Sussex County, DE Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)

Chapter 60, Dog Control, does not cap the raw number of dogs a household may own, but it draws the line for licensing at four. Under § 60-2B(3), any person who maintains a kennel where more than four dogs are kept for show, trial, sale, breeding or other purposes must apply for a kennel license in lieu of licensing each dog individually. Kennel license fees scale with capacity: $60 for up to 12 dogs, $75 for up to 25, $125 for up to 50, and $200 for more than 50, all valid only through December 31 of the year issued.

Holding a kennel license brings added obligations that an individual dog owner doesn't face: dog control agents can inspect the kennel facilities during business hours or by appointment under § 60-3 to confirm compliance with the humane handling standards in § 60-4, covering structural soundness, waste disposal, temperature limits (no lower than 50°F, no higher than 85°F for more than four consecutive hours) and lighting. Refusing entry to a dog control agent for such an inspection is unlawful. Chapter 60 regulates dogs only; Sussex County's code does not impose a numeric limit on cats.