Animal Ordinances in Nassau County, NY (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Nassau County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Nassau County bars tethering a dog or other animal outdoors for more than 1 hour in any 12-hour period, sets minimum tether length and weight limits, and bans outdoor restraint in extreme heat or cold county-wide.
Nassau County Outdoor Pet Tethering Law
Some RestrictionsNassau County Local Law No. 22 of 2019 (Miscellaneous Laws, Title 86 "Tethering Law", § 3(c))
No person shall tether, leash, fasten, secure, restrain, chain or tie an animal to any stationary object outdoors for more than 1 hour in any 12-hour period.
Breed Restrictions
Nassau County requires any dog judicially declared "dangerous" under state law to be registered with the SPCA on a public online registry, and its owner must mail notice to every address within 1,000 feet of the dog's home.
Nassau County Dangerous Dog Registry Law
Significant RestrictionsNassau County Local Law No. 3 of 2021 (Miscellaneous Laws Title 88, "Benny's Law") § 2
The Nassau County Police Department is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to contract with the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to create and maintain an online registry that shall list all dogs housed in Nassau County that have been judicially deemed "dangerous dogs" pursuant to New York State Agriculture and Markets Law §123, and shall include the judicial...
Wildlife Feeding
Nassau County prohibits feeding swans, geese, ducks and other migratory waterfowl anywhere on county-owned or county-managed property, including parks, preserves, beaches and Nassau Community College, with no seasonal exception.
Nassau County Bans Feeding Migratory Waterfowl
Significant RestrictionsNassau County Local Law No. 7-2007 (Miscellaneous Laws Title 63, § 3)
No person shall feed or provide food for any migratory waterfowl on County property at any time of year.
Pet Store Rules
Nassau County law regulates pet dealers and pet stores selling dogs and cats: barring animals from breeders with recent USDA welfare violations, setting minimum enclosure sizes, and requiring buyer disclosures.
Nassau County Pet Dealer & Store Law
Some RestrictionsNassau County Local Law No. 11-2014 (Miscellaneous Laws Title 79, § 4(b))
No pet dealer shall obtain animals originating from a breeder who has received and failed to cure the following violation by the deadline set by the USDA: 1) one direct violation from the USDA within the past year, 2) three or more different indirect violations, other than "no access violations" within the past year, or 3) on or more reoccurring indirect violations within the past year.
Pet Groomer Rules
Nassau County requires pet grooming businesses and individual pet groomers to be licensed by the Office of Consumer Affairs, with mandatory training, health/safety standards and fines up to $5,000 for violations.
Nassau County Pet Groomer Licensing
Some RestrictionsNassau County Administrative Code § 21-33.1
No pet grooming business shall operate within the County of Nassau unless it has a license issued by the Office in accordance with the provisions of this Title. The initial application fee for license of a pet grooming business and the biennial renewal shall be set by ordinance by the Nassau County Legislature. 2. Each applicant for a license must provide the following information and appropri...
Bird Protection
Nassau County prohibits feeding migratory waterfowl, swans, geese, and ducks, anywhere on county-owned property, including parks, preserves, and beaches, under the county's Migratory Waterfowl Law.
Nassau County Bans Feeding Waterfowl
Significant RestrictionsNassau County Local Law No. 7-2007, § 3 (Miscellaneous Laws Title 63, Migratory Waterfowl Law)
No person shall feed or provide food for any migratory waterfowl on County property at any time of year.
All Nassau County ordinances
See every category we cover for Nassau County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Nassau County Ordinance Hub →