Kent County · DE · Coastal & Phragmites Management division
Forestry mulching and land clearing in Frederica, DE
Frederica protects large front-yard trees on every property and requires 100-foot riparian buffers along the Murderkill.
Yes. Huntly Land Co. works in Frederica, DE. Frederica's Land Development Ordinance requires every property in town to keep front-yard trees at or above 24 inches in diameter for deciduous trees, 10 inches for evergreens and 6 inches for other trees such as dogwoods, hollies and cedars, unless the Planning Commission finds a listed reason for removal. Every job starts with a private site walk.
What the Frederica code says
Frederica covers about 1.8 square miles of land (US Census), roughly 60 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.
Front-yard trees on every property
Section 12-6.B of the Frederica Land Development Ordinance requires all properties to retain front-yard trees of 24-inch diameter or more for deciduous trees (oaks, hickories, yellow poplars, sweet gums), 10 inches for evergreens such as pines, and 6 inches for other trees such as dogwoods, hollies, cedars and crape myrtle. The Planning Commission may allow removal on listed grounds, including a tree that is dead, significantly diseased, severely injured or in danger of falling, or one that creates a safety hazard; appeals go to the town council.
Source: Frederica Land Development Ordinance (PDF), Sec. 12-6
- 2.
Drip lines
No excavation or subsurface disturbance may be undertaken within the drip line of any tree 10 inches or more in diameter, and no impervious surface may be placed within 12.5 feet of the trunk of an 18-inch tree, unless the Planning Commission finds that would unreasonably burden the owner.
Source: Frederica LDO, Sec. 12-6
- 3.
Riparian buffer areas
Section 12-7 requires riparian buffers in new development of at least 100 feet from the mean high-water line of tidal water, 100 feet from top of bank of any stream, or 50 feet beyond any wetland, whichever is greater. No vegetation may be removed from the buffer except invasive and exotic species and hazardous trees. Stormwater systems must be approved by the Kent Conservation District.
Offices for a Frederica 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 Frederica town office |
| Delegated agency list (who reviews where) | DNREC Sediment & Stormwater delegated agencies |
| Wetlands and waterways | DNREC Wetlands and Waterways Section |
Frederica questions, answered
Can I take down a big oak in my front yard in Frederica?
Not without Planning Commission approval if it is 24 inches in diameter or more. The ordinance lets the commission approve removal for listed reasons, such as the tree being dead, diseased, injured, in danger of falling or a safety hazard.
Can invasive plants be cleared from a riparian buffer in Frederica?
Yes. The ordinance bars vegetation removal in the buffer except for invasive and exotic species and hazardous trees.
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 Frederica, 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 Frederica, 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 Frederica; 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 Frederica, 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 Frederica, Delaware?
Frederica handles its own local permits and zoning. 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 Frederica, 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 Frederica, 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 Frederica, Huntly clears them with forestry mulching and low-ground-pressure tracks that protect soft ground.
Is there cost-share money for clearing invasives near Frederica, 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 Frederica, Delaware, and what does a site walk cost?
Yes, Huntly serves Frederica. 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 Frederica, Delaware?
Frederica's site lists Licenses and Permits, Planning and Zoning and its Town Code. Huntly checks those for your parcel, and checks for tidal edges along creeks before we cut. 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.
Do I need a DNREC permit to cut Phragmites near the water in Frederica, Delaware?
Possibly. Cutting in a tidal wetland falls under Delaware's tidal wetlands law, 7 Del. C. 6604, and needs DNREC Wetlands and Waterways verification first. Huntly confirms the status of the Frederica parcel and gets any needed approval before any equipment touches the marsh edge. Huntly confirms the rule that applies to each site before work.
Who do I call for storm cleanup in Frederica, Delaware?
Call Huntly's 24/7 storm line at (302) 497-5263 for trees and limbs down across lanes, driveways, fields and trails in Frederica. 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: frederica.delaware.gov
Sources: frederica.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: Frederica Land Development Ordinance (PDF), Sec. 12-6 · DNREC, Sediment and Stormwater Delegated Agencies
Last checked: October 2026.
Permits and rules
Clearing in Frederica 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.