Int. No. 1098
By Council Members Wilson and Santosuosso
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to price disclosures by veterinary care facilities and publication of veterinary care facility price information
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 5 of title 20 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subchapter 27 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER 27
VETERINARY CARE FACILITIES
§ 20-890 Definitions. For purposes of this subchapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
Point of purchase. The term “point of purchase” means any location in a veterinary care facility where consumers order or pay for veterinary services.
Veterinary care facility. The term “veterinary care facility” means any establishment at which services constituting the practice of veterinary medicine, as defined in section 6701 of the education law, are offered to consumers for a fee.
§ 20-891 Disclosure of charges and estimates. a. List of charges. A veterinary care facility shall maintain a list of standard charges for veterinary services and other charges that are routinely imposed on consumers. Such list shall be conspicuously displayed in each such facility at the point of purchase or shall otherwise be provided to consumers in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. The disclosure required by this section shall include, at minimum:
1. The standard charge for each service routinely offered, or, in lieu of such charge, the estimated price range for each service;
2. Any examination fee, consultation fee, facility fee, or other routinely imposed fee that is standard across all consumers who purchase veterinary services from the facility; and
3. Circumstances that may cause the amount charged to differ from the disclosed standard charge or price range.
b. Variable charges. Where the amount charged for a service varies based upon a factor that is reasonably foreseeable by a veterinary care facility prior to such service being purchased by a consumer, the facility shall disclose at the point of purchase any such factor, as well as the applicable charge or price range.
c. Written estimates. Before a consumer authorizes a purchase or transaction which may result in charges exceeding $500, a veterinary care facility shall, upon request of the consumer and to the extent reasonably practicable, provide a written or electronic estimate identifying:
1. The services or categories of services proposed to be purchased;
2. The estimated charge or price range for such services;
3. Any additional charges that may reasonably be incurred; and
4. The estimated total charge or price range.
d. Itemized receipts. Upon completion of a transaction, an establishment providing veterinary services shall provide the consumer with an itemized receipt upon request.
e. Advertised pricing. A veterinary care facility that advertises a service at a stated price shall disclose any material condition necessary to obtain the advertised price. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an establishment from advertising a price range or from stating that the final charge depends upon circumstances that cannot reasonably be determined before the transaction.
f. Department publication of veterinary price information. The commissioner shall establish and maintain a publicly accessible website containing aggregated information on charges for common veterinary procedures offered at veterinary care facilities. The commissioner shall publish on the website, at minimum, the average charge reported for each common veterinary procedure for which the department has sufficient data to calculate or otherwise estimate a statistically significant average. The commissioner shall update the information published pursuant to this subdivision at least once quarterly. Information published pursuant to this subdivision shall not contain information disclosing the names of veterinary care facilities.
§ 20-892 Civil penalties. Any person that violates any provision of this subchapter is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $500 for a first violation and each additional violation occurring on the same day as the first violation, and not less than $500 nor more than $1,500 for each subsequent violation.
§20-893 Disclaimer. Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to regulate the practice of veterinary medicine as defined in section 6701 of the education law. The requirements of this subchapter shall not be construed as requiring a veterinary care facility to recommend, provide, withhold, modify, or discontinue any veterinary treatment. Any disclosure or estimate provided pursuant to this subchapter may state in a manner prescribed by the commissioner that the final amount charged may differ where additional services, supplies, medications, testing, or other items are subsequently purchased by a consumer.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.
CP
LSR #24761
9/21/2026 9:47 AM