Cost guide
What bulkhead, dock and seawall work costs on Long Island
What public data can and cannot tell you
No government agency publishes a price list for bulkhead, dock and seawall work on Long Island, and vendor price ranges are not facts. What public data does show is what the labor costs, what the towns charge for permits, and what grants exist. The price for your job comes from licensed pros' written estimates after they see it.
What the trade earns on Long Island
| Occupation | Entry level | Median | Experienced | Jobs on Long Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $62,510 | $92,856 | $122,757 | 3,270 |
| Construction Laborers | $39,468 | $58,875 | $79,154 | 11,370 |
Annual pay from the New York State Department of Labor, updated to the first quarter of 2026. Entry level is the average of the lowest third of wages; experienced is the average of the top two thirds.
What the towns charge
- Town of Riverhead: Riverhead's 2026 fee schedule charges $300 for a Conservation Advisory Council application and $300 for a Chapter 219 coastal erosion application, with appeals heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals as the Coastal Erosion Hazard Area Board of Review.
- Town of Riverhead: Riverhead charges a non-refundable $200 for its bulkheading, dock and coastal application, which includes a two-page building permit application, signed and notarized.
- Town of Southampton: Southampton's Coastal Erosion Management permit carries a $1,500.00 application fee, and no work, clearing or grading included, may begin before that permit and a building permit are granted.
- Town of Southampton: Southampton's Environment Division charges $1,200 for a Conservation Board wetland permit and $600 for an administrative wetland permit.
- Town of Southold: The Southold Trustees charge $1,250.00 each for wetlands and coastal erosion permit applications, $250.00 for an administrative wetland permit and $100.00 for an annual coastal contractor license.
- Town of Southold: Southold's Trustees charge $3.00 per square foot for a fixed dock, ramp or float.
- Town of Shelter Island: Shelter Island's 2022 fee schedule charges $125.00 for a certificate of completion on docks and bulkheads.
What moves the price
Marine work prices turn on the length of shoreline, the water depth, access for equipment, the material, and the permits the job needs.
How to compare estimates
- Give every company the same scope, in writing, so the prices compare.
- Check what each estimate includes: permits, disposal, patching, cleanup and warranties.
- Ask how changes are priced once work starts.
- Never pay most of the price up front.
Related
Questions homeowners ask
How much does a marine contractor cost on Long Island?
No public agency publishes job prices. The price comes from written estimates after a licensed pro sees the job. For context, Long Island operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn a median $92,856 a year, according to the New York State Department of Labor.
Why do estimates for the same job differ so much?
Usually because they price different scopes: different materials, permits, disposal or warranties. Give each company the same written scope and the prices compare.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the office before you file anything.
- New York State Department of Labor, Occupational Wages (Long Island region, wages updated to the first quarter of 2026) (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Riverhead, 2026 Site Plan Application with Fee Schedule (read 2026-11-03; page dated 7/21/2026)
- Town of Riverhead, Bulkheading, Dock and Coastal Application (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Southampton, Coastal Erosion Management Permit Application (read 2026-11-03; page dated 06/2025 and 01/2024)
- Town of Southampton, Environment Division Fee Schedule (read 2026-11-03; page dated effective 01/02/2026)
- Town of Southold, Trustees fees (read 2026-11-03)
- Town of Shelter Island, 2022 Building Department Fees (read 2026-11-03; page dated 2022)
Checked 2026-11-03. Facts come only from the official pages listed, read on that date.
Talk the job through before you call anyone
Tell us about the house and the job in about four minutes. Revival calls you, free, to go over the scope, the budget, the timing and your town's permit office. Contractor matches open as our first licensed partners sign.