Kent County, DE Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Section 101-4 of the Kent County Code sets the development standards that apply once a property adds an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Subsection D states plainly: "Total lot coverage (impervious cover) is limited to 50%." That cap applies to the whole lot, principal dwelling, ADU, driveways, patios and any other impervious surface combined, once construction of the ADU is proposed. It works alongside the chapter's other dimensional limits: the ADU itself cannot exceed 50% of the principal dwelling's floor area (§ 101-4.A), a detached ADU must sit on a slab or crawl space with no basement (§ 101-4.B), and setbacks for a detached ADU must be at least half the principal structure's side and rear setbacks while sitting behind that structure (§ 101-4.C).

Outside the ADU chapter, Kent County's residential district tables at §§ 205-81 and 205-82 set lot size, frontage, lot width, setbacks and building height by zoning district (AC, AR, RS1, RS5, RMH and RM) but do not publish a separate maximum lot coverage percentage for ordinary residential development; § 101-4.D is the clearest lot-coverage figure printed in the Code, and it is specific to properties building an ADU. The Board of Adjustment may grant variances from the 50% cap under the standards in Chapter 205, Zoning, per § 101-4.F.