Nassau County, New York
Selling a home in Long Beach
An oceanfront city on a barrier island, with the bay on one side, a boardwalk on the other, and flood rules every buyer asks about.
Get my free home valueAbout Long Beach
An oceanfront city between the ocean and the bay
Long Beach is one of only two cities on Long Island, the other being Glen Cove. It sits on an oceanfront barrier island off the South Shore and, while it lies geographically within the Town of Hempstead, it governs itself. The city traces its start to 1880, when the first Long Beach Hotel was built. The railroad arrived in 1882 and Long Beach became a city in 1922. It had 35,029 residents in the 2020 Census.
The city's 2.25-mile boardwalk, first built in 1914 and rebuilt after Superstorm Sandy, runs beside a 3.5-mile public beach. The Historic Red Brick District on Penn Street, between Grand Boulevard and National Boulevard, keeps some of the early streetscape. Trains on the LIRR Long Beach Branch end at Long Beach station in the center of the city, a short walk from the ocean.
Homes in Long Beach
What sellers should know
Long Beach has bungalows and cottages on narrow lots, larger houses near the ocean and along the bay, and apartment and condo buildings along the boardwalk. FEMA maps place virtually the whole city in a high-risk flood zone, so most buyers with a mortgage will need flood insurance. Elevation, flood vents and the date of any post-storm rebuild all affect what that insurance costs, so have your paperwork ready.
Get an elevation certificate
The city says virtually all of Long Beach is in the AE flood zone, where lenders require flood insurance. An elevation certificate lets a buyer price the policy before they bid.
Share your flood history plainly
Superstorm Sandy brought flooding across the city in 2012. Keep records of repairs, raising work and any insurance claim, and give them to buyers up front.
Close out permits with the city
The Building Department on the third floor of City Hall at 1 West Chester Street handles permits. Open permits from storm repairs can delay closing.
Mention the CRS discount
Long Beach takes part in FEMA's Community Rating System, and the city says eligible policyholders get a 15 percent discount on flood insurance premiums.
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Selling in Long Beach?
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Selling a home in Long Beach: questions
Who assesses my property in Long Beach?
The City of Long Beach has its own assessor, who values property for city taxes and handles exemptions. The city's grievance period for its roll runs in January; for 2026 it was January 2 through January 20. Check the Tax Assessor page for the current dates.
Will my buyer need flood insurance?
Very likely. The city says FEMA's maps put virtually all of Long Beach in the higher-risk AE zone, and lenders require flood insurance there. Homeowners insurance does not usually cover flood damage.
Do I need city approval for work done before the sale?
Most construction needs a building permit from the city, and zoning variances go to the Long Beach Zoning Board of Appeals. If work was done without permits, talk to the Building Department before you list.