Allow Cats in Retail Food Stores
In committee as of Jun 16, 2026Under review by an assigned committee.
✦ Plain-Language Summary
This bill would remove the city's ban on cats in retail food stores, though state approval would still be needed. The city would also provide free vaccinations and spaying services for store cats and inform store owners about these programs.
This bill is in committee — public testimony may be open
Register to testify in-person, virtually, or in writing at council.nyc.gov/testify →
Details
- Introduced
- Apr 16, 2026
- Body
- Committee on Health
- Type
- Introduction
- Status
- Committee
Sponsors (1)
Official Description
This bill would override the provisions of the New York City Health Code that prohibit owners of retail food stores from keeping a cat within their store. Importantly, however, this bill standing alone would not permit store owners to keep cats in their stores. Instead, further action would be required by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to change its regulations prohibiting the keeping of live animals within stores. Additionally, this bill would require the Office of Animal Welfare, in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Services, to establish a program to provide free vaccinations and spaying and neutering services to cats residing in retail food stores and to conduct an outreach campaign to inform retail food store owners regarding these programs.