Albany County, NY Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Adopted in 1996 as the venomous-snake article of Chapter 110, this law responds to what the County Legislature called the 'clear and present danger' posed by casual retail sale of live venomous and devenomed snakes to residents lacking expertise in their care (§ 110-1). Under § 110-2, no one may possess or display a live venomous or devenomed snake in Albany County unless they operate a Public Health Law § 504 laboratory, a Regents-chartered educational or scientific institution, or a duly registered snake farm engaged in anti-venom preparation.

Sale, transfer or barter of such snakes is restricted to those same categories of buyer under § 110-3. Even eligible keepers must first obtain a permit from the Albany County Health Department (§ 110-4), which sets the fee schedule, limits permits to scientific, educational or exhibitor purposes, and requires identification of every species and quantity held; anyone already keeping snakes when the law took effect could apply for a one-year continuation permit. Agents of the County Board of Health, Sheriff's deputies and environmental conservation officers may seize any unpermitted snake without liability for damages, and the Health Department decides how seized animals are disposed of (§ 110-5).

Any public display must first be inspected and approved by the Health Department (§ 110-6), and every harboring site must post a placard warning that venomous snakes are on the premises, issued with the permit; failing to display it can trigger permit revocation (§ 110-7). Section 110-8 adds a requirement rare in other codes: permit holders must procure and maintain, within the County, appropriate anti-venom for every species of poisonous snake they possess.