Pop. 33,044 · Erie County
We currently have 1 ordinance verified for Clarence, NY. Our research team is actively working to add more categories including noise rules, parking restrictions, fence regulations, building permits, and other local ordinances that affect daily life.
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Clarence Town Code prohibits keeping chickens in the Residential Single-Family (R-SF) zone unless the parcel is at least 5 acres or is located in the Agricultural District. Residents on smaller residential lots have applied for ZBA variances; outcomes have been mixed since 2022.
Erie County does not adopt a single county-wide leash ordinance; dog control is set by each town or city under New York Agriculture & Markets Law Article 7. The Erie County Department of Health, however, enforces mandatory rabies vaccination and immediate animal bite reporting county-wide, and dog licensing under §109 is required for every dog over four months old.
The Erie County Department of Health permits, inspects, and enforces safety rules for every public, semi-public, and rental swimming pool in the county under New York State Sanitary Code Subpart 6-1, covering operator training, supervision, water quality, and pre-opening engineering review.
Erie County Department of Health permits and inspects PUBLIC swimming pools under New York State Sanitary Code Subpart 6-1 (10 NYCRR Part 6). This covers pools at hotels, motels, schools, campgrounds, children's camps, membership clubs, and municipal housing complexes. Private backyard residential pools are explicitly excluded from Subpart 6-1.
Erie County has no separate county pool-fence ordinance; instead, every town and village in the county enforces the uniform New York State Residential Code §R326, which requires a 48-inch barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates around any residential pool deeper than 24 inches.
Above-ground swimming pools holding more than 24 inches of water fall under the New York Uniform Code, requiring permits, barriers, and electrical inspections statewide.
Hot tubs and spas in New York must meet Uniform Code barrier, electrical, and cover requirements, with public spas additionally regulated under Public Health Law Article 13-D.
Erie County Local Law 2-2025, "The Sky Lantern Prohibition Act," bans the sale, use, release, and dispatch of sky lanterns county-wide. The law was adopted by the Erie County Legislature on July 24, 2025 and signed by County Executive Mark Poloncarz on August 12, 2025. Sky lanterns are classified as unattended recreational fires that pose fire, livestock, and entrapment hazards.
Erie County has no separate county-level open-burning ordinance; outdoor burning across all of Erie County is governed by New York State regulation 6 NYCRR Part 215. A statewide residential brush-burning ban runs annually from March 16 through May 14. Outside the ban, on-site burning of small downed brush is allowed only in towns with population under 20,000 — which excludes most of Erie County's urbanized towns. Burning of household garbage is prohibited statewide year-round, and individual towns and villages within Erie County may impose stricter local burn bans.
New York's Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code adopts NFPA 58 statewide, setting minimum propane container size, setback, and storage rules every locality must enforce.
Erie County itself does not regulate parking on town/village streets, but the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry enforces parking rules on roads inside the 11,000+ acres of county parkland under its Park Rules. Vehicles must remain on park roads, may not park more than 5 feet off the road, and must obey posted no-parking signs. The 15 mph park-area speed limit also applies. Campsites are limited to two vehicles; overflow parks in designated visitor lots.
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law sets uniform definitions and removal procedures for abandoned vehicles statewide, governing how police and municipalities take custody of and dispose of derelict cars on public and certain private property.
New York has adopted statewide building code and Public Service Commission rules governing EV charging installation, accessibility, and utility interconnection that apply uniformly to municipalities, while leaving local zoning of station siting available.
Erie County does not issue its own STR land-use permit, but every short-term rental operator must register with the Erie County Comptroller and collect a county hotel occupancy tax under Local Law 12-1974, as amended effective January 4, 2024 to expressly cover short-term and vacation rentals booked for under 30 consecutive days.
Every Erie County short-term rental operator must register with the Erie County Comptroller and collect a county hotel occupancy tax. Local Law No. 12-1974, as amended effective January 4, 2024, expressly covers "a short term rental or vacation rental" booked for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The rate is 3% for lodging with 30 or fewer rooms and 5% for more than 30 rooms, separate from New York State and local sales tax.
Converting a garage into living space in New York requires compliance with the statewide Uniform Code for habitable rooms, including ceiling height, egress, insulation, and smoke alarms.
New York's Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code sets minimum construction standards for sheds statewide, though local zoning controls placement, setbacks, and size limits.
Tiny homes used as permanent residences in New York must comply with the Uniform Code, including Appendix Q for dwellings under 400 square feet, regardless of location.
New York Agriculture and Markets Law preempts municipalities on the licensing and food safety rules for home-based food processors, requiring a uniform Home Processor exemption administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
New York Social Services Law preempts municipalities from imposing additional licensing on family or group family day care homes and requires the Office of Children and Family Services to regulate child care uniformly across the state.
Aircraft noise regulation in New York is preempted by federal law under the Federal Aviation Act, with state and local authorities barred from regulating in-flight aircraft operations, though New York retains limited proprietor and land-use authority.
New York Agriculture and Markets Law establishes statewide standards for dangerous and nuisance dogs, allowing local supplementation but providing universal owner liability and complaint procedures applicable in every municipality.
Erie County Local Law 5 of 2025 makes it unlawful to dump waste, debris, or hazardous materials on any county-owned property without prior written authorization. Penalties include fines up to $1,000 and potential jail time for repeat offenders. The law supplements New York Environmental Conservation Law §27-1602 and is enforced in coordination with the Erie County Sheriff's Office and county property managers.
New York's Solid Waste Management Act requires every municipality to adopt source separation recycling rules and bans certain recyclables from disposal statewide.
Erie County prohibits the sale of tobacco, vapor products, electronic cigarettes, liquid nicotine, and smoking paraphernalia to anyone under 21. Enforcement is by the Erie County Department of Health under the Adolescent Tobacco-Use Prevention Act (ATUPA), which conducts at least one underage compliance check per retailer each year.
New York prohibits the sale of flavored vapor products statewide under Public Health Law § 1399-mm-1, allowing only tobacco-flavored e-liquid for legal retail sale.
New York requires state retail registration for every tobacco and vapor product seller and bans online or mail-order shipment of vape products directly to consumers statewide.
New York Cannabis Law allowed municipalities a one-time opt-out window before December 31 2021, after which the Office of Cannabis Management uniformly licenses retail dispensaries with limited local zoning authority.
New York Cannabis Law preempts municipalities from prohibiting personal home cultivation of cannabis by adults age 21 and over, while setting uniform plant limits and storage requirements statewide.
Commercial drone operations in New York fall under FAA Part 107 with state-level privacy, surveillance, and critical infrastructure protections that apply uniformly across all municipalities.
New York has no comprehensive statewide drone statute. Federal FAA rules govern airspace, and localities (notably NYC Local Law 67 of 2023) set takeoff and landing restrictions. Recreational drones under 0.55 lb (250g) need no FAA registration; heavier drones require FAA Recreational ID.
New York Labor Law §652 sets a tiered statewide minimum wage that preempts local minimum wage ordinances. As of 2024 the rate is $16.00/hr in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester County, and $15.00/hr in the rest of the state. The Legislature blocked NYC from setting a higher local wage.
New York mandates paid sick leave under Labor Law § 196-b and paid family leave under Workers' Compensation Law Article 9, with statewide coverage that applies to nearly every private employer.
New York Executive Law Article 42 and the Coastal Management Program require state and local agency actions in designated coastal areas to be consistent with statewide coastal policies enforced by the Department of State.
New York Environmental Conservation Law and the Uniform Code require all municipalities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program to adopt and enforce minimum floodplain development standards that meet or exceed federal and state baselines.
New York Environmental Conservation Law and the SPDES program impose uniform statewide stormwater discharge permit requirements that apply to construction sites and MS4 communities regardless of local rules.
New York requires a state-issued concealed carry license under Penal Law § 400.00, with mandatory training and a long list of statewide sensitive locations where carry is forbidden.
New York does not have full state preemption of local firearms laws. Penal Law Article 265 sets the statewide floor, but localities — especially New York City — impose stricter licensing under the Sullivan Law (1911). Cities may regulate firearms in areas not occupied by state law.
New York effectively prohibits open carry of handguns statewide, and the Concealed Carry Improvement Act treats visible carry the same as concealed carry under license rules.
New York Penal Law treats a vehicle as a public place for firearm purposes, requiring a valid pistol license to transport a handgun and strict storage rules for long guns and ammunition statewide.
New York has no statewide E-Verify mandate; employers rely on the federal Form I-9 process while New York Labor Law and Human Rights Law restrict status discrimination and protect undocumented workers.
New York's Green Light Law limits state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and shields DMV records, applying uniformly to every county, city, town, and village in the state.
New York's Good Cause Eviction Law (RPL Article 6-A) limits evictions and rent hikes for covered tenants in NYC by default, with optional adoption by other municipalities.
New York's Emergency Tenant Protection Act and Rent Stabilization Law cap rent increases and renewal terms for covered units, primarily in NYC and opt-in counties statewide.
Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA governs certified agricultural districts statewide and limits how local zoning can apply to working farms inside them.
NY Agriculture and Markets Law §301-309 protects sound agricultural practices in certified Agricultural Districts from local ordinances and private nuisance suits. The Commissioner issues opinions on whether local laws unreasonably restrict farm operations. About 9 million acres are in Ag Districts statewide.
The New York Bag Waste Reduction Law (Environmental Conservation Law §27-2801, enacted 2019, enforced March 2020) bans most single-use plastic carryout bags statewide. Counties and cities may impose a 5-cent paper bag fee. Reusable bags and certain product bags are exempt.
New York prohibits the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene foam food containers and loose packing peanuts statewide under Environmental Conservation Law Article 27.
Real Property Law section 335-b prohibits homeowners associations from enforcing covenants that unreasonably restrict installation of solar collectors on owner-occupied homes statewide.
New York's Unified Solar Permit and Real Property Law section 335-b limit how municipalities may regulate residential solar installations, ensuring permit access statewide.