In NY the rule wasn’t enforced until recently.
Petsitters in New York and some other places have recently learned, much to their surprise, that their business model is not legal where they live.
The issue in New York City and some other places is that local regulations forbid offering petsitting services for pay at home, the New York Times reports.
According to the newspaper, in New York, “anyone offering petsitting for pay must be licensed to board animals, and do so in a permitted kennel.” And you’re not allowed to operate a kennel at your residence.
The rule has been on the books for a long time but hasn’t been strictly enforced. However, the rise of app-based companies such as Rover and Wag has recently brought the issue to the forefront.
The same thing has happened in New Jersey as well as in Colorado and California, the Times reports. In many instances, the companies have been able to reach mutually agreeable terms with governments.
For example, in Colorado, a new “allows paid dogsitting without a license for up to three dogs at a time,” according to the newspaper.
Read more at the New York Times