Nassau County, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk placement
- Outright ban, no permit
- First-offense fine
- $750
- Repeat-offense fine
- $1,500
- Enforced by
- Dept. of Consumer Affairs
- Source law
- Local Law No. 3 of 2010
Summary
Nassau County law flatly bars donation and clothing drop-off bins from any public sidewalk, roadway, or right-of-way: a for-profit-bin crackdown that leaves only private property, with the landowner's written consent, as an option.
No Person shall place a drop off bin on any County property or property maintained by the County, or on any other public sidewalk, roadway, or right-of-way. B. No person shall place a drop off bin on private property without first filing with the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs written authorization from the owner and a statement indicating what organization the proceeds will benefit. C. No person shall place, use or employ a drop off bin that does not display the following information: January 1, 2022 211
1. the name, location of the principal place of business and the telephone number of the person placing, using or employing a drop off bin; and
2. the charity registration number assigned by the Charities Bureau of the Office of the New York State Attorney General to the person placing, using or employing a drop off bin.
D. No drop off bin shall be used for advertising or promotional purposes other than the name, location of the principal place of business and the telephone number of the person placing, using or employing a drop off bin.
E. The drop off bin shall be placed on a paved surface. F. No drop off bin shall be larger than six (6) feet high by six (6) feet wide by five (5) feet deep. G. The drop off bin must be of a neutral color, or closely compatible with the color of surrounding structures so as to make the bin as visually unobtrusive as possible. H. The drop off bin shall be of the type that is enclosed by use of a receiving door and
Full Breakdown
Local Law No. 3 of 2010 targets "unidentified drop off bins" that mislead donors into thinking a for-profit operator is a charity. Section 3(A) is an outright ban on County property and on any public sidewalk, roadway, or right-of-way: no permit exists for that placement. Off the right-of-way, a bin needs the property owner's written authorization filed with the Department of Consumer Affairs, a charity-registration number or a "FOR-PROFIT" disclosure on its face, and a six-foot size cap. This provision is quoted from Nassau's Miscellaneous Laws volume, current only to January 1, 2022.
Violations & Fines
Nassau County's Department of Consumer Affairs can fine a violator $750 for a first offense and $1,500 for each subsequent violation of the drop-off bin law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a charity donation bin on a Nassau County sidewalk?
Where can a drop-off bin legally go instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the New York sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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