New York Consolidated Laws, Agriculture and Markets Law - AGM § 96-b. License required

1. No person, firm, partnership or corporation not granted inspection pursuant to the federal meat inspection act, the federal poultry products inspection act, article five-B or article five-D of this chapter shall operate any place or establishment where animals or fowls are slaughtered or butchered for food unless such person, firm, partnership or corporation be licensed by the commissioner.  In addition to any other requirements established by the commissioner, such license shall prohibit the slaughter or butchering by slaughterhouses of domesticated dog and domesticated cat to create food, meat, meat by-products or meat food products for human or animal consumption.  An application for license shall be made upon a form prescribed by the commissioner on or before the first day of May in every other year, for a two year license period commencing upon the following first day of June.  With the application there shall be paid a license fee of two hundred dollars.

2. In a city with a population of one million or more, the commissioner shall not license any person, firm, partnership or corporation to operate any place or establishment where animals and/or fowls are slaughtered or butchered for food within a fifteen hundred foot radius of a residential dwelling.  This subdivision shall not apply to any premises upon which a person, firm, partnership or corporation has been continuously conducting business as described in this subdivision from a date prior to the effective date of this subdivision.

3. In addition to any other requirements established by this chapter, an applicant for a license pursuant to this article shall furnish evidence:  (a) of his or her good character, experience and competency, (b) that the establishment has adequate facilities and equipment for the business to be conducted, (c) that the establishment is such that the cleanliness of the premises can be maintained and (d) that the product produced therein will not become adulterated.