New York, NY Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- NYC Admin Code § 17-1702
- Effective
- June 1, 2015 (L.L. 2015/005)
- Last amended
- L.L. 2024/132, retro. 12/15/2024
- Banned animals
- Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs
- Penalty
- $500/day per animal (§ 17-1707)
- Exempt
- In-store shelter/rescue adoption events
Summary
New York City pet shops cannot sell, display for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away or transfer any dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig under Administrative Code § 17-1702(b). Stores may still host shelter or rescue adoption events on their premises. Violators face a $500-per-day civil penalty for every animal offered illegally, plus seizure and forfeiture.
Animals shall not be sold or held for sale in a dwelling in which a person lives or at any other location that is not licensed therefor. It shall be unlawful for any pet shop to display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer, or sell any dog, cat, rabbit, or guinea pig. A pet shop that allows an animal shelter or animal rescue group to use such pet shop's premises for the purpose of making animals available for adoption shall not be deemed to be engaged in any conduct otherwise prohibited pursuant to this section with respect to such animals, provided such pet shop does not have an ownership interest in such animals.
Full Breakdown
Section 17-1702 has two separate bans. Subdivision a forbids selling or holding any animal for sale in a residential dwelling or any other unlicensed location, closing off basement and apartment sales. Subdivision b squarely bans NYC pet shops from displaying, offering for sale, delivering, bartering, auctioning, giving away, transferring or selling any dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig, full stop, whatever the animal's source. The law, enacted as Local Law 2015/005 and most recently amended by Local Law 2024/132 (retroactively effective December 15, 2024), defines pet shop by cross-reference to § 17-371 and defines animal shelter and animal rescue group by cross-reference to § 17-802.
Subdivision c and the separate exemption at § 17-1706 carve out adoption partnerships: a pet shop that lets a shelter or rescue group use its premises to place animals for adoption is not treated as selling them, as long as the shop has no ownership interest in those animals, and a shop that surrenders animals to a non-profit shelter or rescue without taking a fee is likewise clear. Everything else, meaning outright puppy or kitten sales through a retail storefront, stays flatly prohibited regardless of where the animals were sourced or how they are marketed.
Violations & Fines
Section 17-1707 sets a civil penalty of $500 per day per violation, and counts a multi-animal sale as a separate violation for each animal, so several puppies for sale in one day can draw several $500 penalties. Notices return to the Environmental Control Board or an OATH tribunal. Under § 17-1708, the commissioner may seize any illegally offered animal, subject it to forfeiture after notice and hearing, and bill the pet shop owner for impoundment costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a New York City pet store sell puppies?
Can pet stores still host adoption events for shelter animals?
What's the penalty for an NYC pet shop that sells dogs?
Where does the sale ban apply if not in a pet shop?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
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