Standard Application for Suffolk County Aquaculture Lease

This is the current version of the Shellfish Aquaculture Lease Agreement that each applicant will be signing as part of the lease execution process. Subsequent to the lease execution, the legal document will be recorded in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk.

This is the standard public disclosure form for Suffolk County. All persons or business entities that have leases or contracts with Suffolk County must complete and submit this form to the County each year they retain their lease. Each leaseholder will be required to complete and submit this form prior to their lease execution. This form will also need to be submitted with their Leaseholder Annual Report Form. This form must be notarized by a notary public prior to submittal to Suffolk County.

Every year that the lease is retained, the Leaseholder Annual Report form must be submitted by the Leaseholder 30 days prior to the lease anniversary date. This form provides the County with an annual update about the aquaculture activities taking place on each leased site. Each Leaseholder is also required to complete and submit a SC Form 22, along with their Leaseholder Annual Report form and their Annual Lease Rental Fee. This form will also be required prior to the termination or expiration of a lease (SC Form 22 and Rental Fee will not be required).

A leaseholder, as the applicant, who wishes to assign (transfer) their lease to another person or entity must submit a Lease Assignment Application to the Department along with a completed Leaseholder Annual Report form (SC Form 22 will not be required). A pre-application meeting and public notice are also requirements of this application process. A new lease between the County of Suffolk and the assignee (new leaseholder) must be executed; and all required permits must be obtained before the assignee can conduct any shellfish cultivation activities on this lease site location.

Leaseholders who wish to terminate their lease prior to the expiration of their lease term may do so by completing and submitting this application to the County. The leaseholder is responsible for the removal of all shellfish aquaculture equipment from the lease area prior to the request for termination. Additional paperwork is required to finalize the lease termination.