Building Permits on Long Island: Township-by-Township
What Lisa (our permit coordinator) has learned after filing with every major Long Island township.
Permit posture matters. If you're planning a 6-month build and your township takes 14 weeks for approval, your start date is already pushed. Here's what we see, by town.
Town of Hempstead
4–8 weeksLargest LI town. Generally efficient for standard residential additions. Village of Garden City has its own architectural review board.
Town of Huntington
6–10 weeksModerately efficient. Accessory-dwelling additions (in-law suites) require additional review. Waterfront properties add coastal requirements.
Town of Smithtown
6–10 weeksWell-documented process. Additional review for properties on Nissequogue or St. James historic district.
Town of Babylon
5–9 weeksSouth Shore. FEMA flood zones (AE, VE) add elevation certificate and flood-venting requirements.
Town of Brookhaven
8–14 weeksLI's largest township by area. Review timelines vary by inspector workload. Historic-district properties (Setauket, Bellport, Stony Brook) add architectural review.
Town of Islip
6–10 weeksStandard South Shore processing. Properties in Islip Terrace or Bay Shore may face additional setback review.
Town of Oyster Bay
5–9 weeksNassau North Shore. Gold Coast villages (Lattingtown, Mill Neck) have own ARBs.
Town of Southampton
12–20 weeksEast End. Architectural review board is thorough. CCA (coastal) permits required for waterfront. We've navigated dozens.
Town of East Hampton
14–22 weeksStrictest on the island. Design review is rigorous. Wetlands and coastal setbacks add process time. Plan accordingly.
Village of Garden City
6–10 weeksOwn architectural review board separate from Town of Hempstead. Tudor and colonial preservation standards apply.
How we handle permits
Lisa Park runs our permit desk. Every filing goes through her from drawings to inspection sign-off. You don't touch a form. All permit costs are itemized in your original estimate — not a surprise invoice.
What slows approvals down
- Incomplete structural drawings (no PE stamp)
- Missing survey or lot-line certifications
- Setback or coverage violations flagged late
- Historic district or ARB triggers not disclosed early
- Wetlands or FEMA flood-zone requirements missed
All of these are avoided when a permit coordinator manages the filing from day one. This is where bad builders lose 6–12 weeks and you lose your start date.
Need permits pulled?
We file with every major Nassau and Suffolk township. Include permit costs in your estimate — no hidden fees.
Schedule a consultation