Southampton Village, NY Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Chapter 65, Historic and Landmark Preservation, was amended in its entirety on April 13, 2023, and § 65-3 was amended again on February 12, 2026. The BARHP designates landmarks and recommends historic districts to the Board of Trustees, which designates the districts.

There are four types. An individual landmark meets one or more of six criteria, among them special character or historic or aesthetic interest, association with persons or events significant in local, state or national history, distinguishing characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, and being the work of an architect of significance. A historic district is a group of properties where a majority meet the landmark criteria and the group constitutes a unique section of the Village. An interior landmark has special historical or aesthetic interest and is customarily open or accessible to the public. A scenic landmark is a landscape feature or group of features of special historical or aesthetic interest. Ordinarily, properties that achieved significance within the past 50 years are not eligible unless they are integral parts of historic districts or properties of exceptional importance.

The process is formal. Owners receive notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, and regular mail at least 10 days before the public hearing; for a district of more than 10 properties where individual notice is infeasible, newspaper notice runs at least 15 days before. Once notice of a proposed designation issues, the Building Inspector cannot issue a building permit for the property and no activity described in § 65-4 can be conducted until the decision is made. The BARHP decides by resolution within 62 days after the hearing closes, with written reasons, and notifies owners within seven days. For districts, the Board of Trustees notices its hearing within 60 days of the recommendation and decides within 62 days after the hearing closes. The Board records each designation with the Suffolk County Clerk.

After designation, § 65-4 bars exterior alteration, restoration, construction, reconstruction, demolition or moving of a structure, land, trees or plantings on a landmark or in a district without a certificate of appropriateness from the BARHP. Owners cannot let a designated property fall into a serious state of disrepair (§ 65-9).