Sussex County, DE Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

§ 80-1 bars any owner, occupant or responsible party from letting grasses or weeds exceed 12 inches on improved or unimproved land not used for bona fide agriculture, and separately bars growth that creates an unsightly condition, a nuisance to neighboring property values, or a fire or safety hazard. "Weeds" excludes ornamental grasses, shrubs and trees, and the chapter exempts incorporated towns that haven't transferred code enforcement to the county, land actively farmed under 9 Del. § 8333, and state parks and wildlife areas. Enforcement runs through the county Constable under § 80-4: after a complaint, the Constable inspects and, if the violation is confirmed, serves written notice giving the owner 10 calendar days to correct it.

A property still out of compliance on the 11th day draws a $100 civil penalty, which doubles to $200 if not paid within 30 days of the ticket; those penalties can be added directly to the property's county tax bill under 9 Del. § 7107. Because § 80-1 explicitly covers "unimproved lands," vacant and undeveloped lots are ticketed the same way as occupied properties, and the Constable is not required to send a second notice for a repeat violation of the same section within a 12-month period.

Owners may petition the Constable under § 80-2 for a modification where strict compliance creates a practical difficulty, and may appeal a civil penalty to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals under § 80-4C(5).