As of December 31, 2022 the Town of Southampton will discontinue its partial real property tax exemption program which is now available to eligible first-time home buyers of newly constructed or substantially altered and renovated homes.
Town Code Section 298-36 allows eligible first-time home buyers of newly constructed or significantly renovated or altered homes to be exempt from up to 50% of taxation levied by or on behalf of the Town. Such tax exemption, if granted, benefits property owners for a period of up to five years. Although the exemption will be discontinued as of December 31, 2022, eligible first-time homebuyers who enter into a binding contract prior to December 31, 2022 will still be able to apply for the exemption even after the program’s termination date.
Town of Southampton requires demolition permits for all structures located within historical designated areas and those built prior to 1941 to be first referred to the Historical Landmark Committee and Historic District Board for the review and/or recommendation. As of January 2018, the Historical Landmark Committee and Historic District Board is then required to render a report and/or recommendation on the proposal within 45 days from the date of its receipt of a complete demolition permit application. All reports and/or recommendations from the Landmarks and Historic Districts Board shall than be filed with the Building Division. Potential buyers who are looking to purchase a historic property and develop it with a new construction in a relatively short timeframe should take this Town requirement and timeframe into consideration.
Many Town of Southampton building and planning applications, checklists, and instructions were updated earlier this year. For example, an Owner Endorsement form must be attached to any application that previously required an Agent Letter form. The Agent Letter form will no longer be accepted. Most applications, including all building permit applications, applications for an updated certificate of occupancy and applications for a pre-existing certificate of occupancy, must be accompanied with an Open Governmental Disclosure form. This form along with other updated checklists and applications can be found on the following Town’s webpage:
https://www.southamptontownny.gov/311/Building-Applications-Forms
On May 10, 2018 the Village of Southampton will hold a public hearing regarding a proposed local law entitled “Local Law §116-17.1.B. and §116-17.1.E.” to further reduce the maximum gross floor area of a dwelling from currently permitted 12% of the lot area, plus 1,500 square feet, to 10% of the lot area plus 1,500 square feet, except in R-7.5 zoning district north of LIRR in the Hillcrest neighborhood, the maximum gross floor area is to be reduced to 10% of the lot area of the lot, plus 1,650 square feet. The Hillcrest neighborhood contains a significantly greater number of nonconforming lots and the Village Board intends to further study this neighborhood before imposing any further changes to the gross floor area requirements.
The objective of the gross floor area restrictions is to allow construction and reconstruction of dwellings to be more compatible with the scale and character of existing residential development in the Village.
Presently, subsection 116-17.1.B provides that the maximum gross floor area of a dwelling within the R-120, R-80 and R-60 Residence Districts shall be 12% of the lot area, plus 1,500 square feet. Subsection 116-17.1.E. provides that the maximum gross floor area of a dwelling within R-40, R-20, R-12.5 and R-7.5 Residence Districts and MF-20 Multi-Family Residence District shall be 12% of the lot area of the lot, plus 1,500 square feet, less the total gross floor area of accessory buildings on the lot.
