Schenectady, NY Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog limit
- 3 dogs, 6 months or older
- Governing code
- City Code § 144-6
- Exemption
- Valid NYS purebred license
- Cats
- No numeric limit
- Enforcement
- City Dog Control Officer
Summary
Schenectady caps each premises at three dogs aged six months or older. The limit sits in City Code § 144-6, and owners holding a valid New York State purebred dog license are exempt. The city sets no numeric limit on cats.
[Added 1-5-1981 by Ord. No. 8-158] A. It is unlawful for any owner to keep, harbor or maintain more than three dogs, ages six months or older, on his premises. B. Persons holding a valid purebred dog license under Article 7, § 109, Subdivision 2, of the Agriculture and Markets Law are exempt from the restrictions herein set forth.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4990798; v11 updated 2026-04-13; through 04-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 144-6 makes it unlawful for any owner to keep, harbor or maintain more than three dogs six months or older on his premises. The cap was added in 1981 (Ord. No. 8-158) and lives in Chapter 144, Article II, enforced through the City's Dog Control Officer. Persons holding a valid purebred dog license under Article 7, § 109, Subdivision 2, of the New York Agriculture and Markets Law are exempt. The three-dog rule reaches dogs only, Schenectady places no numeric cap on cats, but every dog four months or older must still be licensed with the City Clerk.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a fourth dog six months or older on a premises violates § 144-6 and is a prosecutable offense under Chapter 144. Puppies under six months and valid NYS purebred-license holders are not bound by the three-dog cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs can I keep in Schenectady?
Does Schenectady limit how many cats I can own?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Schenectady
New York rules heatmap·Compare Schenectady to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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