Waterways and communities
The South Shore half of the town is canal country: dead-end lagoons and boat basins off Middle Bay, East Bay, Hempstead Bay and Reynolds Channel, from Inwood and Island Park east through Oceanside, Baldwin, Freeport, Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh and Seaford. Lots are narrow and walls are shared with neighbors, so one failing section affects the walls on either side. DEC's Environmental Notice Bulletin lists a steady stream of residential bulkhead applications from these canals.
- Freeport
- Baldwin
- Oceanside
- Island Park
- East Rockaway
- Merrick
- Bellmore
- Wantagh
- Seaford
- Point Lookout
- Lido Beach
- Atlantic Beach
- Hewlett
- Woodmere
- Inwood
Local permits in Hempstead
Town permit: Structures in Waterways (Chapter 168)
Town Code Chapter 168 requires a permit from the Director of the Department of Conservation & Waterways before any structure, including docks, piers and bulkheading, is built or installed over or next to a Town waterway.
- Since January 24, 2025, every Structures in Waterways permit, bulkheads included, must be filed through the Town's OpenGov online portal.
- Bulkhead applications need at least three probings to find the depth of the bog (soft bottom), plus a survey by a New York-licensed land surveyor showing existing conditions.
- The Department won't approve work that extends or enlarges your property, and dock approvals are limited to what's needed to board a vessel safely.
- You (the permittee) are responsible for every other local, state and federal approval. When the work is finished, close out the permit online with photos.
- The application also needs an NYSDEC letter of approval, an owner's affidavit, construction drawings, site photos, and copies of the deed and a recent tax bill.
- No structure or boat may take up more than a quarter of the waterway's width, and new platforms are limited to 100 square feet.
- Department of Conservation & Waterways: (516) 812-3123.
Source: Town of Hempstead — Structures in Waterways.
Your duty to maintain the wall (§ 168-7)
A bulkhead installed or replaced under Chapter 168 must be kept in good repair by the permittee, or whoever owns the upland after them, so that soil doesn't erode into the waterway and impair navigation.
Source: Town of Hempstead Code Ch. 168: Structures in Waterways (ecode360).
Villages: Incorporated villages such as Freeport, Island Park, East Rockaway and Atlantic Beach run their own building departments, and some have their own bulkhead chapters (the Village of Hewlett Bay Park's code has a whole chapter on bulkheads). Check which municipality is on your tax bill before anyone files.
State layer: most replacements here can use DEC's bulkhead general permit (in place or landward, up to 18 in. higher, no application fee) unless the site is near vegetated tidal wetlands or eelgrass or in an erosion hazard area. Check if you qualify.
Flooding and wall height in Hempstead
Much of the South Shore waterfront here is in FEMA flood zones, and some villages set higher building standards. For example, in 2014 the New York State Code Council approved a 4-foot freeboard building standard for the Village of Freeport. DEC's bulkhead general permit allows a replacement up to 18 inches higher than the old wall (more where FEMA elevations justify it), so ask whether matching or raising your neighbors' height makes sense.
What drives the price in Hempstead
The Town's bog-probing rule exists for a reason: deep soft bottom means longer sheet piles and anchors, which is one of the biggest price swings on these canals. Narrow canals can limit barge access and add equipment time. Shared walls cost less per foot when neighbors replace together, but they need coordinated permits.
Island-wide ranges: bulkhead cost guide & calculator.
Services in Hempstead
Hempstead bulkhead & dock FAQ
Do I file with the Town or my village?
If you live in an incorporated village (Freeport, Island Park, East Rockaway, Atlantic Beach and others), the village building department handles local permits. The unincorporated hamlets (Baldwin, Oceanside, Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford and others) file with the Town's Department of Conservation & Waterways.
Can I make my yard bigger by putting the new bulkhead out further?
Generally no. The Town says it won't approve work that extends or enlarges the owner's property, and DEC's general permit only allows in-place or landward replacement (resheathing can sit up to 4 inches out for timber or 8 inches for vinyl or steel).
Why does my contractor need to probe the bottom?
The Town requires at least three probings to find how deep the bog goes. That depth sets how long the sheet piles and anchors need to be, which drives both the design and the price.
Sources
- Town of Hempstead — Structures in Waterways (process, OpenGov portal, bog probings)
- Town of Hempstead Code Ch. 168: Structures in Waterways (ecode360)
- Village of Hewlett Bay Park Code Ch. 59: Bulkheads (ecode360)
- ASFPM — Freeport, NY 4-foot freeboard standard
- NYSDEC — General Permit: Bulkhead Removal and Replacement