New York Ordinances (2026)

Converting a garage into living space in New York requires compliance with the statewide Uniform Code for habitable rooms, including ceiling height, egress, insulation, and smoke alarms.

New York's Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code sets minimum construction standards for sheds statewide, though local zoning controls placement, setbacks, and size limits.

Tiny homes used as permanent residences in New York must comply with the Uniform Code, including Appendix Q for dwellings under 400 square feet, regardless of location.

Agriculture and Markets Law sections 353 and 353-a criminalize neglect and cruelty to animals, providing a uniform statewide basis for prosecuting animal hoarding cases.

Agriculture and Markets Law Article 15 establishes a uniform statewide apiary inspection program with mandatory disease control standards applicable to all hives in New York.

Agriculture and Markets Law section 107(5) preempts municipalities from enacting breed-specific dog regulations, ensuring uniform treatment regardless of breed across New York.

New York Agriculture and Markets Law Article 7 sets a statewide framework for dog licensing, identification, and dangerous dog control that all municipalities must follow.

Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0512 universally prohibits possessing wild animals such as big cats, bears, wolves, and venomous reptiles as pets across New York.

New York prohibits feeding wild deer, moose, and black bears statewide under DEC regulations, aiming to prevent disease spread, habituation, and public safety risks.

New York's Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code sets statewide structural height, fire safety, and construction-type limits that apply universally to all buildings, though zoning height limits remain a…

New York Cannabis Law allowed municipalities a one-time opt-out window before December 31 2021, after which the Office of Cannabis Management uniformly licenses retail dispensaries with limited local zoning…

New York law lets adults 21 and over grow cannabis at home and preempts municipalities from prohibiting it, setting uniform plant limits and secure storage requirements statewide.

Commercial drone operations in New York fall under FAA Part 107 with state-level privacy, surveillance, and critical infrastructure protections that apply uniformly across all municipalities.

New York has no comprehensive statewide drone statute. Federal FAA rules govern airspace, and localities — notably NYC through 2023 NYPD permit rules — set takeoff and landing restrictions. Recreational drones…

New York Labor Law §652 sets a tiered statewide minimum wage that leaves no room for local wage ordinances. As of January 1, 2026 the rate is $17.00/hr in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester County, and…

New York mandates paid sick leave under Labor Law § 196-b and paid family leave under Workers' Compensation Law Article 9, with statewide coverage that applies to nearly every private employer.

New York Executive Law Article 42 and the Coastal Management Program require state and local agency actions in designated coastal areas to be consistent with statewide coastal policies enforced by the…

New York Environmental Conservation Law and the Uniform Code require all municipalities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program to adopt and enforce minimum floodplain development standards that…

New York Environmental Conservation Law and the SPDES program impose uniform statewide stormwater discharge permit requirements that apply to construction sites and MS4 communities regardless of local rules.

New York's Uniform Code requires pool barriers statewide for residential swimming pools, setting minimum fence height, gate, and alarm standards that apply universally across all municipalities under Executive…

New York Penal Law bans most consumer fireworks statewide. Ground-based sparkling devices are legal by default outside New York City, though counties may opt out and about a dozen have banned them.

New York prohibits residential brush burning statewide from March 16 to May 14 and bans burning household trash year-round under DEC regulation 6 NYCRR Part 215.

New York's Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code adopts NFPA 58 statewide, setting minimum propane container size, setback, and storage rules every locality must enforce.

New York requires a state-issued concealed carry license under Penal Law § 400.00, with mandatory training and a long list of statewide sensitive locations where carry is forbidden.

New York does not have full state preemption of local firearms laws. Penal Law Article 265 sets the statewide floor, but localities — especially New York City — impose stricter licensing under the Sullivan Law…

New York effectively prohibits open carry of handguns statewide, and the Concealed Carry Improvement Act treats visible carry the same as concealed carry under license rules.

New York Penal Law treats a vehicle as a public place for firearm purposes, requiring a valid pistol license to transport a handgun and strict storage rules for long guns and ammunition statewide.

New York has no comprehensive HOA act. Condominiums get a statutory common-charge lien under Real Property Law § 339-z that is foreclosable like a mortgage but junior to a first mortgage. Non-condo HOAs…

New York condominium boards operate under bylaws required by Real Property Law § 339-v, covering elections, meetings, and quorum. Non-condo HOAs incorporated as not-for-profits follow the N-PCL: annual member…

New York condominium associations enforce the declaration, bylaws, and rules adopted under Real Property Law § 339-v. Non-condo HOAs enforce covenants and architectural rules through the recorded declaration…

New York sets no statutory cap on HOA or condominium fines. A condo board's rule-making and enforcement power comes from the bylaws required by Real Property Law § 339-v. Non-condo HOAs draw any fine power…

New York voids HOA bans on solar power and EV charging. Real Property Law § 342 (Solar Rights Act) makes any restriction effectively prohibiting a solar system unenforceable and void; RPL § 343 does the same…

New York Agriculture and Markets Law preempts municipalities on the licensing and food safety rules for home-based food processors, requiring a uniform Home Processor exemption administered by the Department…

New York Social Services Law preempts municipalities from imposing additional licensing on family or group family day care homes and requires the Office of Children and Family Services to regulate child care…

New York has no statewide E-Verify mandate; employers rely on the federal Form I-9 process while New York Labor Law and Human Rights Law restrict status discrimination and protect undocumented workers.

New York's Green Light Law limits state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and shields DMV records, applying uniformly to every county, city, town, and village in the state.

Aircraft noise regulation in New York is preempted by federal law under the Federal Aviation Act, with state and local authorities barred from regulating in-flight aircraft operations, though New York retains…

New York Agriculture and Markets Law establishes statewide standards for dangerous and nuisance dogs, allowing local supplementation but providing universal owner liability and complaint procedures applicable…

New York Vehicle and Traffic Law sets uniform definitions and removal procedures for abandoned vehicles statewide, governing how police and municipalities take custody of and dispose of derelict cars on public…

New York has adopted statewide building code and Public Service Commission rules governing EV charging installation, accessibility, and utility interconnection that apply uniformly to municipalities, while…

Before filing a nonpayment eviction, a New York landlord must serve a 14-day written rent demand under RPAPL Section 711. The demand requires, in the alternative, payment of rent or surrender of possession…

Real Property Law Section 235-b imposes an implied warranty of habitability in every residential lease. Premises must be fit for human habitation and free of conditions dangerous to life, health, or safety…

New York's Good Cause Eviction Law (RPL Article 6-A) limits evictions and rent hikes for covered tenants in NYC by default, with optional adoption by other municipalities.

New York has no statewide statute setting a fixed advance-notice period for landlord entry. Instead, a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment requires reasonable notice at a reasonable time, except in emergencies…

Real Property Law Section 238-a, added by the 2019 HSTPA, caps residential late fees at $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less, and bars any late fee until rent is more than five days overdue. Lease…

To end a tenancy or decline to renew, a New York landlord must give written notice scaled to how long the tenant has lived in the unit under Real Property Law Section 226-c: 30 days for under one year, 60 days…

New York permits robust local rent regulation. Rent stabilization, governed by the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, plus a smaller legacy rent-control program, cap increases on covered units. Since the 2019…

New York requires advance written notice before a landlord raises rent 5% or more, or declines to renew a lease. The notice window scales with how long the tenant has lived in the unit: 30, 60, or 90 days…

Since the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, New York landlords cannot collect a security deposit larger than one month's rent. Within 14 days after a tenant vacates, the landlord must return…

New York's adverse possession period is 10 years of continuous, exclusive possession under RPAPL Sections 501 and 511. A 2024 budget amendment to RPAPL Section 711 clarified that squatters are not tenants…

Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA governs certified agricultural districts statewide and limits how local zoning can apply to working farms inside them.

NY Agriculture and Markets Law §301-309 protects sound agricultural practices in certified Agricultural Districts from local ordinances and private nuisance suits. The Commissioner issues opinions on whether…

New York imposes state and local sales tax plus hotel-style occupancy taxes on short-term rentals statewide, and a 2024 registration law adds county-level registries and mandatory platform tax collection.

The New York Bag Waste Reduction Law (Environmental Conservation Law §27-2801, enacted 2019, enforced March 2020) bans most single-use plastic carryout bags statewide. Counties and cities may impose a 5-cent…

New York prohibits the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene foam food containers and loose packing peanuts statewide under Environmental Conservation Law Article 27.

Real Property Law section 342 prohibits homeowners associations from enforcing rules that effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict installation of rooftop solar power systems up to 25 kilowatts statewide.

New York's Unified Solar Permit and Real Property Law section 342 limit how municipalities and HOAs may restrict residential solar installations, ensuring permit access statewide.

Above-ground swimming pools holding more than 24 inches of water fall under the New York Uniform Code, requiring permits, barriers, and electrical inspections statewide.

The Uniform Code imposes mandatory pool barrier requirements statewide, including minimum 48-inch fences, self-closing gates, and alarms for residential swimming pools.

Hot tubs and spas in New York must meet Uniform Code barrier, electrical, and cover requirements, with public spas additionally regulated under the State Sanitary Code enforced by health departments.

The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code mandates building permits for residential and public pools statewide, with localities serving as enforcement agencies.

The State Sanitary Code's Subpart 6-1, adopted under Public Health Law authority, imposes uniform safety, water quality, and lifeguard rules for public pools across New York.

New York Public Health Law §1399-cc raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco and vapor products to 21 (Tobacco 21 Act, signed 2019). New York also bans the sale of all flavored vapor products under Public…

New York prohibits the sale of flavored vapor products statewide under Public Health Law § 1399-mm-1, allowing only tobacco-flavored e-liquid for legal retail sale.

New York requires state retail registration for every tobacco and vapor product seller and bans online or mail-order shipment of vape products directly to consumers statewide.

New York's Solid Waste Management Act requires every municipality to adopt source separation recycling rules and bans certain recyclables from disposal statewide.