Waterways and communities
Southampton's shoreline runs along Moriches Bay, Quantuck and Quogue canals, Shinnecock Bay, Great Peconic Bay, Noyack Bay and Sag Harbor, plus the ocean beaches. Where a property is in a Coastal Erosion Hazard Area or within 10 feet of vegetated tidal wetlands or eelgrass, DEC's fast-track bulkhead general permit doesn't apply.
- Hampton Bays
- Westhampton
- Westhampton Beach
- Quogue
- East Quogue
- Remsenburg-Speonk
- Shinnecock Hills
- Southampton Village
- North Sea
- Noyack
- Sag Harbor (part)
- Flanders
Local permits in Southampton
Town Trustees permit (Chapter 111, Article VI)
No dock, spile, bulkhead, jetty, retaining wall, revetment, catwalk, walkway, stairs, fill or other structure may be built in the bay beach or ocean beach area without a permit from the Town Trustees.
- No chemically treated wood or preservatives may be used to build docks, bulkheads or pilings anywhere in the Town (amended 2008).
- Floating docks, jet-boat and jet-ski floats, boat lifts and hydro hoists attached to a dock or the bottom need their own Trustees permit.
- Seasonal docks and moorings must come out of the water by December 1.
- Dredging, or digging a boat channel or basin, needs a Trustees permit. A first violation of Article VI can bring a fine of up to $1,000.
Source: Town of Southampton Code Ch. 111, Art. VI, § 111-30 (ecode360).
Villages: The villages of Westhampton Beach, Quogue, Southampton, Sag Harbor and North Haven have their own rules and boards. In unincorporated areas, the Town Trustees control the bay and ocean beach areas.
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 Southampton
Ocean beaches and exposed bayfronts can fall in Coastal Erosion Hazard Areas or high-energy wave zones, which DEC's general permit excludes. If yours does, plan on individual DEC review (Articles 15 and 25 plus a Section 401 certification) and a longer timeline than a South Shore canal.
What drives the price in Southampton
The treated-wood ban rules out ordinary pressure-treated timber, so quotes use vinyl, untreated tropical hardwoods, composites or steel, which raises the material cost of timber-style work. Open-bay exposure, individual permits and Trustees conditions all add to the price. Some contractors list a separate Town of Southampton license, so ask whether yours holds one.
Island-wide ranges: bulkhead cost guide & calculator.
Services in Southampton
Southampton bulkhead & dock FAQ
Can I use pressure-treated lumber for my dock in Southampton?
No. Town Code § 111-30 bans chemically treated wood and preservatives in docks, bulkheads and pilings. Expect vinyl, composites, untreated hardwoods or steel.
Do I need a separate permit for a boat lift or floating dock?
Yes. Floating docks, jet-ski floats, boat lifts and hydro hoists attached to a dock or the bottom each need a Town Trustees permit.
When does my seasonal dock have to come out?
By December 1 each year, under § 111-30.