Animal Ordinances in Sussex County, DE (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Sussex County, Delaware.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In Sussex County's AR-1 and AR-2 districts, keeping horses, ponies, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs or poultry for personal enjoyment is a permitted use under Section 115-20A(8), but any building housing the animals must sit at least 50 feet from lot lines and 100 feet from a neighbor's dwelling.
Backyard Livestock and Poultry Rules in Sussex County
Some RestrictionsSussex County Code § 115-20A(8)
Stable structures or feed lots, private, or keeping and feeding of horses, ponies, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs or poultry for personal enjoyment and not as a business, provided that any building for keeping of animals shall be located at least 50 feet from any lot lines and 100 feet from any dwelling not on the premises.
Beekeeping
Sussex County lets residents keep bees, birds, rabbits and other small animals for personal enjoyment as a permitted accessory use under § 115-21B, no permit needed. Raising bees or other small animals for sale is different: it needs a special use exception from the Board of Adjustment under § 115-23A, capped at five years, and in the MR district the hives must meet the same setback as a main structure.
Sussex County Beekeeping and Apiary Zoning Rules
Light Restrictions§ 115-21B; § 115-23A; § 115-32A
Keeping of small animals, insects, reptiles, fish or birds, but only for personal enjoyment or household use and not as a business. ... Special use exceptions may be permitted by the Board of Adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Article XXVII of this chapter and may include: Temporary and conditional permits for a period not to exceed five years, such period to be determined by the B...
Pet Limits
Sussex County lets a household keep dogs individually licensed up to four; anyone keeping more than four dogs for show, trial, sale or breeding must instead hold a kennel license, which requires facility inspection.
Sussex County Kennel License Threshold for Dogs
Some RestrictionsSussex County Code § 60-2B(3)
Kennel licenses. Any person who maintains a kennel wherein more than four dogs are kept for show, trial, sale, breeding or other purposes may apply to the County or its duly authorized agents on a form prescribed by the County for a kennel license in lieu of a license for each dog and pay the appropriate fee indicated in Subsection A of this section.
Microchipping
Sussex County does not mandate microchipping, but its dog licensing law accepts a microchip as an alternative to the metal license tag, letting owners identify a licensed dog without a collar tag.
Microchip ID Accepted for Sussex County Dog Licenses
Light RestrictionsSussex County Code § 60-2D
Each issued license will be accompanied by either a metal tag or an alternative method of identification, such as, but not limited to, a microchip or tattoo. In the event a dog tag is issued, the tag shall be of a design to be adopted by the County and shall be affixed to the collar by the owner of such dog. Dog collars with associated County tags may be removed and need not be worn when the do...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In unincorporated Sussex County, veterinary clinics and animal hospitals are a permitted use, not a discretionary one, in the C-1 General Commercial and CR-1 Commercial Residential Districts, but any open pens must sit at least 200 feet from a residential district and 50 feet from any property line under County Code § 115-77(A).
Sussex County Zoning Rules for Veterinary Clinics
Some RestrictionsSussex County Code § 115-77(A)
A building or land shall be used only for the following purposes: Animal hospitals or kennels with any open pens at least 200 feet from any residential district and 50 feet from any property line
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