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The City of Lewes

Administrative Offices and the Utility Office are located in City Hall, E. Third Street, open weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
P.O. Box 227 Lewes, Delawre 19958 Telephone - (302)645-7777  Fax - (302)645-6406

 

 

General Rules and Regulations

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE - Every building or structure within the City including every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling, door, window, roof or other part thereof shall be maintained in good repair. All land within the City of Lewes shall be kept clean and free of garbage and rubbish and shall be kept free of rodents and vermin which may constitute a health or safety hazard.

GRASS & WEEDS - All lawns, hedges, shrubs, bushes, weeds, and growth or vegetation of any kind shall be kept trimmed and shall not be permitted to become overgrown, and no grass or weeds shall be permitted to grow to a height in excess of twelve inches. If grass and weeds are not kept cut, the City will have the lot cut and the property owner billed for the expense.

SNOW REMOVAL - It is the responsibility of each property owner for the removal of snow, ice, dirt or other foreign substance from sidewalks and gutters to keep clear for pedestrian traffic.

ANIMALS - It is unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit it to run at large within the City limits. It is unlawful not to have a bag or device for removal of any excrement that the animal shall drop. BEACH: No dogs are allowed on any beach between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. any day between May 1st and September 30th.

ABANDONED VEHICLES - The City of Lewes has an ordinance prohibiting abandoned vehicles which tend to impede traffic in the streets or interfere with the enjoyment of and reduce the value of private property; to invite plundering; to create fire hazards and other safety and health hazards to children as well as to adults, to interfere with the comfort and well-being of the public and to create, extend and aggravate urban blight.

NOISE - It is the policy of the City Council to prevent any unreasonable, loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise. Noise of such character, intensity and duration as to be detrimental to the life or health of any individual or contrary to the public welfare, especially between the normal sleeping hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., is prohibited.

ROLLERSKATES / SKATEBOARDS / ROLLERBLADES:

A. Persons under twelve years of age may use or employ roller-skates, roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices on any sidewalk within the City of Lewes. No person twelve years of age or older shall use roller-skates roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices on any sidewalk within the City of Lewes, except the sidewalk on the east side of the Savannah Road drawbridge.

B. On any sidewalk where persons are using or employing roller-skates, roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices, such persons shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

C. No person shall use roller-skates, roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices within the areas of any City Parks, except Blockhouse Pond Park.

D. Persons using or employing roller-skates roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar; devices shall conduct their activity as far to the right of the traffic lane as possible, in a single file and flowing with traffic.

E. Any persons employing roller-skates, roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices, shall follow the rules of the road established for bicycles pursuant to Title 21 of the Delaware Code.

F. No person shall use roller-skates, roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices on any ramps, jumps or other devices to perform stunts upon any public sidewalk, parking lot or in the restricted public parks.

G. No person shall use roller-skates, roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices so as to injure public or private property.

H. No person using roller-skates roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices shall attach himself or herself to any moving motor vehicle upon any street, parking lot or public right-of-way.

I. Any person using roller-skates, roller-blades/inline skates, skateboards or similar devices between sunset and sunrise shall wear reflective markings or material of sufficient reflectivity to be visible from both sides from 600-feet when directly in front of lawful beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.

Pedestrian Laws

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Voting Regulations

CITY ELECTION: City Elections are held the second Saturday in May each year between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

To vote in the City Election you must be 18 years of age on or before the date of the Annual Municipal Election, be a United States Citizen and a citizen of the City of Lewes, and be registered on the books of registered voters for the City of Lewes. A person may register at the Office of the City Manager during the regular business hours of such office until the time of the closing of the books being 15 days prior to the annual election. A person shall be, required to register only one time, provided, however, that if a registered voter fails to vote in two consecutive annual municipal elections in which there is a contest for any office, his/ her name shall be removed from the Books of Registered Voters and that person shall be required to register again in order to be eligible to vote in the next annual election.

Qualifications for Mayor and City Council: Must be a bona fide citizen of the United States and of the State of Delaware, and a resident of The City of Lewes for at least ninety days preceding the annual election. Must be at least twenty-one 21 years of age. All such notification of candidacy must be filed at the office of the City of Manager during the regular business hours of the City not earlier than the opening of business on February 1 and prior to the close of business on the first Thursday in April.

BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS ELECTION: Public Works Elections are held the first Saturday in April annually between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Board of Public Works Voter Qualifications:

1. Every person who has attained the age of eighteen years on the date of the said annual election and who shall be a bona fide citizen of the United States, and a bona fide resident of the City of Lewes or the owner of public lands within the City of Lewes for at least thirty days prior to the date of the annual election shall be entitled to vote if such person has registered on the Books of Registered Voters of the Board of Public Works for The City of Lewes.

2. Every non-resident, natural person, male or female who has attained the age of eighteen years on the date of the annual election and who shall have been a freeholder of property in the City of Lewes, or a leaseholder on public lands under the jurisdiction of the City of Lewes for a period of thirty days immediately proceeding the date of the annual election shall be entitled to vote if such person is registered on the Books of Registered Voters of the Board of Public Works for the City of Lewes.

3  Any person shall be registered upon the Books of Registered Voters if such person has acquired the qualifications to vote in the annual election for the year which such person registers. A person shall be required to register only one time; provided, however, that if a registered voter fails to vote in two consecutive annual elections in which there is a contest for membership on the Board of Public Works, the name of such person shall be removed from the Books of Registered Voters and that person shall be required to register again in order to be eligible to vote in the next annual election.

4. The Books of Registered Voters are maintained by the Office of the City Manager and a person may register at the Office of the City Manager during the regular business hours of such office until the close of business fifteen days prior to the election.

Qualifications for Board of Public Works Member: Must be a bona fide citizen of the United States and of the State of Delaware and a resident of the City of Lewes for at least ninety days next preceding the date of the annual election of the Board of Public Works. At least twenty-one years of age on the date of the annual election. All notifications of candidacy must be in writing and filed at the Office of the City Manager during regular business hours of the City before the close of business the first Friday in February.

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Beach Rules

Curfew: It shall be unlawful for any person to be on Lewes Beach from Roosevelt Inlet to the Cape May/Lewes Ferry Terminal between the hours of 12:00 midnight until 6:00 a.m.

Fires: No open burning

Alcohol: None allowed

Permits: Required for beach activities

Dogs: see "Animals" Fishing: No fishing allowed on Lewes Beach from the eastern boundary of Pilot Point to the westerly most boundary lines of the Lewes Yacht Club for a distance offshore of 300-feet from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Personal Water craft - It shall be unlawful for any person to operate personal water craft within a distance of 300 ft. of any beach strand within the City of Lewes.

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Service Organizations

Numerous service clubs and organizations have chapters in Lewes including:

· American Legion Post 17

· Beebe Medical Center Auxiliary

· Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge

· Henlopen Grange No. 20

· Henlopen Ruritan Club

· Lewes Homeowners Assoc.

· Lewes Lions Club

· Lewes Senior Center

· Loyal Order of Moose #646

· Zwaanendael Club

· Lewes/Rehoboth Rotary Club

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Updated 08/12/98