Building & Zoning FAQ
All construction including remodeling, repairs, demolition, additions to any building, structure or parcel requires a permit. Interior and exterior projects require permits. In Chapter 71 of the Town Code, "construction activities" are defined as any activity whatsoever relating to construction, including, but not limited to: site preparation, grading and excavation; construction of foundation; construction, fabrication, and placement of any structure upon or within the premises; painting, drywalling, roofing and application of any materials whatsoever to the structure being constructed or placed upon the premises, including installation of plumbing, electrical fixtures and wiring, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment; and any activity whatsoever related to construction, installation, site preparation, landscaping, paving or improvement of the premises.
You may complete the Building Permit Application located on our website, and email to building@townofdeweybeach.com. You may also stop by Town Hall to fill out an application in person. A signed estimate will be required to file your permit application.
Depending on the scope of work, your application may require approval from Sussex County. If so, a letter will be provided to you from the Dewey Beach Building Official to present to the County Building Permit Office in Georgetown.
The building permit fee is 3% of the total cost of the job, including labor and materials. If your proposed cost is $15,000 or more, you must also pay a $150 application fee.
1. You'll first apply for a building permit with Dewey Beach. Submit your completed application form along with 4 complete sets of sealed/stamped hardcopy plans. Digital plans are also required. Bring these to the Town Hall and give to a staff member at the Town Hall service window. The turn-around time cannot be speculated since it depends on your application (is it complete), the scope of work, accurate documents provided and the volume of applications and work requirements ahead of your submission. The review process and time is based on the complexity of each project.
2. Once we review the plans in accordance with the Town's building and zoning codes, we will give you paperwork for you to take to the county office along with your approved sets of sealed plans. There will need to be a county commercial plan review (ultimately the county will do inspections).
3. While the county is doing their plan review, another set of sealed plans will need to be given to the State Fire Marshal office in Georgetown for their plan review. The county will not issue a building permit without the Fire Marshal approval of the plans, or paperwork stating they have no objection to your project, and they will not be doing any inspections.
4. Once you have received the county paperwork/permit, please:
- Bring ALL of the county paperwork/permit (including your stamped plans) and give to a staff member at the Town Hall service window. The county paperwork and your plans will be returned to you along with the Dewey Beach building permit.
- After receiving the county's paperwork, the Building Department will begin processing the Dewey Beach permit, and provide you instructions for payment to Dewey Beach.
1. Completed Building Permit Application - with applicable drawings, plans and contracts.
2. Preliminary Site Plan - prepared & sealed by licensed professional (per §185-76 Dewey Code)
- drawn to scale, showing the nature, location, dimensions, existing and proposed topography
- portion of the site that was previously filled
- location of existing and proposed structures, excavation, filling, storage of materials, drainage facilities, and other proposed activities.
3. Elevation Certificate - prepared and sealed by licensed professional:
- an elevation certificate that shows the ground elevation and proposed building elevations (identified in Section C of the elevation certificate as "Construction Drawings").
4. Drawing / Plans (minimum of TWO hardcopy sets; digital also may be requested) -- to be prepared and sealed by a licensed professional showing:
- Sussex County Tax District, Map, and Parcel number and assigned 911 street address.
- Elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, or elevation of the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural members of all proposed structures.
- Drawings, diagrams, or descriptions of the proposed foundation.
- Locations of all service equipment and utilities.
- Plans shall meet the minimal requirements by Sussex County: https://sussexcountyde.gov/single-family-projects
5. Proposed Placement of Fill - prepared & sealed by licensed professional:
- Specify the amount, type, and source of fill material.
- Compaction specifications.
- Description of intended purpose of the area to be filled.
- Evidence the proposed fill is the minimum necessary for the intended purpose.
6. DNREC letter / approval (if applicable) - to construct within the regulated area / landward of the Building Line (Atlantic Ocean).
7. Driveway plan - Location of all existing (if applicable) & proposed site accesses and entrance driveways; driveway location(s) on parcel and proposed off-street parking.
8. Landscaping - A landscape plan, prepared by a landscape architect licensed in the State of Delaware and shall show the location, species (common and botanical names), size and condition of all proposed plantings.
9. Grading plans. All proposals for development/construction shall be accompanied by a grading plan per - §185-89 A & B.
10. Other requirements - any / all papers, drawings, explanations, etc., that may be requested by the Town to assure conformance with all applicable codes and regulations.
11. Contractors / Subcontractors – A contractor & subcontractor list identifying all companies to be working on the job site and their current Town of Dewey Beach business license.
All coastal high-hazard areas (Zone VE) must meet the specific requirements of §101-31 through §101-33.
The applicant shall include in the building permit application a certification prepared by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed professional architect that the design and methods of construction to be used meet the applicable criteria of the Town of Dewey Beach Code.
When the above requirements and all other requirements have been met, a building permit may be issued; provided, however, that no construction activity of any kind shall be commenced until the building permit is posted in a conspicuous place on the property which is the subject of the building permit.
The Town of Dewey Beach building permit fee shall be doubled if a Town of Dewey Beach permit is not obtained prior to the beginning of construction. §93-1 K.
Renovations include any improvement, addition, repairs, alterations, rehabilitation, or reconstruction (§101-13).
1. Building Permit Application with applicable drawings, plans and contracts.
2. MAY REQUIRE market Value of the structure before improvement is started or before damage occurred.
3. MAY REQUIRE actual cash value of all proposed work to improve the property OR restore the property before damage occurred.
All coastal high-hazard areas (Zone VE) must meet the specific requirements of §101-31 through §101-33.
The applicant shall include in the building permit application a certification prepared by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed professional architect that the design and methods of construction to be used meet the applicable criteria of the Town of Dewey Beach Code.
When the above requirements and all other requirements have been met, a building permit may be issued; provided, however, that no construction activity of any kind shall be commenced until the building permit is posted in a conspicuous place on the property which is the subject of the building permit.
The Town of Dewey Beach building permit fee shall be doubled if a Town of Dewey Beach permit is not obtained prior to the beginning of construction. §93-1 K.
1. Building Permit Application with all applicable drawings, plans and contracts.
2. Preliminary Site Plan - prepared & sealed by licensed professional: (per §185-76 Dewey Code)
- drawn to scale, showing the nature, location, dimensions, existing and proposed topography
- portion of the site that was previously filled
- location of existing and proposed structures, excavation, filling, storage of materials, drainage facilities, and other proposed activities.
3. All drawings / plans (minimum of TWO hardcopy sets; digital may also be requested) specifications and accompanying data:
- shall bear the name and address of the designer.
- Sussex County Tax District, Map, and Parcel number and assigned 911 street address.
- buildings or structures of 5,000 square feet or more in area, the designer shall be an architect or engineer legally registered under the laws of any state in the United States regulating the practice of architecture and/or engineering and shall affix his official seal to said drawings, specifications and accompanying data.
4. Plans shall meet the minimal requirements by Sussex County: https://sussexcountyde.gov/single-family-projects
5. (If applicable) DNREC letter / approval - to construct within the regulated area / landward of the Building Line (Atlantic Ocean).
6. Driveway plan - Location of all existing (if applicable) & proposed site accesses and entrance driveways; driveway location(s) on parcel and proposed off-street parking.
7. Landscaping - A landscape plan, prepared by a landscape architect licensed in the State of Delaware and shall show the location, species (common and botanical names), size and condition of all proposed plantings.
8. Grading plans. All proposals for development/construction shall be accompanied by a grading plan per - §185-89 A & B.
9, Contractors / Subcontractors – A contractor & subcontractor list identifying all companies to be working on the job site and their current Town of Dewey Beach business license.
10. Other requirements - any / all papers, drawings, explanations, etc., that may be requested by the Town to assure conformance with all applicable codes and regulations
When the above requirements and all other requirements have been met, a building permit may be issued; provided, however, that no construction activity of any kind shall be commenced until the building permit is posted in a conspicuous place on the property which is the subject of the building permit.
The Town of Dewey Beach building permit fee shall be doubled if a Town of Dewey Beach permit is not obtained prior to the beginning of construction. §93-1 K.
1. Apply for a building permit. Review the application requirements to ensure you are submitting all necessary documents. You may apply for the building permit online, or in person at Town Hall. The turn-around time can not be speculated, since this depends on multiple factors - if your permit application was submitted correctly and in full, the scope of work, and the volume of applications ahead of your submission. The review process and time is based on the complexity of each project.
2. One we review the plans in accordance with the Town's building and zoning codes, we will give you paperwork for you to take to the county office along with your approved sets of sealed plans. There will need to be a county commercial plan review. Ultimately, the county will do inspections.
3. While the county is doing their plan review, another set of sealed plans will need to be given to the State Fire Marshal Office for their plan review. The county will not issue a building permit without the Fire Marshal approval of the plans, or paperwork stating they have no objection to your project, and they will not be doing any inspections.
4. Once you have received the county's paperwork/permit:
- Bring ALL of the county paperwork/permit including your stamped plans. Drop these off with the receptionist at the Town Hall service window. This paperwork will be returned to you upon completion of the Dewey Beach building permit.
- After receiving all county paperwork, the Building Official can begin processing your Town permit. You will be provided payment instructions once your permit is ready.
1. Building Permit Application with all applicable drawings, plans and contracts.
2. Preliminary Site Plan - prepared & sealed by licensed professional: (per §185-76 Dewey Code)
- drawn to scale, showing the nature, location, dimensions, existing and proposed topography
- portion of the site that was previously filled
- location of existing and proposed structures, excavation, filling, storage of materials, drainage facilities, and other proposed activities.
3. Elevation Certificate - prepared and sealed by licensed professional:
- an elevation certificate that shows the ground elevation and proposed building elevations (identified in Section C of the elevation certificate as "Construction Drawings").
4. Drawing / Plans (minimum of four hardcopy sets, plus a digital set) -- to be prepared and sealed by a licensed professional showing:
- Elevation of the lowest floor, including basement, or elevation of the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural members of all proposed structures.
- Drawings, diagrams, or descriptions of the proposed foundation.
- Locations of all service equipment and utilities.
- Plans shall meet the minimal requirements by Sussex County: https://sussexcountyde.gov/commercial-projects
5. Proposed Placement of Fill - prepared & sealed by licensed professional:
- Specify the amount, type, and source of fill material.
- Compaction specifications.
- Description of intended purpose of the area to be filled.
- Evidence the proposed fill is the minimum necessary for the intended purpose.
6. Driveway plan - Location of all existing (if applicable) & proposed site accesses and entrance driveways; driveway location(s) on parcel and proposed off-street parking.
7. Landscaping - A landscape plan, prepared by a landscape architect licensed in the State of Delaware and shall show the location, species (common and botanical names), size and condition of all proposed plantings.
8. Grading plans. All proposals for development/construction shall be accompanied by a grading plan per - §185-89 A & B.
9. Other requirements - any / all papers, drawings, explanations, etc., that may be requested by the Town to assure conformance with all applicable codes and regulations.
10. Contractors / Subcontractors – A contractor & subcontractor list identifying all companies to be working on the job site and their current Town of Dewey Beach business license.
11. Applications may also be required to include:
- Market Value of the structure before improvement is started or before damage occurred.
- Actual cash value of all proposed work to improve the property OR restore the property before damage occurred
- Dry Floodproofing Certificate prepared and sealed by a licensed professional.
- V-Zone Certificate prepared and sealed by a licensed professional.
- Other agency approvals, such as DelDOT, Sussex County Utility, Sussex County Conservation District, DNREC letter of approval (regulated area construction, air quality, asbestos, etc).
When the above requirements and all other requirements have been met, a building permit may be issued; provided, however, that no construction activity of any kind shall be commenced until the building permit is posted in a conspicuous place on the property which is the subject of the building permit.
The Town of Dewey Beach building permit fee shall be doubled if a Town of Dewey Beach permit is not obtained prior to the beginning of construction. §93-1 K.
All individuals or companies conducting business in the town limits of Dewey Beach must obtain a business license. This includes but is not limited to restaurants, tap houses, retail establishments, transportation, contractors, subcontractors, landscapers, handymen, and cleaning agencies.
Zoning tables, as well as the zoning map, can be found on the Building Department page.