Sussex County, Delaware
Slaughter Beach, Delaware
Slaughter Beach is an incorporated municipality in Sussex County, Delaware. The 2020 Census counted 218 residents. Sussex County lists Slaughter 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
- 218 (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census)
- Official website
- https://slaughterbeach.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 Slaughter Beach
- Land use and zoning (12 questions)
- People and housing (14 questions)
- History and events (10 questions)
- Schools, services and getting around (18 questions)
- Weather, flooding and hazards (20 questions)
SussexCounty.ai data
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 408 tax parcels in Slaughter Beach, covering 492.8 mapped acres (median parcel 0.244 acres). Source: SussexCounty.ai, Parcels by jurisdiction, compiled from Sussex County GIS parcel records. CC BY 4.0.
Local coverage
For civic coverage of Slaughter Beach, see Slaughter 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 Slaughter Beach
The basics
Is Slaughter Beach a town, a city or a census-designated place?
Slaughter Beach is an incorporated municipality, not a census-designated place. The U.S. Census Bureau lists it as Slaughter Beach town, Delaware, and Sussex County lists it among its cities and towns.
What county is Slaughter Beach, Delaware in?
Slaughter Beach is in Sussex County, Delaware.
What was the population of Slaughter Beach in the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counted 218 residents in Slaughter Beach (U.S. Census Bureau).
How many tax parcels are in Slaughter Beach?
As of 2026-08-09, SussexCounty.ai counts 408 tax parcels in Slaughter Beach (Parcels by jurisdiction).
Who issues building permits in Slaughter 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 Slaughter Beach Town Hall?
The town lists its address as 357 Bay Ave, Slaughter Beach, DE 19963, phone (302) 424-7659. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
When does the Slaughter Beach Town Council meet?
The town site says Town Council meets on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 PM, in the second-floor meeting room of the Slaughter Beach Memorial Fire House. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
Does Slaughter Beach have its own code?
Yes. The town site links a Town Code/Charter page and a Building Department with permit forms, and also points to Sussex County building permits and DNREC reviews. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov, slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
Who collects trash in Slaughter Beach?
Blue Hen handles household trash on Mondays (Tuesday if a federal holiday falls on Monday). Recycling is every other Monday. The town offers one bulk item collection a year after Memorial Day. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
Who will provide sewer in Slaughter Beach?
Sussex County. The town site describes a planned county-owned and operated sewer system; the last project update on the page is dated January 1, 2025, and Town Council must approve it by ordinance before it is built. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
What election news did Slaughter Beach post in 2026?
On June 7, 2026 the town posted that its July 4 election was cancelled because three candidates filed for three open seats. (Reported 2026-06-07.) Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
History and lore
When was Slaughter Beach founded and incorporated?
The town says it was founded in 1681 and incorporated in 1931. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
How did Slaughter Beach get its name?
The town history gives several theories: an early Slaughter Creek, a first postmaster named Slaughter, the spring die-off of stranded horseshoe crabs, or a colorful but unverified story of a cannon fired at a gathering with a Native chief. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
What is the horseshoe crab connection?
On April 12, 2004 the Town Council voted to make Slaughter Beach a sanctuary for horseshoe crabs, and on June 12, 2004 it named the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab the official symbol of the town. Horseshoe crabs return to the beach from about May through August. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov, slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
What was Slaughter Beach like as a resort?
It began as a summer resort for Milford-area residents, with a dance hall, hotels and a boardwalk. As automobiles and roads drew people to Rehoboth, it became a sleepy seasonal fishing village. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
Did PETA ask Slaughter Beach to change its name?
On May 1, 2018 PETA asked Mayor Harry Ward to rename the town "Sanctuary Beach" and said it would contribute to the cost of new signs. This is PETA's own news release. Source: peta.org.
Events, holidays and occasions
What is the Red Knot Festival at Slaughter Beach?
It is a spring festival tied to migrating shorebirds. The town listed the third annual festival for May 16, 2026. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
Does Slaughter Beach hold beach cleanups?
The town posted a September 2024 coastal cleanup with DNREC volunteers. It calls itself a horseshoe crab sanctuary, with spawning in spring. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
Which other shorebird event is nearby?
Southern Delaware Tourism lists the Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival in May under Milton. Source: visitsoutherndelaware.com.
Is Return Day a holiday in Slaughter Beach?
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 Slaughter 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 Slaughter Beach, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Slaughter 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 Slaughter Beach in a flood zone?
Part of Slaughter 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 2 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 Slaughter 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 Slaughter 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 Slaughter Beach on?
Slaughter Beach sits on Delaware Bay, where the Mispillion River and Cedar Creek empty into the bay, per the Delaware Public Archives. Source: archives.delaware.gov.
Schools, parks and getting around
What school district serves Slaughter Beach?
Children of school age in Slaughter Beach attend the Milford School District. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
What major roads serve Slaughter Beach?
Bay Avenue is the main street in town. Town Hall is at 357 Bay Ave., Slaughter Beach, DE 19963. The state beach-area boundary runs along Bay Avenue, Beach Plum Drive, Passwaters Drive and Isaacs Shore Drive. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov, slaughterbeach.delaware.gov.
What parks or outdoor areas are in or near Slaughter Beach?
The town website lists the Milford Neck Wildlife Area, Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge and the Marvel Tract Salt Marsh as bordering the town to the west. Visitors see horseshoe crabs from about May through August and shore birds in April through June and again in September and October. Source: slaughterbeach.delaware.gov, slaughterbeach.delaware.gov, documents.dnrec.delaware.gov.
What hospitals serve Slaughter Beach?
Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus is at 100 Wellness Way in Milford. Hospitals serving the area also include Beebe Healthcare in Lewes (424 Savannah Road). Source: bayhealth.org, beebehealthcare.org.
Is there a public library in Slaughter Beach?
The Sussex County Department of Libraries location list shows no branch in Slaughter Beach. Listed branches in nearby towns include Milton Public Library at 121 Union St.. Source: sussexcounty.lib.de.us.