Showing ordinances that apply to Southold, NY
Southold is an unincorporated community (population 6,040) in Suffolk County, New York. Because Southold is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Suffolk County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The tree removal & heritage trees rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Most Suffolk County towns require a permit to remove trees above a certain diameter, with replacement requirements. Brookhaven requires permits for trees over 6 inches DBH, Huntington over 8 inches, and Southampton and East Hampton have aggressive tree protection ordinances on the East End. Clearing for development requires a tree survey.
Brookhaven Town Code Chapter 88 (Vegetation Preservation) requires a permit to remove any tree of 6 inches DBH or larger, with a 1:1 replacement mitigation on developed lots and more for clearing. Huntington Chapter 183 protects trees over 8 inches DBH. Southampton Chapter 325 and East Hampton Chapter 255 impose some of the strictest tree protection in New York, covering trees as small as 4 inches DBH in sensitive areas. In the Pine Barrens Core Preservation Area, vegetation removal is additionally regulated by the Pine Barrens Commission.
Unpermitted tree removal: $1,000-$5,000 per tree in western towns, up to $25,000 per tree in Southampton and East Hampton. Stop-work orders and replacement planting required. Pine Barrens violations: enhanced penalties under ECL Article 57.
See how Southold's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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