Tuckernuck Island is owned collectively by about 35 private families and the Tuckernuck Land Trust, a conservation nonprofit. No single person, company, or government holds title to the whole island. It sits roughly three-quarters of a mile west of Nantucket’s Smith Point, covers about 860 acres, and falls under the municipal jurisdiction of the Town of Nantucket, so owners pay Nantucket taxes and follow Nantucket zoning and building rules.
The Families Who Own the Houses
Roughly 35 houses stand on Tuckernuck, most of them seasonal. Many parcels have stayed within the same families for generations and move between relatives by will or trust rather than through open-market sales. The Bigelow family, for example, bought land on the island’s West Head in 1866, built a home there in 1871, and later passed the property to the La Farge family by will.
Owners often hold their land through trusts or limited liability companies, which eases family transfers and keeps transactions out of public view. The Tuckernuck Land Trust states the ground rule plainly on its website: “Tuckernuck Island is privately owned and contains fragile ecosystems. Access to the island is with landowner permission only.”1Tuckernuck Land Trust. Home
The Tuckernuck Land Trust
The Tuckernuck Land Trust is the only non-family owner of significant acreage. It is a nonprofit that holds and manages conservation land, with roughly 100 acres across nine parcels permanently kept out of development. Its focus is the island’s sandplain grassland, a habitat that has nearly disappeared from the rest of the Northeast and supports plant communities unique to the North Atlantic region. The grassland also provides nesting ground for the short-eared owl, which Massachusetts lists as endangered.1Tuckernuck Land Trust. Home
The Trust also tracks coastal erosion, works to control invasive species, and coordinates with the private owners whose parcels sit next to its own.
Conservation Easements That Lock In Private Land
A lot of the privately owned land on Tuckernuck is subject to conservation easements, and these are what keep ownership from translating into free rein to develop. Under Massachusetts law, a conservation restriction is a right that keeps land “predominantly in its natural, scenic or open condition” by limiting activities such as construction, landfill, vegetation removal, and excavation.2General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 184 – Section 31 Once recorded at the Registry of Deeds, the restriction binds every future owner, not just the person who granted it.
Owners who grant easements may receive federal and state tax benefits for the charitable donation of property value. Added together across the island, these easements and the Land Trust’s own holdings make subdivision or commercial development a legal non-starter for most of Tuckernuck.
Nantucket’s Role as the Governing Town
Even though Tuckernuck is a separate island with no roads, grid, or stores, it is part of the Town and County of Nantucket for legal purposes. Owners pay Nantucket real estate taxes at the town’s residential rate, which is $3.12 per $1,000 of assessed value for fiscal year 2026.3Nantucket, MA. Tax Rate History Chart Any new construction or renovation requires a building permit through Nantucket’s Building Department.4Nantucket, MA. Building Office
Work near wetlands, coastal areas, dunes, or flood zones also triggers review by the Nantucket Conservation Commission. The town’s wetlands bylaw prohibits building, filling, dredging, or altering land within 100 feet of those resources without a Commission permit.5eCode360. Chapter 136 Wetlands – Town of Nantucket, MA On a small island ringed by coastline and dotted with ponds, that bylaw reaches almost every parcel. Boundary disputes, title claims, and similar property questions are handled by the Massachusetts Land Court.6Mass.gov. Jurisdiction of the Land Court
Can the Public Visit?
No, not without permission. There is no public ferry, no town dock, no airstrip, and no public land to walk on. The beach is not a workaround either. Under the Colonial Ordinances of 1641-47, Massachusetts coastal owners hold title down to the low-water mark, and the intertidal zone between high and low tide belongs to the upland owner. The public keeps only three limited rights in that strip: fishing, fowling, and navigation.7Mass.gov. Public Rights Along the Shoreline
Walking for pleasure, sunbathing, and picnicking in the intertidal zone are not public rights and are treated as trespass without the owner’s permission.7Mass.gov. Public Rights Along the Shoreline Criminal trespass in Massachusetts carries a fine of up to $100, up to 30 days in jail, or both, and owners or the Land Trust can also bring civil claims.8General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266, Section 120 If you want to visit Tuckernuck, the only lawful route is an invitation from someone who owns land there.