There are many options for private rental properties and hotels in Dewey Beach. For assistance in finding a rental unit to meet your needs, we recommend contacting the Rehoboth Dewey Chamber of Commerce.
Dewey Beach is known for it's fantastic restaurants and take-out options! Due to the size of the town - only two blocks wide for most of it's length - there is always a restaurant within walking distance. Outdoor dining, bay views, dog-friendly restaurants, and a wide variety of cuisine options are all available in Dewey Beach.
Yes! The beauty of Dewey Beach is that we have something for everyone. Click the "Visitors" tab of our website for information on free public bonfires and movies on the beach. For more family friendly activities and events, we recommend contacting the Rehoboth Dewey Chamber of Commerce.
The beach is open from 5:30am to 1:00am daily.
Dogs may enjoy the beach at any time, except from the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend through the Sunday following Labor Day. During this busy time of year, dogs may be on the beach before 9:30am and after 5:30pm.
All dogs in Dewey Beach must be licensed with the town. See the Visitors tab of our website for more information, or to purchase a dog license.
Yes, trash cans are provided at each beach entrance. Littering is subject to fines. Please do your part to ensure the health and safety of our beach, ocean, wildlife, and fellow beachgoers.
Yes, surf fishing is permitted. You must remain at least 100 feet away from bathers at all times. As per state regulations, you must also obtain a fishing license from DNREC prior to surf fishing.
During the summer season from May 15th - September 15th, alcohol consumption is NOT permitted on the beach.
During the off season from September 16th - May 14th, you may have alcoholic beverages on the beach.
Glass bottles are always prohibited.
For the safety of all beachgoers, launching boats, and swimming to and from boats is prohibited.
When launching a kayak from the bay or ocean beach during guarded hours, please check with a lifeguard to ensure a safe entry point to the water.
A lifejacket and a whistle are required onboard all kayaks in the water. This is state law.
Yes, bonfires are permitted on Dewey Beach provided you obtain a permit from Town Hall. Please see the Visitors section of our website for more information.
Yes. During the summer season while lifeguards are on duty, some restrictions may apply. Please check with a lifeguard prior to setting up any sporting activities.
Volleyball nets are available for public use on Chicago Street oceanside, and Dickinson bayside.
Yes. Four poster canopies, umbrellas, and open-sided tents are permitted on the beach. Please set up all canopies behind the lifeguard stands. Lifeguards must have a clear view of the beach and neighboring stands. If you are unsure of where to set up your canopy, please check with a lifeguard.
The only public restrooms in Dewey Beach are located behind Hyatt Place, on Van Dyke Avenue on the bay side.
Yes, the Dewey Beach Patrol is on duty every day from 10:00am - 5:00pm, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Extended off-season hours may apply depending on availability of staff. To ensure the Beach Patrol will be on duty during your visit to the beach, you may call the Dewey Beach Lifesaving Station at (302) 227-6365.
Yes! You must submit a wedding request form and receive approval from the Town Manager prior to the date of the ceremony. A $50 fee is also due before the date of your wedding. Please click on the "Visitors" tab of our website for more information.
Yes. During the summer season, we offer free beach wheelchair rental for all visitors to Dewey Beach. For more information, or to reserve a beach wheelchair, please click on the "Visitors" tab on our website.
We are pleased to provide beach access mats at nearly all dune entrances (please note, Chicago Street does not have an access mat). The mats allow for easier access to and from the beach for individuals of all abilities.
Yes. There are multiple blue and white shacks on the beach that have food and drinks for sale. Planet Ice also provides a cart on the beach to sell water ice.
Yes. There are multiple blue and white shacks on the beach that provide chair and umbrella rentals. Weekly rental rates are also offered for chair and umbrellas. Check with a worker at one of the beach shacks for more information.
Rules for the Bay Walk, Bayside Beach & Gazebo
Background:
• The State of Delaware owns a major portion of the bayside public beach and the Bay Walk.
Dewey Beach Enterprises (DBE) leases these subaqueous lands from the State as an amenity to the public consistent with the Mutual Agreement & Release (MAR).
• Per Recorded Covenant between DNREC, the Town of Dewey Beach and DBE, the Town administers and enforces all appropriate beach and bay walk regulations.
• DBE, or its successors, is responsible to operate and maintain these amenities.
• Consistent with the responsibilities and requirements as defined in the MAR and recorded Covenant, the Town of Dewey Beach establishes the following rules for the Bay Walk, Bayside Beach, and Gazebo.
Public Bay Walk
• The public Bay Walk shall be open to the public 24/7/365. The Bay Walk may close during unsafe or inclement weather conditions or other emergencies identified by the Town of Dewey Beach and/or Dewey Beach Patrol.
• Smoking is prohibited.
• Consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
• Littering is prohibited.
• Skateboards, rollerblades, and bicycles are prohibited.
• Climbing on the Bay Walk by any adult or minor is prohibited.
• Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the Bay Walk, except for motorized units that are ADA compliant for handicapped persons.
• Dogs are permitted on the Bay Walk but must have a valid license issued by the Town of Dewey Beach. Dog owners must clean up after their dogs.
• Docking to the pier or Bay Walk is prohibited.
• Fishing or crabbing from the Bay Walk is prohibited from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM during the summer season.
Public Beach and Gazebo
• The Van Dyke public bayside beach and gazebo are open to the public 24/7/365 except during the curfew hours of 1:00 am to 5:00 am daily during the summer season. The public beach and gazebo may close during unsafe or inclement weather conditions or other emergencies identified by the Town of Dewey Beach and/or the Dewey Beach Patrol.
• Depending upon conditions, the Town of Dewey Beach may assign a Dewey Beach Patrol lifeguard to the Van Dyke area public beach during certain summer hours. Appropriate signage shall be in place to notify the public that use of the beach is at the public’s risk when a lifeguard is not present.
• To assure public safety, the bayside beach will be closed during those periods when beach renourishment activity occurs.
• To assure the safety of persons recreating in the bay, the Town shall designate a swimming only zone extending at least 100 feet from the shoreline, and mooring of boats shall be prohibited within this zone..
• Motorized boats, including jet-skis, are prohibited from being launched or landed from the beach during the summer season. Non-motorized boats, including kayaks and paddleboards, may be launched only from an area designated by the Town during the season.
• All persons must always keep the bayside beach and gazebo clean and litter-free by using the trash receptables.
• Smoking is prohibited.
• Climbing in or on the Gazebo by any adult or minor is prohibited.
• Camping on the beach or in the gazebo is prohibited.
• Beach chairs and umbrellas are permitted on the bayside public beach.
• Food and beverage, umbrella, and beach chair concessions may be available during the Summer season, but only from a Town-approved contractor.
• Glass containers are prohibited on the beach.
• Dogs are permitted on the beach and in the gazebo. Dogs must be licensed with the Town of Dewey Beach and must always remain under control. Dog owners must clean up after their dogs and use appropriate waste receptacles. During the summer season (May 15-September 15), dogs shall be prohibited on the bayside beach whenever a lifeguard is present.
• Volleyball activity is confined to the established court on Dickinson Street except via Special Use Permit obtained from the Town of Dewey Beach. No private volleyball posts may be erected on the Van Dyke public beach area.
• Consumption of alcohol on the public beach is prohibited during the summer season except at events for which the Town has issued a Special Use permit.
• The Bay Beach and Gazebo can be used for special events, including wedding ceremonies, by securing a Special Use Permit from the Town of Dewey Beach and paying any required fee. Such special use approvals shall be issued on a first-come, first served basis. During the summer season, set up for wedding events shall begin no earlier than 3:30 p.m. and are limited to two and a half hours, including time for set up and clean up.
• No person shall have a bonfire without securing a Town Special Use permit and paying the fee required by the Town of Dewey Beach Fee Schedule. For safety reasons, all pit fires must be set up and extinguished by a Town-approved vendor. All fires must be extinguished, and the beach cleaned up by 11:00 p.m. The Town shall approve no more than two pit fires per day and the area surrounding a bonfire shall remain open to the public. Any clean-up fee deposit not used shall be refundable after 1:00 p.m. the day following the permitted fire. The approved vendor shall have full discretion to delay or deny a pit fire if any weather or public safety condition renders such a pit fire unsuitable or unsafe.
• Grills or any cooking or heating device using fire are prohibited.
• Fishing or crabbing from the beach is prohibited from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM during the Summer season.
• No vehicles shall be driven on the beach, except those operated by police, fire, emergency, town, beach concessionaires under contract, or other authorized municipal or state vehicle on official business.
Governing Documents
Declaration of Covenants and Grant of Public Easement, Town of Dewey Beach. Dewey Beach Enterprises, and DNREC, January 25,2019.
DNREC Subaqueous Lands Lease SL-001/18, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control granted to Dewey Beach Enterprises, Inc., March 11, 2019.
Chapter 65 and other related sections of the Town of Dewey Beach Code, special use permit application, and wedding permit application. Date of Latest Revision: April 9, 2021
Yes. Any entity doing business in Dewey Beach must obtain a town business license. You may apply for a business license by clicking here. The licensing year runs from May 1st - April 30th.
Eligible persons may register by completing the Voter Registration Form, and submitting it via:
Mail:
Town of Dewey Beach - Election 2021
P.O. Box 1420
Rehoboth Beach, DE. 19971
Email:
or In Person at Dewey Beach Town Hall during normal business hours:
Dewey Beach Town Hall
105 Rodney Avenue
Dewey Beach, DE. 19971
Any person who was registered to vote in past elections is not required to re-register unless her or his qualifications have changed.
We encourage everyone to check the Voter Registration List to be sure you are registered to vote. This list will be updated regularly.
To be eligible to vote in Town of Dewey Beach elections, a person must register, be eighteen years or older on the date of the election, and be:
- A bona fide resident and domiciliary of the Town of Dewey Beach who supplies two official proofs of residency, such as a current and valid photo ID indicating a Dewey Beach address, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document indicating the applicant’s Dewey Beach address and name, or
- An owner of real property within the Town and whose name has been identified as such in the Sussex County Tax rolls prior to July 16, 2013 or who provides a copy of the recorded deed for the property or other evidence from Sussex County property records to prove the applicant’s property ownership, or
- A holder of a valid lease for a term of five years or more on property within the Town, provided that the lease is recorded with the Sussex County Recorder of Deeds. A copy of the portions of the lease that identify the applicant and the other parties to the lease and the effective and termination dates of the lease must be submitted for filing at Town Hall, or
- Both a settlor/creator and trustee of a valid trust that is the owner of real property located within the Town. A copy of the portions of the trust document that identity the settler/creator(s) of the trust and the trust’s ownership of the real property, as recorded with the Sussex County Recorder of Deeds, must be submitted for filing at Town Hall.
Chapter 48 of Dewey Beach Town Code establishes the authority to deny registration “to any person to whom a transfer of property is made or to whom a lease is executed for the sole and limited purpose of qualifying the person to vote.”
Resident and non-resident Commissioner candidates must not have been convicted of a felony, must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on or before the date of the election, and must have been a qualified elector in the Town of Dewey Beach for at least one (1) year prior to the date of the Election.
Not fewer than two (2) of the Commissioners shall be designated Resident Commissioner. A Resident Commissioner is a bona fide resident and domiciliary of the Town of Dewey Beach.
Non-Resident Commissioner must have the qualifications of a Resident Commissioner as defined above or
be an owner of real estate within the Town, or
be both a settlor/creator and trustee of a valid trust to which real property which is located within the Town has been conveyed, which conveyance is recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Sussex County, or
be a leaseholder of real estate within the Town under a valid lease of a term of five (5) years or more. Any person applying as leaseholder candidate pursuant to this subsection will be required to include a copy of a valid lease with his or her candidate filing.
The Commissioner with the title of “Mayor of the Town of Dewey Beach” must be qualified as a Resident Commissioner.
Those persons with intentions to file as candidates should contact the Town Manager’s Office located at 105 Rodney Avenue, Dewey Beach, DE 19971. Filings of an individual’s intent to run for office will only be accepted in letter form or other written certification. A person’s letter of intent must be accompanied by a completed Candidate_Filing_Form, available from the Town’s Website at www.townofdeweybeach.com. Both must be received at the Town Manager’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2021.
Parking fees are in effect from May 15th - September 15th. Outside of the summer season there is no charge for parking.
Additionally, from May 15th - September 15th, we offer free parking Mondays from 5:00pm - 11:00pm.*
*Federal holidays are excluded from free parking.
For your convenience, we offer many parking options:
- If you spend quite a bit of your summer visiting Dewey Beach, it is most cost effective to purchase a seasonal permit. Pricing is as follows:
- Seasonal Parking Permit $300 each
- Property Owners may purchase up to 2 seasonal passes at a discounted rate of $175 each.
- Business Owners with a Dewey Beach location may purchase up to 2 season passes at a discounted rate of $175 each.
- Business Owners who are licensed in the town may purchase up to 2 season passes at a discounted rate of $225 each.
- Employees of Dewey Beach Businesses may purchase 1 season pass at a discounted rate of $225 (must present pay stub or employment letter).
- Seasonal Parking Permit $300 each
- If you plan to be in Dewey Beach for a day or more, we recommend purchasing a temporary parking permit. Pricing is as follows:
- 24 hours: $30 (Also available via Park Mobile app)
- Weekend (10:00am Friday - 10:00am Monday): $55
- Weekly (8 Consecutive Days): $100
- Hourly Parking: $3.50/hr
*Park Mobile charges a $1.00 fee for each transaction. Whether you are parking for 1 hour or 1 day, you will be charged a $1.00 fee by Park Mobile.
Yes! Using Park Mobile is the easiest way to pay for parking in town. If you do not have the mobile app, or need more information on using the service, please visit the Park Mobile website.
- For Seasonal Parking Permits, you may visit the Town Hall building during normal business hours. You can also purchase a virtual parking permit by clicking here.
- For Daily (24 Hour), Weekly or Weekend Parking Permits, you may use the automated kiosk at the entrance of the Town Hall parking lot. The kiosk is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Daily 24 Hour passes, you may also use your Park Mobile App.
- For Hourly Parking, you may pay at a coin meter, or use your Park Mobile App.
If you have any difficulty or questions about paying for parking, please ask a Parking Enforcement officer for assistance, stop by the Parking Enforcement office, or call the office at (302)227-6170.
Yes. You may apply for a residential rental license by clicking here. The licensing year runs from May 1st - April 30th.
Yes. You may apply for a commercial rental license by clicking here. The licensing year runs from May 1st - April 30th.
Both DelDOT and our town maintenance staff share the responsibility of plowing streets in Dewey Beach. During severe snow storms, we will update residents and visitors with our plan of action via our social media pages, our website, and by email. To sign up for email notifications, click here.
In the event of any damage incurred to your property by a snow plow, please file a complaint with the DelDOT insurance team at 877-277-4185.
No, Dewey Beach does not have a property tax. However, property owners will receive a property tax bill from Sussex County. Any questions regarding this bill should be directed to the Sussex County Administrative Office at (302) 855-7871.
Our beaches - that probably attracted you to Dewey Beach in the first place - suffer erosion during the inevitable storms, and we periodically replenish the beach with sand dredged from offshore. While the federal government is a major contributor to the required funding for this, property owners do their share by paying a beach replenishment tax to the town at a rate of $.40 per $100 of assessed value.
Under 167-16 of the municipal code of the Town of Dewey Beach, payment of the Accommodations Tax is the responsibility of the provider of the Accommodations. The Town is responsible for providing this form to be used by the provider of the Accommodations to calculate the amount of Accommodations Tax due to the Town.
Time due: Accommodations Tax due on accommodations provided between October 1 and March 31 of the year shall be remitted to the Town by April 15, or on the next business day if the 15th is not on a business day. Accommodations Tax due on accommodations provided between April 1 and September 30 of the year shall be remitted to the Town by October 15, or on the next business day if the 15th is not on a business day.
You may pay your accommodations tax online by clicking here.
Per Section 167-20 Lodging Tax, of the code of the Town of Dewey Beach:
(A) There is hereby imposed and assessed a lodging tax at the rate of 3% of the rent for the occupancy of any room in a hotel, motel, or tourist home located within the boundaries of the City, and as defined in 30 Del. C. § 6101. The payment of the tax shall be the responsibility of person who is the owner of the property being rented; provided, however, that such person may designate an agent to collect and pay the tax to the Town.
(C) The lodging tax on rent received in any month shall be due and payable on or before the 15th day of the following month in which rent is received.
You may pay the hotel lodging tax by clicking here.
During the summer season from May 1st - September 30th, trash is collected twice per week on Mondays and Fridays. Recycling is collected once per week on Mondays.
Outside of the summer season, trash is collected once per week on Mondays. Recycling is collected once every other week on Mondays.
For Friday morning trash pick-up, trash receptacles can be placed on the town right of way on Thursday as early as 5:00pm. and must be removed and placed back on your property by 8:00pm on Friday. For Monday morning trash pick-up, trash receptacles can be placed on the town right of way on Sunday as early as 12:00pm and must be removed and placed back on your property by 5:00pm on Monday.
Owners that rent their property must sign up for valet service through the town trash vendor. If you have questions about trash collection or valet service, you may contact Casella directly at (302)934-1364.
No. The town has received numerous complaints of birds and animals tearing into the plastic bags and having trash spread throughout the area. All trash must be placed in an authorized rigid trash receptacle.
Yes. Each individual and separate rental property must have a trash service connected to the property. If you have two or more rentals on one property, you must have sufficient containers available from the trash service to handle the collection of waste.
Owners that rent their property must sign up for valet service through the town trash vendor. If you have questions about trash collection or valet service, you may contact Casella directly at (302)934-1364.
Over the past several years the Town Commissioners have heard from many property owners voice their concern regarding trash cans left out on the public right of way for an inordinate amount of time. Besides being unsightly, in many cases when plastic bags are left out of the receptacles, birds and animals tear into them causing spillage out on the street and onto the property of others and often contributes to uninvited pests. Leaving trash cans on public property also reduces available parking. Additionally, having differing days and very early times to collect trash among all the trash companies has been a concern. With this in mind, the Town Commissioners passed a Trash Ordinance to alleviate these problems.
For questions regarding your trash service, such as needing replacement cans, missed pick up, or scheduling bulk pick up, call the trash vendor directly at (302) 934-1364.
If you notice a trash violation, such as illegal dumping, or you have a concern regarding trash in the public right-of-way or sidewalk/beach trash cans, call Dewey Beach Town Hall at (302) 227-6363.
Call Casella directly at (302)934-1364 to schedule any bulk or yard waste pickups.
The Town chose to utilize a single-source provider for multiple reasons:
- Increased recycling service from May 1st - September 30th
- Fewer trucks on the road means less noise and wear and tear on the streets
- Made valet service available to prevent cans being left in the public right-of-way
- Made additional services available to homeowners, such as yard waste and bulk pickups
The trash provider will retrieve cans from your residence for pick up, and will return them to your residence from the public right-of-way. You may contact the trash provider directly to sign up for valet service. Casella (302)934-1364
All questions regarding water and sewer issues, including billing for these utilities, should be directed to the Sussex County Water Department at (302) 855-7379.