Describe the property
Start with the town, available area, current use, approach for equipment and materials, nearby structures, surrounding grades, and any known water behavior. A site still needs direct review, but this context improves the first conversation.
The playing area is not the project footprint
The International Tennis Federation’s facilities guide illustrates a recreational minimum of approximately 114 by 56 feet including runbacks and side-runs. That playing envelope is only a planning reference: fencing, drainage, grading, construction access, amenities, and required setbacks can increase the area a project needs.
Long Island does not have one island-wide tennis-court permit. The applicable town or village should confirm zoning, building, environmental, and stormwater requirements before the layout is fixed. Southampton’s current building-permit form, for example, identifies tennis and sport courts as a project type and includes stormwater review fields.
Choose a surface by use and care
Clay and hard courts deliver different playing and maintenance experiences. The decision should reflect who will use the court, how the season is expected to run, and what level of routine care fits the property.
- Clay / Har-Tru: consider moisture management and seasonal care
- Hard court: consider base, finish system, cracking, color, and lines
- Multisport: confirm each intended activity before planning a layout
Plan complete systems early
Irrigation, drainage, court fencing, access, and future maintenance should not be last-minute additions. Identifying them early helps define a coordinated project rather than a collection of disconnected tasks.
Sources reviewed
Primary and manufacturer sources reviewed . Links support the general planning context above; the current source and the specific court still govern.
- ITF Facilities Guide: Recommended Court Dimensions — International Tennis Federation
- Building Permit Application Guidance — New York Department of State
- Building Permit Application — Town of Southampton
