Agricultural Assessment Information

The Town of Southampton currently offers two agricultural programs to assist local farmers in obtaining agricultural assessments. In order to qualify for either program, the links below may be helpful in determining which program may better meet your specific needs.

The first program is the Town’s one year Agricultural Use Agreement is an agreement between the Town of Southampton and the owner of eligible farmland. It is an agreement that must be approved by the Town Board annually for as long as you wish to restrict the land to agricultural use. The agreement runs with the Town’s tax year which is December 1st through November 30th. The agreement and applications are available in January and must be received in the Assessor’s Office no later than March 1st. Penalties will be imposed for land that is not maintained for agricultural purposes during the term of the agreement. For more information on the one year Agricultural Use Agreement, please view the following link.

The second Agricultural Assessment Program is offered by the NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services. If your agricultural land qualifies, you can receive reduced property tax bills for land in agricultural production. If your agricultural land is in an established State Agricultural District you can enroll annually and have to keep the land in agricultural production for 5 years. If you are NOT in an established State Agricultural District, you can enroll annually and have to keep the land in agricultural production for 8 years. All other program eligibility requirements are the same for both types of exemption. New applications and annual renewal applications are available in January and must be received by March 1st. Penalties will be imposed for land that is converted to non-agricultural use. For more information on NYS agricultural Assessments and Districts information please click on the links below.

For questions regarding agricultural assessment programs, you may also contact the Assessor’s Office at 631-283-6020.