Kent County · DE · Municipal & Institutional division
Forestry mulching and land clearing in Felton, DE
Felton's zoning code asks every property to keep trees of 10 inches and larger and sets 100-foot riparian buffers in new development.
Yes. Huntly Land Co. works in Felton, DE. Felton's Planning and Zoning Code says all properties in town shall retain existing trees 10 inches in diameter or more unless the town finds that unreasonably burdensome, and new development must protect a riparian buffer of at least 100 feet from streams and 50 feet beyond wetlands. Every job starts with a private site walk.
What the Felton code says
Felton covers about 0.81 square miles of land (US Census), roughly 59 miles from our Chadds Ford base. These are the town rules that most often shape a clearing, mulching or grading scope here, quoted from the code itself.
- 1.
Retaining large trees
Section 12-6 of the Felton code states that all properties in the Town of Felton shall retain all existing trees 10 inches in diameter or more unless retention would, in the town's determination, unreasonably burden the owner. No excavation is allowed within the drip line of such a tree, and no impervious surface within 12.5 feet of the trunk of a tree 18 inches or more, subject to the same test.
- 2.
Riparian Buffer Areas
Section 12-7 requires riparian buffer areas in all new development, permanently protected by dedication, deed restriction or easement. The buffer extends at least 100 feet past the top of bank of a lake, river, stream or waterway, or 50 feet beyond any wetland, whichever is greater. No vegetation may be removed from it except invasive and exotic species and hazardous trees, and the code notes a separate 30-foot building setback from any floodplain.
Source: Felton Code, Sec. 12-7
- 3.
Topsoil and the Kent Conservation District
All development or land disturbing activity is subject to the Delaware Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, and no topsoil may be removed from a site or used as spoil without permission from the town and the Kent Conservation District.
Source: Felton Code, Art. 12
Offices for a Felton site
| Question | Office |
|---|---|
| Sediment and stormwater / erosion review | Kent Conservation District, 1670 S. DuPont Highway, Dover (302-608-5370) |
| Town or city office | Town of Felton town office |
| Delegated agency list (who reviews where) | DNREC Sediment & Stormwater delegated agencies |
| Wetlands and waterways | DNREC Wetlands and Waterways Section |
Felton questions, answered
Can I remove invasive brush from a stream buffer in Felton?
The code says no vegetation may be removed from a riparian buffer area except invasive and exotic species and hazardous trees. That makes selective invasive removal the kind of scope the ordinance contemplates, but confirm the buffer and the method with the town first.
Does Felton's large-tree rule apply to existing homes?
The text says all properties in the town shall retain trees 10 inches and up unless the town finds that unreasonably burdensome. Ask the town office before removing a large healthy tree.
Nearby pages
Cost, permits and the ground
Code summaries are general guidance, not legal advice; Huntly confirms the rules that apply to each parcel before work.
What shapes the cost of land clearing in Felton, DE?
Density and stem size, ground and terrain, access and staging, finish standard, resource plan, stewardship and schedule. Haul-off of non-organic debris, stump grinding below grade, permits and licensed applications are quoted as separate visible lines. Every job is priced in writing after a private site walk, and the walk carries no charge inside the service region.
Do I need a permit for land clearing in Felton, DE?
Often, and it depends on the area disturbed and what is nearby. DNREC lists the Kent Conservation District as the sediment and stormwater review agency for Felton; Delaware's regulations exempt land disturbance under 5,000 square feet, and 1 acre or more also needs construction general permit coverage. Town approvals described on this page come on top of that, and work in wetlands generally needs a DNREC permit. We confirm each one for the parcel before work.
Is forestry mulching better than bulldozing?
For most brush and small-tree work, yes. Mulching leaves roots in the ground and a chip layer on the surface, so slopes stay put, stream-adjacent ground stays stable, and there are no burn piles or haul-off loads. A buildable surface, root-ball removal, grading or drainage work may call for a broader clearing or excavation plan.
More about Town of Felton, DE
Regulatory notes are general guidance; Huntly confirms the rules that apply to each site before work.
Who approves land clearing or earth disturbance in Felton, Delaware?
Felton handles its own local permits and zoning. Town Hall: (302) 284-9365. DNREC lists the Kent Conservation District as the delegated agency for sediment and stormwater plan review in Kent County. The federal construction general permit begins at one acre of disturbance. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Can I burn brush piles in Felton, Delaware?
Delaware bans most open burning from May 1 through September 30. Outside those dates a homeowner may burn small amounts of yard material after notifying the county fire board, but burning land-clearing material is always prohibited except for agriculture, and leaves and grass may never be burned. Huntly mulches brush in place, so no burn permit is needed. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
What grows wild and takes over land around Felton, Delaware?
Typical for Kent County: Phragmites in wet ground and ditches, groundsel tree, sweetgum and loblolly pine thickets, and bamboo, plus autumn olive and multiflora rose on drier land. Around Felton, Huntly clears them with forestry mulching and low-ground-pressure tracks that protect soft ground.
Is there cost-share money for clearing invasives near Felton, Delaware?
Sometimes. DNREC runs a Phragmites cost-share for aerial treatment on 5 to 200 acres; tax ditches are excluded and ground application is not covered. DNREC also lists tax ditch organizations that maintain ditches. Herbicide work by a licensed applicator is quoted as a separate visible line. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Does Huntly serve Felton, Delaware, and what does a site walk cost?
Yes, Huntly serves Felton. The site walk is free inside our service region, and every job is priced in writing after the walk. Mobilization is quoted on the estimate for long hauls. Delaware calls go to (302) 497-5263, Monday to Saturday, 8 to 4. Delaware requires contractor registration for clearing under 19 Del. C. ch. 36.
What local rules or offices should I know about in Felton, Delaware?
Felton's site has Building Permits, Licenses and Permits, and Charter and Ordinances pages. Huntly checks them for your parcel before we price clearing. As general guidance, rules for tree removal, setbacks and wetlands can differ by lot, so we read the town and county requirements first and put what we find in your written estimate. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Who do I call for storm cleanup in Felton, Delaware?
Call Huntly's 24/7 storm line at (302) 497-5263 for trees and limbs down across lanes, driveways, fields and trails in Felton. We clear with a grapple on low-ground-pressure tracks. If a tree is on a structure or tangled in power lines, call a tree service or the utility first, then us.
Official site: felton.delaware.gov
Sources: felton.delaware.gov · dnrec.delaware.gov (delegated agencies) · dnrec.delaware.gov (sediment stormwater) · dnrec.delaware.gov (open burning) · dnrec.delaware.gov (private lands) · dnrec.delaware.gov (tax ditches) · delcode.delaware.gov (c036) · dnrec.delaware.gov (cost share questions)
Where these facts come from
Sources: Town of Felton Planning & Zoning Code (2013) · DNREC, Sediment and Stormwater Delegated Agencies
Last checked: October 2026.
Permits and rules
Clearing in Felton can need a sediment and stormwater plan or a local approval. Start here:
Send us the details.
hello@huntlyland.comSend the town, rough acreage and two or three photographs. We reply by email with site-walk times, and a written scope follows the walk.
Delaware & coastal line: (302) 497-5263 · Main line: (484) 486-7272
Office hours Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On call 24/7 for storm and emergency cleanup. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.