Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Odessa, Delaware

Town of Odessa’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Odessa town corporate limits

  • The page states the edition in use but gives no effective date or adoption ordinance number.

  building code edition: 2018 International Building Code, Residential Code and Mechanical Code

  “currently the town of odessa follows the 2018 edition of international building codes, residential code and mechanical code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Odessa town limits (Town of Odessa, New Castle County, DE). The town administers its own Zoning Ordinance.

  • The zoning ordinance text read is the PDF labeled CURRENT on the town site, uploaded 2019-08, with 2011-2016 amendments listed in its title; later amendments listed on the town site (e.g., Ordinance 2022-02 establishing an Institutional district, rezonings in 2022-2024) were not opened and must be checked.
  • Zoning-only topics are answered from this ordinance where it was read; other topics are unknown in this record.

  “the provisions of this ordinance shall be administered and enforced by the odessa zoning administrator, who shall be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Odessa town limits, as set by the town's zoning ordinance and official zoning map

  • The ordinance lists R-1 single family residential, C-1 general commercial, H historic, NE non-profit estate, C-2 restricted downtown commercial, PND planned neighborhood development and PCD planned commercial development districts.
  • The official zoning map is a separate document adopted in 1997 and is not reproduced in the text read; the 2022 Institutional district and later rezonings were not opened.

  “classes of districts for the purpose of this ordinance, the town of odessa is hereby divided into the districts designed as follows: r-1 district: single family residential c-1 district: general commercial h district: historic ne district: non-profit estate district c-2 district: restricted downtown commercial district pnd district: planned neighborhood development district pcd district: planned commercial development district”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications for work inside Odessa town limits

  • Page describes submission and contact only; fee steps, review timing and the Zoning Compliance application process were not opened.
  • The town must submit the permit to 1st State Inspection Agency; the town contacts the applicant to review fees after approval.
  • The town does not accept card payments; cash or check only.

  “once you have completed your permit application(s), please send them to [email protected] or bring them to the office located at 315 main st. odessa, de 19730.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Odessa or New Castle County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit or licensing exemption inside Odessa town limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new homes inside Odessa town limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the R-1 single family residential district of Odessa town
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the R-1 single family residential district of Odessa town
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks in the R-1 single family residential district of Odessa town

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.