Long Island
Southold, New York
Southold is a town in Suffolk County, in New York's Long Island region, home to about 23,500 people as of the 2020 census.
Whether you're moving in or you've been here for years, the checks that matter most are the school district, the assessment and STAR, and — outside the cities — the well, the septic, and the flood map.
- Type
- Town
- County
- Suffolk
- Region
- Long Island
- Population (2020)
- 23,732
Local Almanac
Notes in and around Southold
Short, sourced notes tied to this place, its county, or nearby communities.
This place · 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 ->This place · 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 ->This place · 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 ->This place · 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 ->This place · Home & Property
Southold building fees are part of the project check
Southold’s building department and fee schedule help owners check permit costs before a North Fork project budget is locked.
Read this note ->Nearby · 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 ->Nearby · 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 ->Nearby · 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 ->Suffolk County · Home & Property
Suffolk Owners Can Use the Clerk's Watch List
Suffolk's Homeowner Watch List can email owners when land-record filings show up for a registered property.
Read this note ->Property tax snapshot
Roughly $6–$10 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 $1,707–$3,104 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.