Rainwater harvesting is legal throughout Rensselaer County. No permits required for residential rain barrels. NY has no statewide restriction on rainwater collection.
New York does not restrict residential rainwater harvesting. Homeowners in Rensselaer County may install rain barrels at downspouts or above-ground cisterns for non-potable use (lawn watering, gardens, car washing) without a permit. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) actually encourages rainwater capture as a green-infrastructure practice for stormwater management. Potable (indoor drinking/bathing) use triggers NY Department of Health cross-connection and water-quality requirements under 10 NYCRR Part 5. Large cisterns exceeding 5,000 gallons or structures exceeding 200 sq ft may need a building permit in some municipalities (Troy, East Greenbush). Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County distributes subsidized rain barrels periodically.
No statewide or county penalties. Illegal cross-connection to potable supply: NY DOH enforcement, fines up to $2,000 plus remediation costs.
Rensselaer County, NY
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