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Kent County, DE Parking Rules: EV Charging (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Section
§171-2(G), General requirements
Mandate
None; installation standard, not a minimum-count rule
Installation standard
Must comply with the Delaware Code
Recommendations
Pre-wiring, shared spaces, directional signage encouraged
Space size if built
9 by 18 feet minimum, §171-4(A)

Summary

Kent County Code § 171-2(G) doesn't require EV charging stations, but it directs that any charging spaces built be installed to comply with the Delaware Code and encourages developers to add extra charging capacity during site design. The Department of Planning Services reviews the choice as part of land development review under Chapter 171's parking standards.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Kent County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging spaces shall be installed in compliance with the Delaware Code. Additional space permitted, and encouraged, to be designed as part of the site development process. If charging station installation would not currently be needed, then pre-wiring should be considered as part of the site development. Shared EV spaces between multiple adjacent uses should be considered. Directional signage may be provided on site to direct EV owners to these designated spaces.

View official code

Full Breakdown

' The subsection does not itself set a minimum number of EV spaces for any use; instead it defers the technical installation standard to state law and treats extra charging capacity as a planning recommendation rather than a mandate. ' Because § 171-2(G) is advisory on quantity and mandatory only on compliance with state electrical and installation code, a Kent County site plan reviewer with the Department of Planning Services can encourage a developer to add EV infrastructure during the land development process but cannot, under this section alone, force it onto a project that has none. Any EV space that is built still has to meet the chapter's general dimensional standards in § 171-4, including the nine-by-eighteen-foot minimum space size.

Violations & Fines

Because § 171-2(G) does not mandate EV charging spaces, there is no separate violation for failing to install one. If a developer does build EV spaces, they still have to comply with the Delaware Code's installation standards and with Chapter 171's general design rules; noncompliance there is enforced the same way as any Chapter 171 violation, through the § 90-8 administrative ticketing schedule of $100, $200 and $300 fines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Kent County require new developments to install EV charging?
No. Kent County Code § 171-2(G) only says that any EV charging spaces that are installed must comply with the Delaware Code, and it encourages additional charging space as part of site design. It does not set a minimum number of required EV spaces for any land use.
What size does an EV charging parking space have to be in Kent County?
Chapter 171 doesn't set an EV-specific dimension; an EV space follows the same general standard in § 171-4(A) as any other parking space, at least nine feet wide by 18 feet long, plus whatever equipment clearance the Delaware Code's electrical and installation standards require for the charger itself.
Can a developer get credit for planning ahead for EV chargers later?
Yes. Section 171-2(G)(1) recommends pre-wiring a site for future charging stations when installing them isn't currently needed, and Subsection (2) recommends shared EV spaces between adjacent uses, both framed as considerations the Department of Planning Services can raise during land development review, not mandatory conditions.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kent County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsRV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsLoading ZonesSome RestrictionsAbandoned VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsCommercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsDriveway RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSignificant Restrictions

All Kent County rules

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