The Short Answer
Old Westbury is an incorporated village in Nassau County, incorporated in 1924, that lies in two towns: the Town of North Hempstead and, for its northeastern portion, the Town of Oyster Bay. Its zoning code sets residential minimums of 8,000 square feet, one acre, two acres and four acres per house by district. The village runs its own building department, police, roads and water. Four school districts serve it by address: Jericho, East Williston, Westbury and Roslyn.
Old Westbury is a municipal government, not a neighborhood name. The village historian records that it was settled in 1658 as “Woodedge,” that twelve square miles were incorporated in 1924, that postwar estates were broken into two-acre subdivisions, and that in 1987 the village up-zoned to four-acre lots and created lot averaging. Today the village covers about 8.6 square miles of land, according to the Census Bureau.
For how villages, towns and hamlets differ across the region, see our guide to North Shore towns, villages and hamlets.
Is Old Westbury a Village, and What Does the Village Government Run?
Yes. Old Westbury is an incorporated village with its own Board of Trustees, planning and zoning boards, building department, public works, water department, justice court and police department. Village Hall is at 1 Store Hill Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568, (516) 626-0800. As of October 2026 the mayor is Marina Chimerine, who sits with four trustees.
The Planning Board reviews site plans for new houses and larger additions and decides subdivisions; its Sub-Committee does architectural review of structures and alterations. Under the site plan chapter as amended on 15 December 2025, a house on a new foundation, other than a same-footprint replacement, and an alteration of more than 20 percent of a building’s square footage both go to the Planning Board before a building permit issues.
| Service | Who provides it | Meets or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning, building permits, certificates of occupancy | Village Building Department | Village Hall, (516) 626-0800 |
| Site plans and subdivisions | Village Planning Board | First Monday, 7 p.m. |
| Architectural review | Planning Board Sub-Committee | Third Thursday, 8:30 a.m. |
| Variances | Board of Zoning Appeals | Second Monday, 7 p.m. |
| Zoning law and special permits | Board of Trustees | Third Monday, 7 p.m. |
| Roads and drinking water | Department of Public Works; Water Department | Village Hall |
| Police | Old Westbury Police Department, a village department | (516) 626-0200 |
| County, town and school taxes | The town Receiver of Taxes | North Hempstead or Oyster Bay |
Sources: Village of Old Westbury, Departments and board pages; Village Code chapter 174. Checked October 2026.
Which Town Is Old Westbury In?
Both. The Town of Oyster Bay lists Old Westbury among its villages as “portion only,” and that portion is the northeastern part of the village. The rest is in the Town of North Hempstead, which also lists Old Westbury among its villages.
The town line decides which Receiver of Taxes bills a parcel’s county, town and school taxes. Zoning, permits and the village tax are the same on both sides of it.
| Part of the village | Town | Who bills county, town and school taxes |
|---|---|---|
| Northeastern portion | Town of Oyster Bay | Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes, (516) 624-6400 |
| Remainder of the village | Town of North Hempstead | North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes, (516) 869-7800 |
Sources: Town of Oyster Bay and Town of North Hempstead village and Receiver of Taxes pages; Village of Old Westbury School Districts Map (town boundary line), dated July 18, 2017. Checked October 2026.
What Is the Minimum Lot Size in Old Westbury?
It depends on the zoning district: four acres per house in the B-4 Residence District, two acres in BB, one acre in B and 8,000 square feet in the A Residence District. The code also has a C Residence District for a golf or tennis club and two business districts. The official zoning map is kept by the Village Clerk, so ask the village for a parcel’s district.
| District | Minimum lot area per house | Minimum street frontage |
|---|---|---|
| B-4 Residence | 174,240 square feet (four acres) | 25 feet, and the lot must hold a circle 350 feet across |
| BB Residence | 87,120 square feet (two acres) | 200 feet |
| B Residence | 43,560 square feet (one acre) | 140 feet |
| A Residence | 8,000 square feet | 70 feet |
| C Residence (club district) | 175 acres for a golf club; 15 acres for a tennis club | No frontage minimum in the article |
Source: Code of the Village of Old Westbury, Chapter 216 (Zoning), sections 216-6, 216-14, 216-18, 216-22.5, 216-22.9, 216-26, 216-30, 216-37, 216-41 and 216-50, ecode360, legislation through December 15, 2025.
The lot-size rule that overrides the map
For lots that existed when three local laws adopted on 15 September 2008 took effect, the code applies district rules by lot size, whatever the map shows: B-4 rules to any lot of four acres or more, BB rules to lots of two acres up to just under four, and B rules to lots of one acre up to just under two. One exception: a legally established lot under four acres inside the B-4 district (on a village partition map filed before 1 June 1988, a County-filed plat, or preexisting nonconforming) keeps the rules of its earlier district.
Yards, coverage and volume on the estate districts
| Rule | B-4 Residence | BB Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Front yard | 150 feet; 200 feet on listed major streets | 75 feet |
| Side and rear yards | 100 feet each | 50 feet each |
| House and accessory buildings | Up to 6 percent of the lot | Up to 8 percent of the lot |
| All coverage | 25 percent, structures and paving | 25 percent, buildings and structures |
| Land kept natural | 35 percent of the first three acres, 50 percent beyond | No set share |
| Pools, tennis courts, barns | 75 feet from all property lines | Pools 30 feet, tennis courts 25 feet, from side and rear lines; animal barns 50 feet from any lot line |
| House height | 35 feet | 35 feet |
Source: Code of the Village of Old Westbury, Chapter 216, sections 216-13, 216-15, 216-17, 216-20, 216-22.6, 216-22.8 and 216-22.10, ecode360, legislation through December 15, 2025.
House size is also capped by volume. In BB and B-4, the allowance is 78,000 cubic feet for the first 87,120 square feet of lot, plus one cubic foot for every 2.5 square feet beyond. As a hypothetical, a four-acre lot of 174,240 square feet allows 112,848 cubic feet. Before a building permit issues, the Village Engineer certifies the volume from sealed drawings against a $2,500 deposit, and that certification comes before any board appearance.
Can an Old Westbury Estate Be Subdivided?
Sometimes, through the Planning Board and within the lot area, frontage and yard rules that apply. Dividing a parcel into two or more lots is a subdivision; a lot-line transfer between neighbors that creates no new lot and keeps every lot at its minimums is not.
Approval runs in three steps: preapplication, preliminary layout and subdivision plat. For three or more lots, the Planning Board engages a professional planner at the applicant’s expense. In the B-4 district, the Board of Trustees may authorize lot averaging: the number of lots is the total acreage divided by four, rounded down, and no lot may be under three acres unless it holds a landmarked structure. The Planning Board can vary lot width, depth and frontage after a public hearing.
No subdivision may leave a pond in shared ownership. Subdivision, demolition and alteration applications are checked for landmarks, and a designated landmark’s exterior may not be changed without approval. And the Planning Board may require a bridle path easement as a condition of final approval.
A 7.5-Acre Parcel Is Not Three Two-Acre Lots
Take a hypothetical 7.5-acre parcel that existed when the 2008 rule took effect. Under the lot-size rule it follows the B-4 four-acre rules wherever it sits on the zoning map. Conventional B-4 lots need four acres each, and lot averaging caps the count at 7.5 divided by four, rounded down: one lot. Frontage, the 350-foot circle and the 100-foot yards apply as well. Read the code and ask the village before you price land value into an offer.
Looking at an Old Westbury parcel?Tell The Scout Residential Team which property you have in mind, and we can talk through what the village rules mean for it before you make an offer.
Contact the TeamWhat School District Is Old Westbury, NY In?
Four public school districts serve parts of the village: Jericho, East Williston, Westbury and Roslyn. The address decides which one applies, and the district lines follow neither the village line nor the town line.
| School district | Where it falls in the village | Town portion |
|---|---|---|
| Jericho Union Free School District | The north and northeast, the largest area | All of the Oyster Bay portion, plus part of the North Hempstead side |
| East Williston Union Free School District | The west and southwest | North Hempstead |
| Westbury Union Free School District | The south and southeast | North Hempstead |
| Roslyn Union Free School District | A small northwestern section near Glen Cove Road | North Hempstead |
Sources: Village of Old Westbury, School Districts Map, dated July 18, 2017; U.S. Census Bureau, TIGERweb Unified School Districts, January 1, 2026 vintage, overlaid on the village boundary.
To confirm one address, the parcel’s tax bill carries a school district code showing which district receives its school tax, and the district’s registration office confirms enrollment. Residency is set by the New York State Education Law, and the Town of Oyster Bay notes that disputes go to the district or the State Commissioner of Education. Our East Hills village guide covers the neighboring village, which is also split among school districts.
How Do Property Taxes Work in Old Westbury?
An Old Westbury owner pays in layers: county and town general taxes, school taxes, any special district charges, and a village tax. The town Receiver of Taxes bills all but the village tax, which the village bills yearly, payable June 1.
Each levy is a rate applied to assessed value; the North Hempstead Receiver states base tax as the rate times .01 times the assessed value. The assessment of the land and buildings is the number an owner can review. The building department collects a Nassau County assessor’s form with every permit application, so the County is told of permitted work. Villages may use assessed values that differ from the county roll, so ask the village about its own.
| Bill | Due | Last day without penalty |
|---|---|---|
| First half, 2026-27 school tax | October 1, 2026 | November 10, 2026 |
| First half, 2027 general tax | January 1, 2027 | February 10, 2027 |
| Second half, 2026-27 school tax | April 1, 2027 | May 10, 2027 |
| Second half, 2027 general tax | July 1, 2027 | August 10, 2027 |
| Village tax (annual) | June 1 | 5 percent charge July 2, then 1 percent a month |
| Village water (twice a year) | Billed May 1 and November 1 | June 1 and December 1 |
Sources: Town of North Hempstead, Receiver of Taxes, Pay My Taxes; Town of Oyster Bay, Receiver of Taxes FAQ (same due dates); Village of Old Westbury, Administration. As of October 2026. When the 10th falls on a weekend or holiday, the last day moves to the next business day.
Buyers should know about restored taxes: when a seller’s exemption comes off after a sale, the county can add taxes back, prorated to the closing date, up to two years later.
When to grieve the assessment
Appeals go to the Nassau County Assessment Review Commission (ARC), which is independent of the Department of Assessment. The 2028-29 tentative roll is published January 4, 2027, and ARC accepts appeals from January 4 through March 1, 2027, online through AROW or at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola. Filing is free, and ARC posts any extension on its site.
What Should You Check Before Buying or Selling an Old Westbury Estate?
- Sewage. Most village properties cannot connect to the Nassau County sewer system and use cesspools or septic systems; the village says parcels in the county sewer district tend to lie south of the Long Island Expressway along Old Westbury Road toward Jericho Turnpike. No certificate of occupancy issues for living space until a sewage certificate of approval is on file.
- Permits. A certificate of occupancy is required for any work done under a building permit. The building department’s fee sheet, revised July 8, 2026, says permits run 12 months, renewal fees apply before a certificate issues, and fees to maintain an existing structure are three times the listed fees.
- Wells and water. Irrigation wells need a permit and must sit at least 15 feet from a property line and 25 feet from a highway. Lawn irrigation is allowed only from May 1 to October 15, and a backflow test report is due each September 1.
- Trees, fences and walls. Removing a tree 12 inches or more in diameter needs a permit, at $50 per tree, plus replacement planting. Wood picket, stockade and vinyl fences are barred in every district, chain-link is barred in front yards, and a retaining wall 24 inches or taller needs its own permit.
- Horses. In the B, BB and B-4 districts, occupants may keep horses at one per 20,000 square feet of lot, up to 30; the A district allows none.
- Renting. The code bars renting a house for less than one year and requires a one-year village rental occupancy permit.
Pull These Before an Offer
A current survey with lot area; the village building file with every permit and certificate of occupancy; the sewage certificate of approval; the school district code on the tax bill; the town and village tax bills and the water account; and the zoning district from the Village Clerk.
Selling an Old Westbury estate follows the New York attorney process. Our guide to selling a home in Roslyn, NY covers the steps, transfer taxes and closing costs, and our Old Westbury page has more on the village.
What Housing Stock Does Old Westbury Have?
Almost all detached houses. In the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, Old Westbury has about 1,077 housing units, plus or minus 99, and 1,022 of them, or 94.9 percent, are one-unit detached houses. Of 1,007 occupied units, 932, or 92.6 percent, are owner-occupied. About 45.5 percent have five or more bedrooms, and the median year built is 1969.
| Year built | Estimated units | Share of units |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 or earlier | 161 | 14.9 percent |
| 1940 to 1959 | 243 | 22.6 percent |
| 1960 to 1979 | 263 | 24.4 percent |
| 1980 to 1999 | 194 | 18.0 percent |
| 2000 to 2019 | 216 | 20.1 percent |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates, tables DP04 and B25035, Old Westbury village, New York.
On value, the survey reports the median owner-occupied value only as $2,000,000 or more, the highest figure the table publishes, with 90.6 percent of owner-occupied homes at $1,000,000 or more. These are owners’ own estimates, not sale prices. For pricing a specific house, see our North Shore home value guide.
What Is There to Visit in Old Westbury?
Old Westbury Gardens, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the former home of John S. Phipps and Margarita Grace Phipps: Westbury House, completed in 1906 by the English designer George A. Crawley, on 200 acres of gardens, woodland and ponds. Visitors enter at 71 Old Westbury Road; the posted 2026 regular hours are April 1 to October 31, daily except Tuesdays, with most tickets bought online in advance.
Two college campuses use Old Westbury addresses: the State University of New York at Old Westbury, and New York Institute of Technology’s Long Island campus at Northern Boulevard and Valentines Lane.
How Do You Get to Old Westbury by Train and Road?
No Long Island Rail Road station carries the Old Westbury name. The nearest stations sit in neighboring communities on two lines.
| Stations | Timetable that lists them (November 9, 2026 to February 28, 2027) |
|---|---|
| Carle Place, Westbury, Hicksville | Port Jefferson Branch, with service to Penn Station and Grand Central |
| East Williston, Albertson, Roslyn, Greenvale | Oyster Bay Branch, with service to Penn Station and Grand Central |
Source: MTA Long Island Rail Road, Port Jefferson Branch and Oyster Bay Branch timetables, effective November 9, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
By road, the Long Island Expressway crosses the village, and the code names Jericho Turnpike, Old Westbury Road, Wheatley Road, Store Hill Road and Post Road among its major streets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Old Westbury, NY
Is Old Westbury, NY an incorporated village?
Yes. Old Westbury is an incorporated village in Nassau County, New York, incorporated in 1924. A mayor and four trustees govern it, and it runs its own building department, planning board, public works, water department and police department, with Village Hall at 1 Store Hill Road. Owners pay a village tax in addition to county, town and school taxes.
Which town is Old Westbury, NY in?
Old Westbury is in two towns. The Town of Oyster Bay lists the village as “portion only,” and that portion is its northeastern part; the rest is in the Town of North Hempstead. The town decides which Receiver of Taxes bills a parcel’s county, town and school taxes. Zoning, permits and the village tax are the same in both parts.
What is the minimum lot size in Old Westbury, NY?
The Old Westbury zoning code sets four acres per house in the B-4 Residence District, two acres in BB, one acre in B and 8,000 square feet in the A district. For lots that existed when the September 2008 lot-size rule took effect, a lot of four acres or more follows the B-4 rules wherever it sits on the zoning map.
What school district is Old Westbury, NY in?
Four public school districts serve Old Westbury by address. On the village’s map, Jericho covers the north and northeast, East Williston the west and southwest, Westbury the south and southeast, and Roslyn a small northwestern section. Confirm one address with the district and the school code on the tax bill.
How are property taxes billed in Old Westbury, NY?
An Old Westbury owner receives school and general tax bills from the North Hempstead or Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes, covering county, town, school and special district taxes, plus a separate Village of Old Westbury tax bill. The first half of the 2026-27 school tax is payable without penalty through November 10, 2026. The village tax is due each June 1.
When can Old Westbury owners grieve their property assessment?
Old Westbury owners appeal their Nassau County assessment to the Assessment Review Commission, which is independent of the Department of Assessment. For the 2028-29 assessment, the tentative roll is published January 4, 2027, and ARC accepts appeals from January 4 through March 1, 2027. Filing is free and can be done online through AROW.
Is there an LIRR station in Old Westbury, NY?
No Long Island Rail Road station carries the Old Westbury name. The stations nearest Old Westbury are Carle Place, Westbury and Hicksville, listed on the Port Jefferson Branch timetable, and East Williston, Albertson, Roslyn and Greenvale on the Oyster Bay Branch. Both timetables show service to Penn Station and Grand Central.
Can you subdivide land in Old Westbury, NY?
Land in Old Westbury can be subdivided only with Planning Board approval, in three steps: preapplication, preliminary layout and subdivision plat. Each new lot must meet its district’s lot area, frontage and yard rules. In the four-acre B-4 district, lot averaging allows lots down to three acres but caps the count at total acres divided by four, rounded down.
Are Old Westbury homes on sewers or septic systems?
Most properties in Old Westbury cannot connect to the Nassau County sewer system and rely on cesspools or septic systems, according to the village. Parcels in the county sewer district tend to lie south of the Long Island Expressway along Old Westbury Road. The village code withholds a certificate of occupancy for living space until a sewage certificate of approval is on file.
Can you keep horses in Old Westbury, NY?
Yes, in Old Westbury’s B, BB and B-4 Residence Districts. The village code allows horses for the occupants’ own use at one horse per 20,000 square feet of lot area, up to 30, with manure stored at least 75 feet from boundary lines and removed weekly from April through October. The A Residence District allows no horses.
Buying or Selling in Old Westbury?
The Scout Residential Team at Compass is led by co-founders Liza Bendett and Melanie Cogan and works from 69 Roslyn Road in Roslyn, representing sellers and buyers across Roslyn and the North Shore of Long Island. If you are weighing an Old Westbury estate, start with its zoning district, school district code and building file, and we can go through them with you. Are you home yet?
Contact The Scout Residential TeamKeep Reading About Old Westbury and the North Shore
- Old Westbury, NY
- The Brookvilles
- Understanding the North Shore: Towns, Villages, and Hamlets Explained
- East Hills, NY Real Estate Guide: Incorporated Village Living
- Selling a Home in Roslyn, NY: Steps, Timeline, Closing Costs and Transfer Taxes
- Who Should You Hire to Sell Your House in Roslyn, NY?
- Port Washington and Sands Point, NY Real Estate Guide
- The Scout Residential Team
Sources
- Village of Old Westbury: History, Departments, Boards, Administration, Water and Sewer District pages (October 2026).
- Village of Old Westbury Building Department: General Information (revised July 8, 2026), Volume Certification and Tree Removal Permit.
- Village of Old Westbury, School Districts Map (dated July 18, 2017).
- General Code, Code of the Village of Old Westbury, Chapters 71, 74, 174, 185 and 216 (legislation through December 15, 2025).
- Town of Oyster Bay: Incorporated Villages, Real Estate Closing Information and Receiver of Taxes FAQ (October 2026).
- Town of North Hempstead: Incorporated Villages, Pay My Taxes (2026-27) and Closing Information.
- Nassau County, Assessment Review Commission and 2028-29 ARC calendar.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 five-year estimates, DP04 and B25035, Old Westbury village; TIGERweb places and school districts (January 1, 2026 vintage).
- MTA Long Island Rail Road, Port Jefferson Branch and Oyster Bay Branch timetables (November 9, 2026 to February 28, 2027).
- Old Westbury Gardens, Mission and History and Plan Your Visit (2026 season); SUNY Old Westbury; New York Institute of Technology, Long Island campus directions.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm the details for your own property with a New York real estate attorney, a tax professional or the relevant government office. Facts were checked against the sources above in October 2026.
The Scout Residential Team at Compass | 69 Roslyn Road, Roslyn, NY 11577 | (516) 200-1098 | info@scoutresidential.com. The Scout Residential Team is a team of licensed real estate agents affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker, and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws.