Nassau County, NY Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforced by
- Nassau County Police Dept. & SPCA
- Trigger
- Court-adjudicated "dangerous dog" finding
- Neighbor notice
- 1,000-ft radius, within 10 business days
- Penalty
- Up to $500, plus $100/day continuing
- Coverage
- County-wide, all towns/cities/villages
Summary
Nassau County requires any dog judicially declared "dangerous" under state law to be registered with the SPCA on a public online registry, and its owner must mail notice to every address within 1,000 feet of the dog's home.
The Nassau County Police Department is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to contract with the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to create and maintain an online registry that shall list all dogs housed in Nassau County that have been judicially deemed "dangerous dogs" pursuant to New York State Agriculture and Markets Law §123, and shall include the judicial order rendering such a determination.
Full Breakdown
Under Benny's Law (Local Law No. 3 of 2021, Title 88 of the county's Miscellaneous Laws), the Nassau County Police Department contracts with the Nassau County SPCA to run a public online registry of dogs judicially determined "dangerous" under New York Agriculture and Markets Law §123. Owners must register the dog and, within 10 business days of notification, mail the court's determination to every address within a 1,000-foot radius of their residence, then file a notarized affidavit confirming the mailing. The registry lists the dog's address, breed, gender, weight, age, color and the length of the designation. This is a county-wide registration and notice duty, not a breed ban: it applies regardless of which town, city or village the dog lives in.
Violations & Fines
Up to $500 per violation; each day a violation continues is a separate offense punishable by up to $100/day. Enforced by the Nassau County Police Department and the Nassau County SPCA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nassau County ban specific dog breeds?
Who decides a dog is "dangerous" in Nassau County?
Does this law apply in Hempstead, Glen Cove, or my village?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
How Nassau County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·New York rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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