17 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Nassau County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
Nassau County allows hens in NYC but roosters are banned. Coops must meet health standards. Livestock prohibited in most residential zones. NYC Health Code governs.
Nassau County Code Chapter 71 (Dogs) and Nassau County Police Ordinance 11 require all dogs off the owners premises to be leashed. Leash length is limited to 6 feet in most municipalities. Fines start at 50 dollars.
New York Agriculture and Markets Law 107 preempts breed-specific legislation. Nassau County and its municipalities cannot ban dogs by breed; dangerous-dog determinations are behavior-based under NY Ag and Markets 123.
Beekeeping is legal throughout Nassau County under NY Ag and Markets Article 15. The state Apiary Industry Program licenses apiaries; local zoning in some villages restricts hive placement and setbacks.
Nassau County Code Chapter 71 and NY ECL 11-0512 ban possession of wild animals including big cats, primates, venomous reptiles, bears, and wolves. Ferrets are legal in Nassau (unlike NYC). Chickens depend on local zoning.
Nassau County Code 71 prohibits feeding of wildlife in county parks and preserves. NY ECL prohibits feeding deer and bear statewide. Feeding stray cats is generally allowed under TNR protocols registered with the town.
Nassau County Code Chapter 80 limits the number of dogs and cats kept on residential property and authorizes seizure when conditions endanger animals or create public-health nuisances enforceable by NCSPCA and NCDOH.
Nassau County sets no countywide pet-limit cap. Most towns and villages cap dogs at 4 per household; some villages (Rockville Centre, Floral Park) cap combined dogs-and-cats at 4 to 6 animals.
Nassau County does not require cat licensing countywide, but Chapter 80 cruelty and nuisance provisions apply, and several incorporated villages impose at-large or trap-neuter-return registration rules on free-roaming cats.
New York Agriculture and Markets section 377-a requires sterilization of dogs and cats adopted from Nassau County shelters and contracted rescues; private owners are not required to spay or neuter pets.
Nassau County shelters microchip every dog and cat before adoption, and New York licensing law requires updated owner contact information; private owners are not mandated to chip pets but it is strongly recommended.
Long Island's growing coyote population is managed by the New York State DEC; Nassau residents may not trap or kill coyotes outside hunting seasons, but hazing and removing food attractants is encouraged to prevent conflicts.
New York's Puppy Mill Pipeline Act, effective December 2024, bans Nassau County pet stores from selling commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits; stores may host adoption partnerships with rescues or shelters instead.
Nassau County does not license pet groomers, but groomers must register with Consumer Affairs as a service business and follow Chapter 80 humane handling standards plus state Ag and Markets boarding rules when overnight care is offered.
Nassau County villages and towns generally restrict veterinary clinics and animal hospitals to commercial or business zones, with overnight boarding often requiring a special use permit and noise mitigation under local zoning codes.
Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and New York Environmental Conservation Law protect nearly all native birds, nests, and eggs in Nassau County; permits are required to remove active nests of protected species even from private property.
Possession or rehabilitation of injured wildlife in Nassau County requires a New York State wildlife rehabilitator license issued by NYSDEC; well-meaning residents may not legally keep injured wild animals at home.
1 cities in Nassau County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Nassau County Ordinance Hub →