186 local rules on file · Pop. 4,646 · Westchester County
Showing ordinances that apply to Hawthorne, NY
Hawthorne is an unincorporated community with a population of approximately 4,646 in Westchester County, New York. Because Hawthorne is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal government or city code. Instead, Westchester County ordinances apply directly to residential and commercial properties here. The rules below are the county-level regulations that govern your area. Nearby incorporated cities in Westchester County may have different rules.
STR guest noise is governed by each municipality's noise ordinance. No countywide STR noise standard. Hosts are typically responsible for guest conduct under municipal STR codes where STRs are permitted.
Westchester County does not require a countywide STR permit. STR permits/registrations are set by each municipality. Starting March 25, 2025, NY State requires Airbnb and VRBO to collect/remit state sales tax and report quarterly.
These unincorporated areas are also governed by Westchester County ordinances.
No countywide STR occupancy cap. Municipal STR codes commonly limit guests to 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional, or follow NY State Property Maintenance Code occupancy formulas based on square footage.
Most Westchester County municipalities prohibit livestock including cattle, swine, sheep, and goats in residential zones. Chickens (hens only, no roosters) permitted in many villages with setbacks. Horses allowed in agricultural and some rural residential zones like North Salem and Lewisboro.
Beekeeping regulated by NY Ag & Markets Article 15 — annual state registration required. Westchester County has no countywide apiary ordinance. Each municipality sets local zoning and hive setbacks.
NY Environmental Conservation Law §11-0512 bans keeping wild animals as pets statewide. Prohibited species include wolves, coyotes, foxes, skunks, primates, and venomous reptiles. DEC enforces countywide.
Westchester County cannot ban dogs by breed. NY Agriculture & Markets Law §107(5) preempts all breed-specific legislation statewide. Dangerous-dog designation is case-by-case under §123.
Westchester County has no countywide chicken or livestock rule. Each of 45 municipalities sets zoning. Many allow hens (no roosters) on residential lots with setback requirements; others prohibit.
NY ECL §11-0505 bans intentional deer and bear feeding statewide. Westchester County Parks prohibit feeding any wildlife. Many municipalities ban feeding geese, deer, and feral cats.
NY Ag & Markets Law requires dogs be under owner control. Westchester County Parks require dogs leashed (6 ft max) in all county parks. Each of 45 municipalities sets local leash rules.
Coyotes are common in Westchester County, and NY Department of Environmental Conservation manages them. Residents must avoid feeding wildlife and may haze coyotes; relocation and trapping are restricted.
Wildlife rehabilitators in Westchester County must hold a NY Department of Environmental Conservation license under 6 NYCRR Part 184 to legally possess and treat injured native wildlife species.
Cats in Westchester County must be vaccinated against rabies under New York state law, with most municipalities requiring tags and humane care under Chapter 41 standards.
Westchester County does not impose pet number limits countywide, but most cities and villages cap household dogs and cats through zoning and Chapter 41-style code provisions to prevent nuisance and hoarding.
Microchipping is not mandatory countywide in Westchester, but is strongly encouraged by SPCA Westchester, WCDOH, and most adoption organizations as a permanent identification method for lost pets.
New York's Puppy Mill Pipeline Act bans retail pet store sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits statewide as of December 2024. Westchester pet stores must source only adoptable shelter and rescue animals.
Westchester County and most municipalities charge higher dog license fees for unaltered dogs under New York Agriculture and Markets Law to encourage spay-neuter and reduce shelter populations.
Animal hoarding in Westchester County is investigated jointly by local police, SPCA Westchester humane officers, and WCDOH under New York Agriculture and Markets Law Article 26 cruelty provisions.
NYS Residential Code Appendix G applies countywide: 48-inch barrier, self-closing/self-latching gate, max 2-inch bottom gap. Pool alarms required per NY Executive Law §387(14).
No county-level fence permit. Most Westchester municipalities require a local building permit for fences over 6 ft, and pool-barrier fences always require permits under NYS code.
Westchester has no county-wide fence height law. Each town/village/city sets local limits — typically 4 ft front yard, 6 ft side/rear. NY RPL §840 governs shared boundary fences.
NY Real Property Law §840 governs boundary fences: shared maintenance, cost-splitting if mutually beneficial. Disputes are civil matters resolved in Westchester Supreme Court or local justice courts.
Retaining wall permit thresholds are municipal. Most Westchester towns require building permits for walls over 4 ft, with engineered plans for walls over 4–6 ft.
No county-wide restricted materials list. Municipalities commonly prohibit barbed wire, electrified fences, razor wire, and certain plastics in residential districts.
Westchester County has limited noise jurisdiction — mainly county parks and county-owned property. Residential quiet hours are set by each of the 45 cities, towns, and villages individually.
No countywide leaf blower rule. Several Westchester municipalities have banned or restricted gas-powered leaf blowers — check your village or town code.
Vehicle noise in Westchester is governed by NY Vehicle and Traffic Law 386, which sets decibel limits for passenger cars at 76 dBA at 50 feet. Modified exhaust systems and loud motorcycles are enforced by county police on parkways and Thruway. Yonkers and White Plains run targeted enforcement.
Construction hours are regulated by each Westchester municipality, not the county. Typical permitted hours are 7am or 8am to 6pm or 7pm weekdays, with shorter or no Sunday work allowed.
No countywide amplified music rule. Large outdoor amplified events in Westchester require permits from the host municipality. County Parks Department requires event permits for amplified music in county parks.
Industrial noise is regulated at the municipal level via zoning codes. Westchester County Department of Health investigates noise that rises to a public health nuisance.
Westchester County does not have a countywide barking dog law. Dog licensing is handled under NY Agriculture & Markets Law, and individual municipalities handle nuisance barking complaints.
NY Executive Law 378(5) requires smoke and CO detectors in all residential occupancies. Since April 1, 2019, all replacement smoke alarms must be 10-year sealed battery or hardwired units (Amanda Law).
Westchester has no county-level defensible space ordinance. NYS Property Maintenance Code requires yards clear of combustible debris. Enforcement is municipal.
DEC allows small recreational fire pits year-round if under 3 ft high and 4 ft diameter using clean dry wood. Individual Westchester municipalities often add stricter rules.
Westchester is not a designated high wildfire hazard area. NYS DEC tracks fire danger countywide; northern rural towns have moderate wildland-urban interface risk.
Westchester County opted OUT of the 2017 NY sparkler law. All consumer fireworks including sparklers remain illegal countywide under NY Penal Law §270.00.
NY DEC Part 215 applies countywide: residential brush burning banned March 16–May 14 annually. Trash burning illegal year-round. Individual municipalities may prohibit all open burning.
Propane storage in Westchester County is regulated under the New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code adopting NFPA 58 and IFC standards, enforced by local fire marshals and FDs.
Private pool permits are issued by the municipal building department. Westchester County DOH permits only public and semi-public pools.
NYS Residential Code Appendix G applies statewide: 48-inch minimum barrier, self-closing self-latching gate. Each Westchester municipality issues the pool permit; Westchester County DOH inspects public pools only.
Above-ground pools over 24 inches deep must meet NYS Appendix G barrier rules. Setbacks and permits are set by each Westchester municipality.
NY Executive Law §387(14) requires ASTM F2208 pool alarms on all residential pools built or substantially modified after Dec. 14, 2006. Westchester County DOH enforces Subpart 6-1 for public pools.
Hot tubs and spas need a lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346 OR the same NYS Appendix G barrier required for pools. Permits are municipal.
Westchester has no county-wide driveway standards. Each municipality regulates driveway width, apron materials, curb cuts, and front-yard paving limits via local zoning.
Westchester County regulates parking on county-owned parkways and roads. All other street parking is governed by each city, town, or village.
No county-wide overnight parking ban. Each Westchester municipality sets overnight street parking rules. County parks close to overnight parking after posted hours.
No county-wide RV or boat parking ordinance. Each Westchester municipality sets its own rules — most prohibit long-term street storage of RVs, boats, and trailers.
Westchester County operates public EV charging at county facilities and parks. NYS Stretch Energy Code requires EV-ready parking in new construction. Private chargers require electrical permits.
Commercial vehicles and trucks are prohibited on all Westchester County parkways. Residential commercial-vehicle parking rules are set by each municipality.
Westchester County promotes native plants via Cornell Cooperative Extension but has no mandate. NYS DEC maintains invasive-species regulations (6 NYCRR Part 575) banning sale of species like Japanese barberry.
Westchester County Department of Public Works trims trees in county road rights-of-way. Private tree trimming is governed by municipal code. NY RPL §833 covers boundary-tree disputes.
Westchester County has no countywide grass-height rule. Most municipalities set a 10-inch maximum via property-maintenance or nuisance codes; unincorporated areas fall under town ordinances.
Westchester County has no countywide tree-removal ordinance on private land. County Parks prohibit tree removal. Each municipality sets its own tree-protection code — many require permits.
Westchester County has drought-declaration authority. NYC DEP imposes watering restrictions on NYC watershed customers in northern Westchester. Municipal water utilities set odd/even and time-of-day rules.
Westchester County has no countywide weed ordinance. Municipal property-maintenance codes define noxious weeds. NYS ECL and Ag & Markets lists designate priority invasives for control.
Rainwater harvesting legal and encouraged in Westchester County. NYS DEC provides guidance; no permit needed for rain barrels. Potable reuse requires NYS Health Department approval.
Westchester County has no countywide artificial-turf regulation. County Parks installed turf fields at several locations. Some municipalities (Larchmont, Mamaroneck) have moratoriums due to PFAS concerns.
Westchester County has no countywide home occupation zoning rule. Each of the 45 municipalities (6 cities, 19 towns, 23 villages) sets its own home business zoning through local code.
Cottage food production is governed by NYS Home Processor law (Ag & Markets Law Art. 20-C) — a state program. Westchester County has no county-level cottage food rule.
Home-based daycare is licensed by NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), which preempts local zoning. Westchester County has no county daycare license.
No countywide rule on home-business customer traffic. Each municipality sets limits on visits, deliveries, and parking.
No county-level home-business sign rule. Each Westchester municipality sets sign size, lighting, and placement through local zoning code.
Westchester County has no countywide ADU ordinance. NY has no statewide ADU preemption. Each of the 45 municipalities sets ADU rules.
Tiny homes must meet NYS Uniform Code and NYS Residential Code Appendix Q (tiny houses under 400 sq ft). Westchester County has no county tiny-home rule.
Converting a garage to living space is a 'change of occupancy' under NYS Uniform Code requiring a municipal building permit. Westchester County has no county-level rule.
No county shed rule. Each Westchester municipality sets size, setback, and permit thresholds. NYS Uniform Code exempts sheds under 144 sq ft from a building permit.
Carports are accessory structures regulated municipally. NYS code requires a permit for any roofed structure over 144 sq ft.
Westchester County does not regulate garage sales. Frequency limits are set by each municipality — typically 2-4 sales per household per year.
Time-of-day limits are set municipally. Typical Westchester rules: 8 AM or 9 AM start, 6 PM or 7 PM end. County does not set garage sale hours.
No countywide garage sale permit. Some Westchester municipalities require free or low-cost garage sale permits from the town/village clerk; others do not.
No county-wide dark sky ordinance in Westchester. Municipalities regulate lighting through zoning. Bedford, Pound Ridge, and North Salem have dark-sky-leaning rules (full-cutoff fixtures, foot-candle limits at property line).
No county-wide light trespass law. Municipal codes commonly limit light spillage to 0.1–0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines. Private nuisance claims available.
Westchester County has no dark-sky ordinance. Several northern towns (Pound Ridge, Bedford, Lewisboro) have adopted dark-sky-friendly lighting codes requiring full cutoff fixtures.
Property blight enforcement is municipal. Westchester County Planning Department reviews major projects and can flag blighted parcels, but enforcement (notices, fines, receivership) runs through each city, town, or village.
Westchester County Source Separation Law (Local Law 9 of 1992) requires recycling of designated materials countywide. Trash and recycling pickup is managed by each municipality; bin/container rules are set locally.
Westchester County maintains county roads and parks but does not require homeowners to clear sidewalks — that duty is set by each municipality. Typical rule: sidewalks cleared within 12-24 hours after snow ends.
Vacant lot maintenance (weed cutting, debris removal, fencing) is enforced by each municipality under adopted NY State Property Maintenance Code. Westchester County Land Bank acquires problem parcels in some cases.
Westchester County does not regulate garage sales. Each municipality sets its own rules — typical limits are 2-4 sales per year, 2-3 days per sale, with signs removed within 24-48 hours after the sale.
Secondary: Westchester County Department of Health conducts inspections of public water supplies, semi-public pools, food service, and lead-paint hazards in homes built before 1978 under NY Public Health Law and 10 NYCRR.
Westchester County building permits issued at municipal level under NY Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR Part 1200+). County Department of Health permits required for septic, wells, and food establishments. Certificate of Occupancy required before use.
Elevators in Westchester County must be inspected annually under the New York Uniform Code and ASME A17.1 standards, with municipal building departments enforcing certificates of inspection.
Westchester County enforces lead paint hazard rules through WCDOH inspections, NY Public Health Law screening mandates, and federal Renovation Repair and Painting Rule for pre-1978 properties.
Fire sprinkler systems in Westchester County must comply with the New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code adopting NFPA 13 and 13R, enforced by local fire marshals and building officials.
WCDOH enforces pest control standards under Westchester Sanitary Code Chapter 850 including bedbug provisions in 850.30, working with NY Department of Environmental Conservation on pesticide use.
Door locking hardware in Westchester County buildings must comply with the NY Uniform Code, NFPA 80 and 101 Life Safety Code, ensuring egress doors are openable from inside without keys or tools.
Scaffolding in Westchester County is regulated under New York Labor Law Section 240 the Scaffold Law, OSHA standards, and the NY Uniform Code, with municipal inspectors verifying compliance.
No countywide replacement mandate. County Parks replace removed trees per Parks Dept. policy. Most Westchester municipal tree codes require 1:1 or greater replacement with minimum 2-3 inch caliper specimens.
No countywide tree-removal permit. County Parks Commissioner approval required in county parks. Most Westchester municipalities require permits for trees above 6-12 inch DBH on private land.
Westchester County has no formal heritage-tree program. NYS DEC maintains the Big Tree Register. Several municipalities (Bedford, Pound Ridge, New Castle) designate and protect large/historic specimen trees locally.
Westchester County Tree Code Chapter 277 protects heritage trees on county property and rights-of-way, and many villages designate native species like white oak, sugar maple, and American elm for additional protection on private parcels above defined diameter thresholds.
Height limits are municipal. Typical Westchester single-family limits range from 30-35 ft. No countywide height rule.
Lot coverage limits are set by each Westchester municipality through its zoning code. No county-level coverage rule.
All building setbacks are set by municipal zoning. Westchester County has no countywide setback ordinance.
NYS Unified Solar Permit is used by most Westchester municipalities to streamline residential PV permits (under 25 kW). Westchester County has no separate solar permit.
NY Real Property Law §335-b limits HOA solar restrictions — HOAs cannot prohibit solar panels, only impose reasonable aesthetic rules that don't significantly decrease efficiency or cost-effectiveness.
Under NY Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) 2019, some just-cause-like protections apply to regulated units. Statewide Good Cause Eviction passed in April 2024 applies to NYC automatically; Westchester municipalities can opt in.
Three Westchester cities (Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon) have opted into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA), meaning rent stabilization applies to buildings 6+ units built before 1974. Other Westchester municipalities can opt in.
Westchester County does not maintain a countywide rental registry. Many Westchester municipalities (Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, Port Chester, Peekskill, etc.) require landlords to register rental units locally.
New York's Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 sharply limits no-fault evictions across Westchester County by extending notice periods, requiring good-cause grounds in ETPA villages, and capping landlord recovery to specified statutory bases.
New York Real Property Law Section 235 and Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law Section 768 prohibit Westchester landlords from harassing tenants through utility shutoffs, repeated baseless lawsuits, or threats intended to force the tenant to vacate.
New York General Obligations Law Section 7-108, amended by HSTPA in 2019, caps residential security deposits in Westchester at one month's rent and requires return within 14 days of move-out with an itemized statement of any deductions.
In Westchester's ETPA-stabilized villages, landlords may pass through major capital improvement costs and individual apartment improvement costs to tenants only after approval by NY Homes and Community Renewal under strict caps and amortization schedules.
New York Executive Law Section 296(5), the State Human Rights Law, prohibits Westchester landlords from refusing to rent to applicants based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers, Social Security, SSI, alimony, and HASA assistance.
Westchester County administers Housing Choice Vouchers through its Section 8 office, and NY law forbids landlords from refusing to participate in the voucher program, charging unauthorized fees, or denying applicants based on voucher status.
New York has no direct equivalent to California's AB-1482 statewide rent cap, but HSTPA imposes its own lease-disclosure regime in Westchester, including notices about ETPA status, security-deposit rules, and rent-history rights.
Political signs protected by First Amendment. Most Westchester municipalities allow on private property; cannot require permits or charge fees. Typical restrictions: size (6 sq ft) and removal within 7-10 days after election.
Signs on public property generally prohibited. Most Westchester municipalities ban garage sale signs on utility poles, street trees, and public rights-of-way; signs allowed on private property with owner permission.
Holiday displays on private property generally allowed and exempt from most sign regulations. No countywide rule. Some municipalities set time limits (e.g., up to 60 days).
Westchester HOAs and condo associations are governed by NY Real Property Law Article 9-B (§339-d through §339-ii, the Condominium Act) and, for HOAs, by the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. Boards must hold annual meetings and maintain reserve funds.
Architectural review committees have broad authority under RPL §339 condo declarations and HOA covenants. Owners typically need written approval for exterior changes, fences, pools, and landscaping visible from common areas.
Mandatory source separation countywide under Laws of Westchester County Ch. 825. Residents must separate paper, metal/glass/plastic containers, corrugated cardboard, and yard waste from trash. Fines 25-250 dollars per violation.
Pickup schedules and container rules set by each municipality. Most Westchester towns/cities provide curbside service weekly or biweekly. Westchester County Source Separation Law (Chapter 825) requires recyclables separation countywide.
Westchester County Source Separation Law (Chapter 825) mandates dual-stream recycling countywide: paper/cardboard separate from bottles/cans/plastic. Applies to all residents, businesses, and institutions in all 43 municipalities.
Bin placement rules are municipal. Typical Westchester rules: bins out no earlier than 6 PM night before pickup; removed by 10 PM pickup day or next morning. Bins must be kept out of front yard view otherwise.
Westchester County does not collect residential trash. Each of 45 municipalities operates its own collection or contracts with private haulers. County operates a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and Waste-to-Energy plant in Peekskill (RESCO/Wheelabrator).
Westchester operates the Household Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF) in Valhalla for residents' bulk items, electronics, paints, and hazardous waste. Free for county residents with ID.
No-knock/no-solicitation lists are maintained by most Westchester municipalities. Residents register; solicitors must check and avoid listed addresses. 'No Soliciting' signs must be honored by law.
Commercial solicitor permits required in most Westchester municipalities — issued by police or clerk. Fees typically $25-$100. Background check and ID card required. Religious and political canvassers exempt.
Grading and drainage regulated at municipal level via local codes. Many Westchester towns require grading permits for significant earthwork and prohibit redirecting runoff onto neighbors.
Erosion and sediment control required on construction sites disturbing 1+ acre under NYS SPDES General Permit GP-0-20-001. Municipalities enforce via MS4 program.
Westchester has AE/VE zones along Long Island Sound (Rye, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Larchmont) and Hudson River (Yonkers, Hastings, Tarrytown). County participates in NFIP via municipal partners.
Westchester County operates countywide MS4 under NYS SPDES GP-0-15-003. All 43 municipalities must enforce stormwater rules including illicit discharge bans and construction site controls.
Westchester waterfront communities use Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs (LWRPs) coordinated with NYS DOS and DEC. Coastal Erosion Hazard Area and tidal wetlands permits required.
New York State Environmental Conservation Law and DEC regulations cap heavy-duty vehicle idling at five minutes statewide, and Westchester villages such as Mount Kisco enforce parallel limits for all vehicles near schools and residential areas.
Westchester County requires departments to prioritize environmentally preferable products, recycled-content paper, EnergyStar equipment, and low-emission vehicles when feasible, under its sustainable procurement administrative directive tied to Chapter 700.
Westchester County declared a climate emergency and adopted a Climate Action Plan with countywide greenhouse-gas reduction targets, building electrification goals, and resilience planning under Sustainability Code Chapter 700.
Westchester County's sustainability planning encourages cool-roof installations, expanded tree canopy, and reflective surfaces in dense urban centers like Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and New Rochelle to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Several Westchester villages including Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, and Bronxville restrict gas-powered leaf blowers seasonally or year-round, while county noise guidance under Chapter 484 supports municipal action on yard-equipment noise.
Recreational flyers must follow FAA TRUST rules, stay under 400 ft, and avoid HPN airspace without authorization. Westchester County Parks ban drone takeoff/landing without permit.
FAA Part 107 governs commercial drone operations. Westchester County Airport (HPN) is Class D airspace — LAANC authorization required. County parks prohibit drone takeoff/landing without permit.
NY MRTA allows adults 21+ to grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature cannabis plants per person (max 6 mature, 6 immature per household). Statewide; Westchester County cannot restrict.
NY MRTA legalized adult-use cannabis. Each Westchester municipality could opt out by Dec 31, 2021. Westchester County cannot override municipal opt-outs; dispensary zoning is purely local.
New York Office of Cannabis Management licenses adult-use cannabis delivery; Westchester County did not opt out, so OCM-licensed delivery operators may serve any municipality that did not separately opt out of retail.
New York Office of Cannabis Management gives licensing priority to social and economic equity applicants including justice-involved individuals, minority and women-owned businesses, distressed farmers, and service-disabled veterans operating in Westchester.
New York Cannabis Law allows adults age 21 or older to grow up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants at home, capped at twelve plants total per household, in any Westchester municipality.
New York Cannabis Law and OCM regulations impose minimum buffer distances between licensed adult-use cannabis retailers and schools, houses of worship, and other dispensaries; Westchester municipalities can add stricter local zoning overlays.
Westchester County Parks are generally open dawn to dusk or close at 10 PM depending on the park. After-hours presence is trespass and enforced by County Park Police.
Westchester County does not have a countywide juvenile curfew. Some cities (e.g., Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle) have local curfews typically 11 PM to 6 AM for under 17.
Westchester County Department of Health issues Mobile Food Service Establishment (MFSE) permits countywide per NYS Sanitary Code Subpart 14-4. Required to operate any mobile food vehicle in Westchester.
Vending zones are set by each municipality. Westchester County does not regulate food truck locations on municipal streets — only the DOH health permit is countywide.
Westchester County has no countywide sit-lie ordinance regulating sitting or lying on public sidewalks, leaving such regulation to individual municipalities, several of which have adopted narrow sidewalk-obstruction codes rather than blanket bans.
Westchester County's Department of Social Services coordinates encampment outreach and sanitation responses through its Homeless Outreach team, partnering with municipal police and the county Coordinated Entry system rather than relying on enforcement-first sweeps.
Bridge and transitional housing in Westchester operates under the county Continuum of Care standards, providing 90-day to 24-month placements with case management, with referrals routed exclusively through the Coordinated Entry system.
Westchester County Code Chapter 850.30 requires landlords of multiple dwellings to remediate bed bug infestations using licensed pest professionals and to disclose recent infestations to prospective tenants.
Westchester County Department of Health inspects food service establishments and posts results online; New York uses pass/fail rather than NYC-style letter grades, but violations are searchable by establishment.
New York Sanitary Code requires every Westchester food service establishment to have a certified food protection manager on staff; individual food handler cards are not state-mandated but some employers require them.
New York prohibits placing used syringes in household trash and offers free sharps disposal at participating Westchester pharmacies, hospitals, and county health department locations under state environmental rules.
Westchester municipalities and the county health department can order property owners to abate rat harborage; food establishments must implement integrated pest management under state sanitary code.
New York Environmental Conservation Law Section 27-2705 prohibits Westchester restaurants and retailers from automatically providing single-use plastic beverage straws; straws must be supplied only when affirmatively requested by the customer.
Westchester County Local Law Chapter 471 imposes a five-cent fee on paper carryout bags and predates New York's statewide plastic carryout bag ban under Environmental Conservation Law Section 27-2801, which took effect in 2020.
New York Environmental Conservation Law Section 27-3001 prohibits food service businesses, retailers, and caterers from selling or distributing expanded polystyrene foam single-use food containers and loose fill packing peanuts statewide including Westchester.
New York's Skip the Stuff law amends Environmental Conservation Law Section 27-2706 and bars Westchester restaurants from automatically including plastic utensils, condiment packets, and napkin packs with takeout or delivery orders without an affirmative request.
New York Public Health Law Section 1399-aa prohibits the sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and vapor pens to anyone under age 21 throughout Westchester County, with retailer ID checks and license suspensions for violations.
New York Public Health Law Section 1399-mm-1 bans the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes and vapor products other than tobacco flavor throughout Westchester; menthol cigarettes remain legal but face periodic legislative challenge.
Westchester water utilities such as SUEZ Water New York and Westchester Joint Water Works require customers to report suspected service-line leaks promptly and offer one-time bill adjustments for documented underground leaks repaired within set timeframes.
Westchester County and partner water utilities including New York City DEP and SUEZ Water New York issue lawn-watering restrictions during drought watches and warnings, typically limiting irrigation to odd or even days and prohibiting midday use.
Reclaimed and recycled water programs are limited in Westchester compared with arid regions, but the county supports rainwater harvesting and graywater pilots consistent with NY plumbing code and DEC water-reuse guidance for irrigation only.
Westchester County and several municipalities offer rebates for replacing turf lawns with native plantings, rain gardens, and pollinator habitat to reduce irrigation demand and stormwater runoff under Healthy Yards and similar programs.
Westchester cities along the Metro-North Hudson and Harlem lines such as White Plains, New Rochelle, Yonkers, and Mount Vernon have adopted transit-oriented development zoning that allows greater density, reduced parking, and mixed-use buildings near rail stations.
Under Westchester County's Fair and Affordable Housing settlement implementation and local zoning, many municipalities offer density bonuses to developers who include affordable units, often 10 to 25 percent of total units, in multifamily projects.
Patterns for Westchester is the county's long-range land-use policy framework guiding local comprehensive plans toward centers-and-greenways development, mirroring specific-plan concepts used elsewhere but implemented through municipal master plans.
Westchester County operates the South County Trailway, North County Trailway, and Bronx River Pathway with posted speed and conduct rules, while New York Vehicle and Traffic Law governs bicycle behavior in on-street bike lanes throughout the county.
New York State recognizes three e-bike classes plus e-scooters under VTL with maximum assisted speeds of 20 to 25 mph, and Westchester localities including Yonkers permit shared micro-mobility under municipal pilot programs subject to helmet and age rules.
Massage therapy in Westchester County is regulated by NY State licensure (NY Education Law Article 155) administered by the Office of the Professions, with municipal zoning and sign rules layered on top by host cities and villages.
Westchester cities require secondhand goods dealers and pawnbrokers to register locally, hold purchased items for a waiting period, and report transactions to police via electronic systems such as LeadsOnline to deter trafficking in stolen property.
Tobacco and vape retailers in Westchester County must register with the NY Department of Taxation and Finance and follow Tobacco 21 under NY Public Health Law. Westchester County Code Chapter 833 adds local restrictions on flavored products and youth-facing displays.
Tow operators in Westchester need a NY DOT certificate and must follow NY Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1224 plus municipal trespass-tow rules covering signage, fees, storage, and authorization for non-consensual tows from private property.
Westchester County Code Chapter 484 prohibits smoking and vaping in many outdoor public spaces, including county parks, playgrounds, beaches, and within 25 feet of building entrances, going beyond the NY Clean Indoor Air Act.
Westchester cities prohibit aggressive panhandling that involves threats, blocking pathways, or solicitation near ATMs, while passive panhandling generally remains protected speech under the First Amendment after the Supreme Court Reed v. Town of Gilbert decision.
Adults 21 and older may possess and use cannabis in New York under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, but consumption is banned anywhere tobacco smoking is banned, including indoor workplaces, parks, schools, and many outdoor public spaces in Westchester.
Open containers of alcoholic beverages are banned on Westchester County parkways, on most public streets and sidewalks under city codes, and in county parks unless a special use permit has been issued for an event.
Westchester County does not levy its own business income tax. Businesses pay NY State franchise tax, county and city sales tax totaling about 8.375 percent, and local property taxes on commercial real estate, with city-level business permits in Yonkers and White Plains.
New York imposes a 1 percent mansion tax on residential sales of $1 million or more under NY Tax Law Section 1402-a. The tax is paid by the buyer at closing and applies broadly across Westchester County to single-family homes, condos, and co-ops.
Westchester employees are covered by NY Paid Family Leave under NY Workers Compensation Law Section 200 plus, NY Paid Sick Leave under NY Labor Law Section 196-b, and the NY HERO Act airborne infectious disease standard. Local governments cannot weaken these rights.
Westchester County is part of the NY downstate region with a minimum wage of $16.50 per hour as of 2025, indexed to inflation under NY Labor Law Section 651. Local governments cannot set their own minimum wage thanks to state preemption.
Westchester County levies a 3 percent hotel occupancy tax on stays of fewer than 30 days, layered on top of the 4 percent NY State sales tax and city sales tax, producing roughly 7 to 8.375 percent total tax on hotel rooms in the county.
When a Westchester hotel changes ownership or management, NY Labor Law and union contracts generally require the incoming employer to retain the existing workforce for a transition period and consider them for permanent employment based on seniority.