[Adopted 5-13-1996 by L.L. No. 6-1996]
A. 
It is the responsibility of the County Legislature to enact legislation that will ensure the safety and health of every resident within the boundaries of the County of Albany.
B. 
The casual retail sale of live venomous and devenomed snakes within the County of Albany and their possession by those lacking a sound expertise in their care and management presents a clear and present danger to the health and safety of the residents of the County of Albany.
C. 
Therefore, it is the obligation of the County of Albany to regulate the sale, disposition and possession of these animals to minimize the risk of their direct exposure to members of the public.
No person shall possess or display a live venomous snake or live devenomed snake within the County of Albany unless such person is or operates: a laboratory pursuant to Public Health Law § 504; a university, college, academy, library, museum or other institution or association for the promotion of science chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York or incorporated by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to Education Law § 216; or a duly registered snake farm engaged in the preparation of anti-venom.
No person shall sell, offer for sale, transfer, barter or otherwise dispose of a live venomous snake or a live devenomed snake unless such sale, offer or transfer is to a person or entity identified in § 110-2 of this article.
A. 
No person may possess or display a live venomous snake or a live devenomed snake except under permit from the Albany County Health Department.
(1) 
Such permits may be issued only for scientific, educational or exhibitor purposes to persons or entities identified in § 110-2 of this article.
(2) 
Permits issued pursuant to this section must include identification of each species, the location and quantity of each species in the applicant's possession, and may contain further terms, conditions and standards designed to protect the public and individual residents of the County of Albany.
(3) 
Eligible persons in possession of any live venomous snake or any live devenomed snake on the effective date of this article will, upon application, be issued a permit authorizing continued possession of the aforementioned snakes for the period of one year.
B. 
The permit fee schedule shall be established by the Albany County Health Department.
Agents of the Albany County Board of Health, Deputies of the Albany County Sheriff's Office and any environmental conservation officer, law enforcement official or person otherwise commissioned by the Albany County Health Department may seize any live venomous snake or any live devenomed snake harbored within the County of Albany without a permit. No action for damages will arise from such seizure. The manner of disposition of seized animals shall be at the discretion of the Albany County Health Department.
No live venomous or live devenomed snake shall be placed upon display to the general public until such time as the display medium has been inspected and approved by the Albany County Health Department.
No person in the County of Albany shall harbor any live venomous or live devenomed snake unless there is a placard conspicuously displayed at the front or main entrance of the harboring site and visible from the exterior. Said placard shall indicate that live venomous snakes are on said premises, and shall be issued by the Albany County Health Department with each permit pursuant to § 110-4 of this article. It shall be the responsibility of the permittee to maintain and display said placard at all times. The failure to do so may result in a revocation of the permit.
A. 
No person shall harbor any live venomous or any live devenomed snake within the County of Albany until such person meets all permit requirements under this article and procures and maintains, within the County of Albany, appropriate anti-venom for each species of poisonous snake in his/her possession.
B. 
Procurement of said anti-venom shall be applicable to all local, state and federal regulations.
A. 
A violation of § 110-2, 110-3, 110-4 or 110-8 hereof shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable upon conviction for each offense by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. A violation of § 110-6 hereof shall constitute a violation punishable upon conviction for each offense by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both.
B. 
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent or prohibit the commencement of any civil or administrative action or proceeding to enjoin any conduct constituting a violation hereof or to recover any penalty therefor or any damages occasioned thereby.
This article shall take effect upon the first day of the subsequent month following the date this article is passed by the County Legislature of the County of Albany.