Find a vetted marine contractor in Southampton, NY

Who licenses marine contractors in Southampton

• Under DEC's tidal wetlands program, almost any activity that will alter wetlands or their adjacent areas needs a permit, and those areas reach up to 300 feet inland from the wetland boundary outside New York City.
• Replacing broken boards on a functional dock does not require a DEC permit, the agency says, but changing the dock's length, width or position does.
• Besides DEC, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction, and DEC notes that a Corps permit may be required whether or not DEC requires one.

State rules and the lookup steps: how to check a marine contractor's license.

What the Town of Southampton requires

• The Southampton Town Trustees regulate dock and bulkhead construction.
• Southampton's Conservation Board reviews and approves the town's wetland permits under Town Code Chapter 325, which regulates fresh, tidal and brackish wetlands.
• 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.
• Southampton's Environment Division charges $1,200 for a Conservation Board wetland permit and $600 for an administrative wetland permit.

The Town of Southampton Building and Zoning Department handles permits (631-287-5700). Our Town of Southampton permit guide covers how to apply, inspections and certificates.

Homes in Southampton: what the Census shows

Across the Town of Southampton, villages included, the median home was built in 1983, and 22% of homes were built before 1960, 10% before 1940. 82% of homes here are owner-occupied, and 89% are single-family detached houses.

What bulkhead, dock and seawall work costs here

Labor is a large part of any price. Long Island operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn a median $92,856 a year, from about $62,510 at entry level to $122,757 with experience. Construction laborers earn a median $58,875 a year, from about $39,468 at entry level to $79,154 with experience. (New York State Department of Labor, wages updated to the first quarter of 2026.) Prices come from written estimates; more in the bulkheads, docks and seawalls cost guide.

Before you hire in Southampton

• Ask for the license number the work needs here (see who licenses marine contractors above), and check it before you sign.
• Ask who files with the Town of Southampton Building and Zoning Department, and who books the inspections.
• How long do the permits usually take, and what can be done before they arrive?
• What materials will you use, and how long are they expected to last in salt water?