The 2026 festival ran January 30 to February 1. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, selbyville.delaware.gov.
Where is the nearest farmers market to Selbyville?
The closest listed markets are in Bethany Beach (Sundays) and Fenwick Island (Fridays, June 5 to September 4 in 2026). Source: agriculture.delaware.gov.
Is Return Day a holiday in Selbyville?
Return Day is a Sussex County legal holiday under Delaware Code Title 1, Section 501: the second day after the General Election, after 12:00 noon. It falls on the Thursday after Election Day in even-numbered years, and in 2026 that is November 5. The main celebration is held in Georgetown. Source: delcode.delaware.gov, visitsoutherndelaware.com, dagsboro.delaware.gov.
Weather, geography and hazards
What is the climate like in Selbyville, Delaware?
Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the nearest of the stations we use, the average January low is 28.6 degrees F and the average July high is 87.7 degrees F. Annual precipitation averages 43.88 inches. The station is not inside Selbyville, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Selbyville get per year?
The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Selbyville does not publish snowfall. The nearest station we fetched with a 1991 to 2020 snowfall normal is the Salisbury, Maryland (Wicomico Regional Airport) station, at 8.0 inches a year. Treat that as a regional reference, not a measurement for Selbyville. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
Is Selbyville in a flood zone?
Part of Selbyville 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 about 32 feet. 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 Selbyville 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 Selbyville 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 Selbyville on?
The town's history page says the Sandy Branch tract that became Selbyville was at the head of Saint Martin's River. The Census Bureau lists Selbyville with 3.582 square miles of land and 0.008 square miles of water. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, www2.census.gov.
Schools, parks and getting around
What school district serves Selbyville?
Selbyville is in the Indian River School District. The district office is at 31 Hosier St. in Selbyville, and Selbyville Middle School is in town. Source: irsd.net, explore.education.delaware.gov.
What ZIP code covers Selbyville?
Selbyville uses ZIP code 19975. Source: selbyville.delaware.gov, explore.education.delaware.gov.
Is there a public library in Selbyville?
Yes. Selbyville Public Library is at 11 Main & McCabe St., Selbyville, DE 19975, phone (302) 436-8195. It occupies a house built in 1904 that was once the home of John G. Townsend Jr. Source: sussexcounty.lib.de.us, selbyville.delaware.gov.
What parks or outdoor areas are in or near Selbyville?
Fenwick Island State Park and Holts Landing State Park are in the Delaware Seashore State Park system within the coastal area. Check each park page for distances. Source: destateparks.com, destateparks.com.
What hospitals serve Selbyville?
Hospitals serving the coastal area include Beebe Healthcare, whose main campus is at 424 Savannah Road in Lewes, and Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus at 100 Wellness Way in Milford. Source: beebehealthcare.org, bayhealth.org.