Business Licensing & Operations in Albany County, NY (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Albany County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
Tattoo & Body Modification
Albany County requires every tattoo and body piercing artist to hold an annual certification and every shop to hold a certificate of sanitation from the County Health Officer under Code Chapter 265. Artists must pass an exam, and shops must pass a sanitation inspection before certificates issue or renew each December.
Albany County Tattoo and Piercing Shop Rules
Significant RestrictionsCode of the County of Albany §§ 265-1, 265-3
§ 265-1. Legislative findings and intent; scope. ... the purpose of this chapter ... is to establish County-wide minimum standards for the regulation of tattoo and/or body piercing shops in municipalities within Albany County which are not requiring tattoo shops or body piercing shops to comply with the requirements herein and in municipalities with less stringent standards regulating tattoo sh...
Tobacco Retail License
Albany County bars every pharmacy from selling tobacco products or electronic aerosol delivery systems, including e-cigarettes and vape devices, under Local Law No. 1-2018. The Commissioner of Health enforces the ban and can fine a violating pharmacy up to $500 for each day it continues selling, and the County Attorney can sue to collect or to enjoin the sales.
Albany County Bans Pharmacy Vape Sales
Heavy RestrictionsCode of the County of Albany § 242-21
§ 242-21. Restrictions on sale of tobacco products. No pharmacy located in the County of Albany shall sell or cause to be sold tobacco products or electronic aerosol delivery systems. ... § 242-22. Enforcement; penalties for offenses. A. The Commissioner shall have sole jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this article. B. If the Commissioner determines, after notice and a hearing, that a ...
Towing Companies
Albany County Local Law 4-2007 (Code Ch. 279) regulates non-consent towing of vehicles from privately owned, publicly accessible parking lots. Lot owners must post specific warning signage and give tow companies a signed authorization statement; storage fees are capped at $20 per day, kickback deals are banned, and vehicle immobilization devices are prohibited countywide.
Albany County Private-Property Towing Rules
Some RestrictionsCode of the County of Albany §§ 279-3, 279-6
The parking lot shall have conspicuously posted, at each entrance of each parking area and/or every 30 parking spaces, signs (at least two feet high with at least two-inch-high lettering), which shall contain the following information: A statement warning that illegally parked vehicles will be towed. The hours during which this prohibition is applicable. The cost of the tow to be paid by the ve...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Albany County
2 cities in Albany County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Albany County ordinances
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