Lake Grove is an incorporated village inside the Town of Brookhaven, so daily life there runs through two layers of local government. Here is how that works for Lake Grove homes.
TL;DR
- Village Hall at 980 Hawkins Avenue is open 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays.
- The village collects garbage, bagged leaves and bundled brush, but not construction debris.
- Village tax bills go out May 31 and are due by July 1; STAR goes through the Town of Brookhaven Assessor.
- A new all-accessible playground and park at 7 Moriches Road had its ribbon cutting in 2026.
- Smith Haven Mall is finishing a redevelopment Simon announced in February 2025.
Table of contents
- A village inside the Town of Brookhaven
- Garbage, leaves and recycling
- Village taxes and STAR
- Parks and village events
- Smith Haven Mall and Middle Country Road
- Train access
- How I look at Lake Grove
A village inside the Town of Brookhaven
According to the village history page, residents incorporated to gain local control of zoning and planning once construction of the Smith Haven Mall had begun. The vote was 552 to 332 on September 9, 1968.
The village directory lists a Building Inspector, Code Enforcement, a Planning Board and Zoning Board, Public Works and Highway, a Fire Marshal, a Recreation Building and a Tax Department, all reached through Village Hall, plus a village Justice Court.
Garbage, leaves and recycling
Garbage and bulk items
The village FAQ sets a 50 pound limit for cans, bags, leaves and brush. Appliances and scrap metal go out after a call to Village Hall for a separate Highway Department pickup. Construction and demolition debris is not collected. It goes by private carter or to the Town of Brookhaven landfill in Yaphank.
Leaves and brush
Leaves are collected in fall and spring and have to be bagged, and brush is bundled and tied, no longer than 4 feet. On October 1, 2026, after a nor'easter, the village announced a storm debris pass beginning October 5, one pass per street.
Recycling
The 2026 recycling calendar alternates paper and commingled days. Commingled pickup takes rinsed plastics numbered 1, 2 and 5 plus metal cans, and glass is not accepted. When a holiday falls on a Wednesday, recycling moves to Saturday. The calendar also rules out plastic bags for leaves or brush.
Village taxes and STAR
The village bills its own tax. Per the FAQ, bills are mailed May 31 and due between June 1 and July 1, by mail or in person at Village Hall.
STAR questions go to the Town of Brookhaven Assessor, whose STAR page notes that since 2015, a first-time STAR applicant on a property registers with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, not the Assessor's Office.
Parks and village events
On June 2, 2026, the village announced the ribbon cutting for an all-accessible playground and park at 7 Moriches Road. A $500,000 Suffolk County JumpSMART grant and a $40,000 Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization grant paid for it, on a lot where the village demolished a vacant, bank-owned foreclosed house. The park adds lighting, landscaped seating areas and a gazebo.
The village site also lists Harvest and Summer Festivals and a Summer Recreation Program.
Smith Haven Mall and Middle Country Road
The village history page dates Smith Haven Mall to March 1969 and says the village's businesses are mainly along Middle Country Road. Long Island Wave reported on September 24, 2026 that the redevelopment Simon announced in February 2025 is winding down. The work adds an outdoor plaza, new signage, entryways and flooring, a Center Court makeover and new food court seating. Per that report, Primark, Mango and Ford's Garage are open, and Zara is expected before the end of 2026.
Train access
The MTA lists Ronkonkoma station as accessible, with elevators, ramps and Suffolk County Transit connections. More in living in Ronkonkoma.
How I look at Lake Grove
Lake Grove is one of the towns I work in. Having passed the home inspector course, I look closely at mechanicals and any added living space during a walkthrough. General steps: buyers guide and sellers guide.
More about me.
