New York Stores Must Now Accept Cash
Starting today (Saturday), New York stores must accept cash, Attorney General Letitia James announced. The consumer alert reminds businesses and customers that refusing cash for goods or services is illegal.
“New Yorkers have a right to service no matter how they pay,” James said. “Businesses cannot deny access to necessities like food and clothing or charge more for paying in cash. I will enforce this law to protect consumers.”
Restaurants and other businesses cannot require credit cards or cashless payments and cannot charge extra for cash. Civil penalties are up to $1,000 for a first violation and $1,500 for each subsequent violation.
Exceptions include not accepting bills over $20, not accepting cash for phone, mail, or internet orders unless the purchase occurs in-store, and allowing cash conversion to prepaid cards without fees or minimum loads above one dollar.
The law follows a similar rule enacted in New York City in 2020.
