[Adopted 7-9-2013 by L.L. No. 14-2013]
The Town Board hereby finds and determines that § 470 of the Real Property Tax Law (Chapter 188 of the 2012 Laws of the State of New York) authorizes municipalities to provide a real property tax exemption for improvements to real property meeting certification standards for green building.
The Town Board further finds and determines that the Town of Huntington has historically pursued policies to promote energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Town Board also determines that the Town of Huntington should give homeowners and businesses an incentive to comply with LEED standards when making improvements to their real property.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide a real property tax exemption for improvements to real property which meet LEED certifications standards, as authorized under § 470 of the Real Property Tax Law.
This Article implements § 470 of the New York Real Property Law by granting a real property exemption for improvements to real property located in the Town of Huntington, which meet LEED certification standards for green buildings.
A. 
Real property, which is certified under a LEED certification standard for the categories of certified silver, gold or platinum, as meeting green building standards, as determined by a LEED accredited professional, when found acceptable to the Assessor, shall be exempt as provided below for the respective percentages provided that a copy of the LEED certification for a qualified category is filed with the Town Assessor's Office and is approved by the Assessor as meeting the requirements of § 470 of the New York Real Property Tax Law and this article. Such exemption shall be to the extent of any increase in assessed value resulting from the construction or reconstruction of a property meeting LEED certification, and shall not be available until the completion of the project and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, or other applicable documentation deemed acceptable by the Town Assessor.
LEED Exemption
Year
Certified/ Silver
Gold
Platinum
1
100%
100%
100%
2
100%
100%
100%
3
100%
100%
100%
4
80%
100%
100%
5
60%
80%
100%
6
40%
60%
100%
7
20%
40%
80%
8
0%
20%
60%
9
0%
0%
40%
10
0%
0%
20%
B. 
No such exemption shall be granted unless:
(1) 
Such construction of improvements was commenced on or after the first day of January 2013; and
(2) 
The value of such construction exceeds the sum of ten thousand ($10,000) dollars; and
(3) 
Such construction is documented by a building permit and certificate of occupancy for the improvement(s), or other appropriate documentation as required by the Assessor.
C. 
For the purpose of this article the term "Construction of Improvements" shall not include ordinary maintenance and repairs.
If the Assessor is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to an exemption pursuant to this article, he or she shall approve the application and such real property shall thereafter be exempt from taxations as provided in this section and § 178-52, above, commencing with the assessment roll prepared after the next occurring taxable status date. The assessed value of any exemption granted pursuant to this section shall be entered by the Assessor on the assessment roll with the taxable property, with the amount of the exemption shown in a separate column.