NYS Housing Reasonable Accommodation + Disclosure

N.Y. Exec. Law § 296(18), (18-a); see also § 296(2-a), (2-b)

New York Executive Law § 296(18) makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for a housing provider (owner, lessee, sub-lessee, assignee, or managing agent) to refuse to permit reasonable modifications of the premises at the tenant's expense, or to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when necessary to afford a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling — expressly including allowing an assistance animal as a reasonable accommodation. Subdivision 18-a (added by Chapter 311 of the Laws of 2020) further requires those housing providers to disclose to all tenants and prospective tenants their right to request such reasonable modifications and accommodations, with a parallel disclosure duty for publicly-assisted housing accommodations under § 296(2-b); the disclosure duty is implemented by Division of Human Rights regulation 9 NYCRR 466.15.