Long Island
Shelter Island, New York
Shelter Island is a town in Suffolk County, in New York's Long Island region, home to about 3,300 people as of the 2020 census.
Ocean beaches, the Hamptons, lighthouses, and North Fork vineyards east of the city. Shelter Island sits in that part of the state.
- Type
- Town
- County
- Suffolk
- Region
- Long Island
- Population (2020)
- 3,253
Local Almanac
Notes in and around Shelter Island
Short, sourced notes tied to this place, its county, or nearby communities.
This place · History & Culture
Shelter Island's Ferry Geography Still Shapes the Town
Shelter Island's official history and ferry geography make water crossings part of the town's daily identity.
Read this note ->This place · Home & Property
Shelter Island mechanical work can still need a building permit
Shelter Island’s permit FAQ is a reminder that equipment work like generators, HVAC, and similar upgrades can trigger town review.
Read this note ->This place · Cars & Driving
Shelter Island beach parking starts with the town clerk
Shelter Island beach access is partly a sticker-and-permit question, so residents and guests should check the town clerk route before parking.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Southold Holds Farms, Sound Water, and a Lighthouse Bluff
Southold's local identity ties North Fork farmland, preserve work, and Horton Point Lighthouse to a Sound-facing maritime story.
Read this note ->Nearby · The Outdoors
Orient Beach gives Southold a quieter maritime-forest frame
Orient Beach State Park helps explain Southold through bay water, maritime forest, and the long reach of the North Fork.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Sag Harbor Cinema gives the village a film-culture anchor
Sag Harbor Cinema makes film culture part of Main Street's public identity.
Read this note ->Nearby · Rules & Licenses
Southold rental permits run through the building department
Southold’s rental permit materials point owners and renters back to the town building department before a rental is treated as routine.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Sag Harbor keeps its whaling history on Main Street
The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum gives the village a visible reminder that its waterfront identity was industrial before it was polished.
Read this note ->Nearby · The Outdoors
Southold’s Orient Beach rules change the North Fork day plan
A Southold beach or picnic trip should check Orient Beach State Park’s official page before relying on old hours, fees, or access memory.
Read this note ->Property tax snapshot
Roughly $6–$6 per $1,000
Combined full-value rate — county + town/city + school district, per $1,000 of market value (FY2025). On a $300,000 home that's about $1,782–$1,782 a year before the STAR break.
A planning estimate, not a bill. Your exact rate depends on your school district and any village. Confirm with the assessor.
Statewide links
Statewide starting points.
Good to know
- • Your assessed value usually isn't your market value — ask for the equalization rate.
- • Register for STAR; new applicants generally receive a credit instead of an automatic exemption on the bill.
- • Outside the cities, check the well, the septic, and the FEMA flood map before you buy.
Nearby
Nearby places
Tax rates: NYS Dept of Taxation & Finance (ORPTS), Real Property Tax Rates and Levy Data by Municipality, data.ny.gov dataset iq85-sdzs. (FY2025). Population: U.S. Census 2020. Reviewed June 2026. Source data ->
Page feedback
Send a page note
Send a note about this page. The page address will be included automatically.
Page feedback
Send a note
This is for fixing the site: wrong details, unclear wording, broken links, outdated information, or useful local context.