Nine jurisdictions will receive technical assistance to create greater variety of housing types and address affordability challenges

Dover, Del. – Feb. 26, 2026 – Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) today announced the eight municipalities and one county that will receive free technical assistance and the planning consultants they will work with to modernize municipal zoning and land use policies aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing.

The nine jurisdictions are: Bridgeville, Dover, Georgetown, Laurel, Lewes, Milford, Newark, Rehoboth Beach and Sussex County.

The jurisdictions applied last fall to participate in the voluntary program. In their applications, local governments were required to identify a dedicated staff person to work with the consultant, and to select at least one reform from a menu of options. Their elected governing bodies also had to demonstrate interest in pursuing the selected reforms.

“We applaud the commitment of our local and county government partners who have chosen to take advantage of this program and do the difficult, time-consuming work needed to address the housing crisis,” said DSHA Director Matthew J. Heckles. “The assistance being provided by these experienced firms to those municipalities will lead to improved zoning laws and thriving communities that offer a variety of housing types needed to serve all families in Delaware.”

The Zoning and Land Use Reform Pilot Program, created through the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 8 (SJR8), is enabling the nine jurisdictions to receive free technical assistance from three planning consultants, with the goals of encouraging a greater variety of housing types, promoting compact, mixed-use development, and addressing housing affordability challenges. DSHA will cover the costs of the assistance for the consultants at no expense to the nine jurisdictions.

“Sussex County is excited to continue its work with updating the zoning code to address the recently identified recommendations from the County’s Land Use Reform Working Group,” said Brandy B. Nauman, Director of Sussex County Community Development and Housing. “And we are pleased to learn we will be working with the team from McCormick Taylor again – they already understand Sussex County and can hit the ground running with this effort.”

The planning consultants and the jurisdictions they will work with are:

McCormick Taylor:

• Sussex County

Rossi Group:

• Dover
• Laurel
• Lewes
• Newark

Smart Growth America:

•  Bridgeville
• Georgetown
• Milford
• Rehoboth Beach

DSHA selected the consulting firms after issuing a request for proposals last fall. The three were chosen from 13 proposals received after a thorough scoring and interview process.

“McCormick Taylor is honored to support DSHA and Sussex County in advancing zoning reforms that expand housing choice and strengthen communities,” said Jillian P. Dierks, Senior Planner, Communications and Planning, at McCormick Taylor. “Thoughtful land use policy shapes everyday life – and we’re proud to contribute to work that creates practical, lasting solutions in Delaware. This pilot reflects strong collaboration between DSHA and participating jurisdictions, and we applaud both for taking proactive steps to expand housing opportunities in a meaningful way.”

“Rossi Group is proud to work alongside national and local experts on behalf of DSHA to help Delaware communities modernize their zoning and expand housing options,” said Ann Marie Townsend, AICP, Senior Project Manager, and Savannah Edwards, Senior Planner, at the Rossi Group. “This effort is about removing barriers and creating real, practical pathways to make housing more accessible for the people who need it most.”

“At Smart Growth America, we know that outdated zoning rules too often stand between communities and the prosperity they’re working to build for everyone who lives there,” said Toccarra Nicole Thomas, Assistant Vice President of Housing and Development at Smart Growth America. “We’re excited to partner with communities across Delaware to help expand housing options and strengthen local economies by modernizing zoning to meet today’s needs. We applaud the Delaware State Housing Authority and state leaders for advancing this effort, and we can’t wait to get started.”

The jurisdictions have selected one or more reform ideas from these strategies:

• Allowing accessory dwelling units and/or “missing middle” housing types as a permitted use in residential zones
• Allowing manufactured/modular homes where single-family detached homes are permitted
• Creating pre-reviewed design plans for “missing middle” housing types
• Increasing allowable density for housing by reducing minimum lot sizes and bulk standards to promote the development of compact housing
• Increasing building heights for multifamily housing and mixed-use developments
• Establishing an inclusionary zoning program to address affordable and workforce housing needs
• Allowing higher density, mixed-use with residential in commercial zones or employment centers
• Reduce parking requirements in areas zoned for residential and mixed-use

For more information  about the SJR8 pilot program, please see Planning Assistance – State of  Delaware – Delaware State Housing Authority