Bethany and Rehoboth Consider Parking Changes as Summer Approaches

As the summer season approaches, two of Delaware’s most popular beach towns—Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach—are exploring significant parking policy changes. Whether it’s to raise revenue, manage seasonal demand, or prepare for massive events, these changes could affect how visitors park and pay at the beach in the near future.

Bethany Beach: Parking Rate Hike on the Horizon

Bethany Beach is poised to vote in early May on whether to raise hourly parking rates from $3.00 to $4.00, just two years after its last increase (from $2.50 to $3.00 in 2022). If passed, this change would tie Bethany with Rehoboth Beach for the highest parking rate in the region.

Key details:

• In January, the town initially considered a smaller jump to $3.50/hour, projecting an additional $649,000 in revenue, with corresponding increases to parking permit fees and fines (e.g., tickets rising from $50 to $60).

• However, in a late February budget hearing (for which no public audio has been released), officials doubled the proposed increase to $4.00/hour.

• Town leaders argue the hike is necessary to ensure visitors cover the cost of summer services, helping to shield full-time residents from rising expenses.

Bethany’s budget is expected to grow 9.4% this year, hitting nearly $13 million.

Rehoboth Beach: No Rate Hike—But Extended Parking Season Being Discussed

In Rehoboth Beach, no rate increases are planned for 2025, following last year’s jump to $4.00/hour. But discussions are heating up around extending the paid parking season—especially to handle congestion tied to events like the Sea Witch Festival, which draws around 200,000 visitors each fall.

According to Assistant City Manager Evan Miller:

“We see folks parking days in advance of the Sea Witch Festival because they want to get a good spot on Rehoboth Avenue and tailgate for the event.”

Currently, Friday barricades block in early-parked vehicles until the parade wraps up on Saturday—leading to gridlock that impacts local businesses in the days before the event.

A potential solution?
The city is considering banning overnight parking on Thursday nights to discourage early birds from camping out in prime parking spots all week.

Community Feedback on Parking Fee Expansion

At a recent Downtown Rehoboth Advisory Task Force meeting, officials presented four options to local business leaders about modifying the parking season. The current paid season runs from May 15 to September 15—but the city may shift toward a longer model like Ocean City’s April 1 to October 31 schedule.

Here were the four options presented:

1. Status quo – $4/hour from May 15 to Sept 15

2. Tiered model – Weekday $2 / Weekend $4 in summer; Free weekdays / $2 weekends in shoulder season

3. Flat rate model – $4/hour every day in summer; Free weekdays / $2 weekends in shoulder season

4. Expanded weekend enforcement – $4/hour summer; Free weekdays / $4 weekends in shoulder season

Chamber of Commerce President Carol Everhart was surprised by the openness of local businesses to shoulder-season parking fees:

“In the off-season, having the meters on during weekends may not be as detrimental as increasing rates in peak summer.”

No decisions have been finalized, but officials are expected to revisit the Sea Witch Festival parking concerns—and potentially shoulder season enforcement—in upcoming May and June meetings.

What It Means for You

Whether you’re a local business, a seasonal visitor, or a full-time resident, these changes could reshape how you experience downtown Bethany and Rehoboth. Parking fees aren’t just about revenue—they’re also about crowd management, tourism strategy, and city sustainability.

As of April 30, 2025:

• Bethany Beach is likely to vote on the rate hike in early May.

• Rehoboth Beach is actively exploring shoulder-season solutions but has no immediate rate increases planned.

Expect updates as beach season kicks off.