2023 New York Laws › AGM - Agriculture and Markets › Article 26-C - Regulation of Animal Shelters › 424 - General Facility Standards.

* §  424.  General  facility  standards.  1.  All  facilities  and all
interior components of each  animal  shelter  shall  be  constructed  of
materials   that  ensure  a  sound  physical  structure,  and  shall  be
maintained so as to protect animals from injury, ensure  containment  of
animals  within  the  property, and restrict unauthorized entry of other
animals and humans to the building.
2. Indoor building surfaces in direct contact with  animals  shall  be
constructed of materials that are non-porous, water resistant, non-toxic
and  able  to  withstand  regular  cleaning  and  disinfection. Adequate
drainage shall prevent the accumulation of water  or  other  liquids  on
floors.
3. Electrical power and running water shall be maintained to all parts
of  the  facility  that  house animals, with written emergency plans for
back-up sources or relocation of the animals to a  safe  environment  in
the event of outages lasting more than four hours.
4.  Readily  accessible  sinks  shall be convenient to all animal care
areas. Single service soap and towels or electric hand dryers  shall  be
available at all hand-washing locations.
5.  Ambient  temperatures  in all indoor animal housing areas shall be
routinely maintained between sixty and eighty degrees fahrenheit.
6. Each animal shall be monitored and  provided  with  an  environment
allowing maintenance of normal body temperature based on species, breed,
body condition, medical condition, and age.
7.  Each  animal  shelter  shall  document  regular maintenance of air
handling systems according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
8. Ammonia levels shall be kept at less than two parts per million.
9.  Each  animal  shelter  shall  provide  separate   housing   areas,
segregated  by  species  and from uninfected, unexposed animals, for the
housing of any animal with an infectious disease that may be transmitted
within the shelter environment and requiring isolation as determined  by
a  licensed veterinarian. Doors separating such rooms from the remainder
of the facility shall be kept closed.
10.  Each  animal  shelter  shall  minimize  continuous  exposure   of
personnel  and  animals  to sound levels exceeding eighty-five decibels.
Active measures shall be taken and documented to minimize  sound  levels
in  housing  areas.  Such  measures  may include modified kennel design,
relocation of particularly loud animals,  or  use  of  visual  barriers,
sound baffling, and behavioral enrichment protocols. Each animal shelter
shall  use  a  decibel-meter  at a minimum of once weekly to measure the
level of sound in their kennels during cleaning  and  resting  times.  A
record of such measurements and the date such measurements were recorded
shall be maintained by each animal shelter.
11.  Each  animal  shelter  shall  provide  animal  housing areas that
provide adequate lighting and a means to maintain diurnal  light  cycles
pursuant to an established schedule. All animals shall have a minimum of
eight hours each of light and darkness within a twenty-four-hour cycle.
12.  Each  animal  shelter shall establish and maintain a written plan
for pest and vermin control including the following:
(a) Method of controlling rodent infestation  that  is  effective  and
safe for both humans, and animals housed in the facility;
(b)  A  record  or  copies  of  service  reports  from outside service
providers related to pest  and  vermin  control  that  documents  dates,
methods, locations, and outcomes, if applicable; and
(c)  Food  stored  in  rodent  proof  containers  to prevent spoilage,
contamination, and  infestation  once  opened,  if  packaging  has  been
damaged, or as otherwise required by such plan.
13.  The  use  of  unattended  drop  boxes  for  intake  of animals is
prohibited.
* NB Effective December 15, 2025