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Schenectady, NY Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

Governing law
NY ECL § 11-0512
Enforcing agency
NY State DEC
First-offense fine
Up to $500
Repeat-offense fine
Up to $1,000
Exemptions
Zoos, research labs, rehabilitators

Summary

New York's Environmental Conservation Law bans keeping wild animals as pets everywhere in Schenectady: big cats, bears, wolves, nonhuman primates, venomous reptiles and crocodilians. The state DEC enforces it, with fines reaching $1,000 for repeat offenders.

1. It shall be prohibited for any person to: a. knowingly possess, harbor, sell, barter, transfer, exchange or import any wild animal for use as a pet in New York state, except as provided in subdivision three of this section; or b. intentionally release or set at-large any wild animal, authorized by this section for use as a pet, from the location where the animal is permitted to be possessed or harbored.

View official code

Full Breakdown

ECL § 11-0512 makes it illegal for any person to "knowingly possess, harbor, sell, barter, transfer, exchange or import any wild animal for use as a pet in New York state." Schenectady's own code (Chapter 144) covers dogs and bars livestock and poultry, but this wild-animal ban comes from Albany and applies inside the city outright. The covered species include nonhuman primates, big cats, bears, wolves, venomous snakes and crocodilians. Licensed zoos, research facilities and wildlife rehabilitators are exempt, and anyone lawfully holding such an animal before the ban took effect could keep it for life only by meeting the state's registration, insurance and safe-handling conditions.

Violations & Fines

The DEC can fine violators up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for each later offense, seek a court injunction, and seize any animal held in violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep a monkey or big cat in Schenectady?
No. New York's ECL § 11-0512 bans possessing any wild animal as a pet statewide, including nonhuman primates and big cats. Zoos, research facilities and licensed wildlife rehabilitators are the only exceptions.
Does Schenectady have its own exotic-pet law?
The city code (Chapter 144) regulates dogs and bans livestock and poultry, but the wild-animal-as-pet prohibition is state law under ECL § 11-0512, enforced by the DEC.
What if I already owned a wild animal before the ban?
You could keep it for the rest of its life only if you registered it and met the state's insurance and safe-handling conditions. No new wild pets are allowed.

Sources & Official References

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All Schenectady rules

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