Solar Installation in East Hampton, NY

The East Hampton ARB reviews exterior alterations to properties within the Village that are visible from a public way. For solar, this means panels visible from the street, sidewalk, or neighboring public spaces require ARB review before installation. The board has issued specific solar guidelines that address acceptable panel placement, finish, and visibility thresholds. A well-designed installation — placed on rear or side elevations below the ridge line — can frequently satisfy these guidelines without triggering a full review hearing. Apex's design process begins with an ARB compliance assessment before any proposal is finalized.

Yes — and we do so routinely. Cedar shake requires a different attachment approach than asphalt shingle: penetrations must be flashed with material compatible with the shake, and the flashing method must account for the movement cedar experiences across seasonal temperature cycles. Standard lag-bolt attachment used on asphalt shingle roofs will cause leaks on cedar shake if not properly executed. Our installation crew uses a cedar-specific attachment system that has been tested for watertightness across multiple annual cycles on East End properties.

The East Hampton ARB meets on a monthly schedule. A complete, properly prepared submission reviewed at the next scheduled meeting can receive approval in approximately four to six weeks from submission. Incomplete submissions, or those that require additional information from the board, extend the timeline to two or three cycles. Apex prepares submissions to the board's stated standards on first submission, minimizing the likelihood of additional-information requests. We have obtained ARB approvals in a single review cycle on the majority of our East Hampton Village projects.

East Hampton Village is a separately incorporated municipality with its own building department and ARB, operating under Village Code. East Hampton Town encompasses the larger unincorporated area including Wainscott, Springs, Napeague, and the areas around the Village. Town permitting is handled by the East Hampton Town Building Department under Town Code, which has different ARB requirements and generally a faster permit timeline than the Village. Properties within the Village boundary — which includes the historic main streets and the residential neighborhoods immediately surrounding the Village Green — are subject to Village Code and the Village ARB's review.