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.

Environmental Conservation Law section 11-0505 prohibits feeding wild deer and black bears anywhere in New York to prevent disease, 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 local home-rule matter.

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 authority.

New York Cannabis Law preempts municipalities from prohibiting personal home cultivation of cannabis by adults age 21 and over, while setting uniform plant limits and 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 Local Law 67 of 2023) set takeoff and landing restrictions. Recreational drones under 0.55 lb (250g) need no FAA registration; heavier drones require FAA Recreational ID.

New York Labor Law §652 sets a tiered statewide minimum wage that preempts local minimum wage ordinances. As of 2024 the rate is $16.00/hr in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester County, and $15.00/hr in the rest of the state. The Legislature blocked NYC from setting a higher local wage.

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 Department of State.

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 meet or exceed federal and state baselines.

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 Law Article 18.

New York Penal Law bans most consumer fireworks statewide. Only ground-based sparkling devices are legal, and counties must opt in to even allow those.

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 (1911). Cities may regulate firearms in areas not occupied by state 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 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 of Agriculture and Markets.

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 uniformly across the state.

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 limited proprietor and land-use authority.

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 in every municipality.

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 and certain private property.

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 leaving local zoning of station siting available.

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's Emergency Tenant Protection Act and Rent Stabilization Law cap rent increases and renewal terms for covered units, primarily in NYC and opt-in counties statewide.

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 local laws unreasonably restrict farm operations. About 9 million acres are in Ag Districts statewide.

New York imposes state sales tax and a hotel-style occupancy tax on short-term rentals statewide and now requires a state registry under recent legislation.

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 paper bag fee. Reusable bags and certain product bags are exempt.

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 335-b prohibits homeowners associations from enforcing covenants that unreasonably restrict installation of solar collectors on owner-occupied homes statewide.

New York's Unified Solar Permit and Real Property Law section 335-b limit how municipalities may regulate 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 Public Health Law Article 13-D.

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.

Public Health Law Article 13-D and Subpart 6-1 of the State Sanitary Code impose 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 Health Law §1399-mm-1 (emergency reg 2020, made permanent 2023).

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.