Sign Regulations in Sussex County, DE (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Sussex County, Delaware.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Sussex County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Holiday Displays

Sussex County exempts holiday decorations from its sign permit system entirely. § 115-160B(10) lists "special decorative displays used for holidays" among the signs residents may put up without applying for a Director-issued permit.

Sussex County Holiday Display Sign Exemption

Few Restrictions

Sussex County Code § 115-160B(10)

The following signs may be erected or constructed without a permit but in accordance with structural and safety requirements: ... (10) Special decorative displays used for holidays, public demonstrations or promotion for nonpartisan civic purposes.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Digital Billboards

Sussex County lets off-premises digital billboards operate only by special use exception in select commercial and industrial districts, with a 10-second minimum hold per message, a one-second transition, and no scrolling, video or animation under § 115-161.1B.

Sussex County Digital Billboard Rules

Significant Restrictions

Sussex County Code § 115-161.1B(1)

Off-premises electronic message centers: (1) In the C-1 (General Commercial), CR-1 (Commercial Residential), C-3 (Heavy Commercial), C-4 (Planned Commercial), C-5 (Service/Limited Manufacturing), LI-1 (Limited Industrial), LI-2 (Light Industrial) and HI-1 (Heavy Industrial) Districts, an off-premises sign may be an electronic message center, provided that the owner obtains a special use excepti...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Freeway-Facing Signs

Off-premises signs facing Sussex County's busiest roads, those with four or more travel lanes, get the county's largest allowance and its steepest separation rule: up to 1,200 square feet per structure, but only one every 600 feet and only by special use exception.

Sussex County Off-Premises Signs Near High-Traffic Roads

Significant Restrictions

Sussex County Code § 115-159.5B(4)

For all off-premises signs which are located on properties adjacent to roads which have four or more travel lanes (excluding turn lanes), the following regulations shall apply: (a) An off-premises sign shall not be erected within 600 feet of another off-premises sign... (b) No off-premises sign shall exceed 35 feet in height from ground level. (c) An off-premises sign shall not exceed 600 feet ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Sussex County ordinances

See every category we cover for Sussex County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Sussex County Ordinance Hub →