GEORGETOWN, Del. - Sussex County Council has approved the first in what officials say will be a series of land use reform measures aimed at addressing residential development and housing concerns across the county.
The council voted Tuesday, June 9, to adopt two ordinances based on recommendations made by the county's Land Use Reform Working Group, a council-appointed panel formed in 2025 to study growth and development issues.
According to Sussex County officials, one ordinance updates the Sussex County Rental Program in an effort to encourage more participation from developers, while the second makes technical changes to county code.
The working group's recommendations focus on several issues, including directing growth toward designated areas through zoning reforms, increasing housing diversity and affordability, strengthening protections for rural and environmentally sensitive areas, and improving transparency in the planning process.
County officials say the newly approved ordinances represent some of the more immediately achievable recommendations identified by the group. Staff members drafted the measures this spring, with priorities including affordable housing, design standards, and density allowances.
The action comes as Sussex County begins work on a state-mandated update to its comprehensive plan, which serves as the county's long-term vision for growth and development and must be adopted by 2028.
"The County has heard the public's concerns, especially when it comes to affordable housing, loud and clear," Sussex County Council President Douglas Hudson said in a statement. "Hopefully, these are just the first of many changes, big and small, that will lead to tangible results and a better Sussex County."
