# New York automatic renewal law

> New York's automatic-renewal law for subscription businesses: 11 cited requirements (disclosure, consent, acknowledgment, notice windows, cancellation), effective dates and who can sue. Generated from Checkbox's legal catalog; pending attorney review.

> **Pending attorney review**
>
> Generated from Checkbox's legal catalog (version `2026.11.01.1`), drafted from the primary sources linked below. Last reviewed against sources on **2026-10-29**. No attorney has reviewed these entries yet, and this page is not legal advice.

## At a glance {#at-a-glance}

| | |
|---|---|
| Applies to | Consumers in New York, wherever the business is located |
| Laws | New York Automatic Renewal Law (Prohibited Service Offer Practices) |
| Effective | 2021-02-09 (amended; latest change effective 2025-11-05) |
| Status | In force |
| Requirements in the catalog | 11 (3 with a notice window) |
| Private right of action | via general consumer law |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |

Federal law applies on top of this: see [federal subscription law](https://checkbox.site/laws/federal). New York City adds its own rule: see [New York City](https://checkbox.site/laws/new-york-city).

## The law {#laws}

### New York Automatic Renewal Law (Prohibited Service Offer Practices) {#new-york-automatic-renewal-law-prohibited-service-offer-prac}

- **Citation:** [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §§ 527, 527-a (Art. 29-BB)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A)
- **Effective:** 2021-02-09
- **Status:** In force
- **Verified:** 2026-10-29, official text read in full (confidence: high)

Material terms disclosed before consent or billing information; affirmative consent; consent or a refund right for price increases; prompt retainable post-consent notice; cancellation as easy as sign-up, in the same medium and every consent medium; no obstruction; 15-45 day renewal notice (1-year terms renewing for 6+ months); 5 business day-30 day material-change notice; 3-21 day trial notice (trials over a month). AG enforcement; civil penalties $100-$1,000.

**Scope:** Consumers (personal, family or household purposes; definitions in § 527). Exempt (§ 527-a(4)): services under a municipal franchise, DFS-regulated entities, security alarm operators, banks/credit unions/financial institutions, and service contract sellers and administrators (Ins. Law § 7902). Related but not cataloged: GBL § 5-903 (renewal notice for service, maintenance or repair contracts for real or personal property). New York City consumers are also covered by the stricter DCWP "Click to Cancel" rule (US-NY.NYC.*, effective Oct. 1, 2026).

| Amendment | Effective | Change |
|---|---|---|
| L. 2023, ch. 728 (S5941-B) | 2023-12-13 | 15-45 day renewal notice for initial paid terms of one year or longer. |
| L. 2025, ch. 58, Part W (S.3008-C/A.3008-C) | 2025-11-05 | Comprehensive rewrite of § 527-a (see file header). |

## Requirements {#requirements}

Each row is one obligation in the catalog, in plain English, with the provision it comes from. "Applies when" lists the conditions under which it applies (otherwise it always applies to covered offers). The ids are stable and match the [dataset](https://checkbox.site/laws/data) and Checkbox API results.

### At sign-up {#signup}

| Requirement | Applies when | Effective | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Disclose the material terms before consent or billing information is requested, next to the consent request** Present, clearly and conspicuously, the material terms of the offer — including a description of the product or service subject to renewal, the amount that will be charged, the frequency of charges, the deadline (by date or frequency) by which the consumer must act to stop further charges, and the cancellation mechanisms — before consent to the offer or billing information is requested, and in visual proximity (for voice offers, temporal proximity) to the request for consent. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.a` | always | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(a); § 527(2)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| **Explain how and when a trial or temporary price changes, and the later price** If the offer includes a free gift or trial, or the price is temporary, clearly and conspicuously explain how and when the price will change and the price or prices that will subsequently be charged. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.a.trial` | free trial | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(a) (second sentence)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| **Obtain affirmative consent before charging for the initial term** Do not charge the consumer or the consumer's account with a third party for the initial term of an automatic renewal or continuous service without first obtaining the consumer's affirmative consent to the agreement containing the renewal terms, including terms offered at a promotional or discounted price for a limited time. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.b` | always | 2021-02-09 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(b)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |

### After sign-up (acknowledgment) {#confirmation}

| Requirement | Applies when | Effective | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Send a retainable notice promptly after consent with the terms, charges, deadline and cancellation mechanisms** Promptly after the consumer consents, provide a notice the consumer can retain that includes: the terms of the agreement; the amount that will be charged; the frequency of charges; the deadline (by date or frequency) by which the consumer must act to stop further charges (for a trial, the date to cancel before the first charge); and the cancellation mechanisms. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.c` | always | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(c)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |

### Before charges (notices and reminders) {#reminder}

| Requirement | Applies when | Effective | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Price increases need consent, or a post-charge cancellation right with a pro-rata refund** Before charging an increased price (or a price higher than the one disclosed at sign-up), either obtain the consumer's affirmative consent to the increased price, or let the consumer cancel at any time within at least fourteen days after that charge and refund the price of the remaining term on a pro-rata basis. Consent is required only once per increase. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.b-1` | always | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(b-1)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| **Renewal notice for initial paid terms of one year or longer** For an initial paid term of one year or longer that renews for a paid term of six months or longer, notify the consumer of the renewal charge 15 to 45 days before the cancellation deadline, in the manner the consumer selected (text, email, app notification or any other channel the business offers), with instructions on how to cancel. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.f` | term ≥ 12 months | 2023-12-13 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(f)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| **Notice of material changes, including price increases, 5 business days to 30 days in advance** Give consumers a clear and conspicuous notice of any material change to the terms, including any price increase, at least five business days and no more than thirty days before the change, through the consumer-selected channel used for renewal notices. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.g` | always | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(g)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| **Notice before a free gift or trial of more than a month converts to paid** If the offer includes a free gift or trial for more than a month followed by an automatic charge, notify the consumer 3 to 21 days before the cancellation deadline for the first chargeable period, in the manner the consumer selected (text, email, app notification or another channel offered), with instructions on how to cancel. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.h` | free trial, trial ≥ 31 days | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(h)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |

### Cancelling {#cancellation}

| Requirement | Applies when | Effective | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Cancellation as easy as sign-up, in the same medium** Give the consumer the option to cancel at any time using a simple cancellation mechanism that is as easy to use as the mechanism used to consent and that is available through the same medium the consumer used to consent (an online sign-up must be cancellable online). <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.d` | always | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(d)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| **Cancellation through every medium in which consent can be given** Allow cancellation at any time through all mediums by which the business allows consumers to consent to the automatic renewal, continuous service or any price increase. Where consent was obtained in person, in addition to an in-person method where practical, offer cancellation online or by telephone. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.d-1` | always | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(d-1)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| **Do not obstruct, condition, ignore or unreasonably delay cancellation** Do not impose unreasonable or unlawful conditions on, refuse to acknowledge, obstruct, or unreasonably delay a cancellation request or attempt — e.g. hanging up on callers, giving false information about how to cancel, misrepresenting the consequences or costs of cancelling, or misrepresenting the reasons for processing delays. Discount/retention offers or information about the effect of cancelling are allowed only if they do not obstruct or unreasonably delay the cancellation. <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.e` | always | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(e)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |

## Notice windows {#notice-windows}

When each notice must be sent. A notice outside its window does not count, so schedule sends against the exact dates.

| Notice | When | Applies when | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renewal notice for initial paid terms of one year or longer | 15-45 days before the cancellation deadline | term ≥ 12 months | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(f)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| Notice of material changes, including price increases, 5 business days to 30 days in advance | 7-30 days before the price change | always | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(g)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| Notice before a free gift or trial of more than a month converts to paid | 3-21 days before the cancellation deadline | free trial, trial ≥ 31 days | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(h)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |

Several states use overlapping windows; one email can often satisfy all of them. See [free-trial notices](https://checkbox.site/docs/learn/free-trial-notices) and [price increases](https://checkbox.site/docs/learn/subscription-price-increases).

## Who can sue, and remedies {#enforcement}

**Private right of action:** Indirectly: private suits go through general consumer-protection law.

Attorney General enforcement: civil penalties of $100-$1,000 per violation (secondary figure) and restitution (1-800-Flowers $375K plus nationwide restitution; Equinox $600K). Private plaintiffs plead GBL § 349; no authority found on whether a § 527-a breach alone suffices. Goods sent without affirmative consent are an unconditional gift (§ 527-a(2)).

Recorded in the catalog: refunds or restitution.

Remedy figures come from the cited statutes and from public enforcement records summarized in Checkbox's litigation research; figures from secondary sources are marked "unverified" where they appear.

## Earlier versions {#earlier-versions}

Obligations the law replaced. They still apply to conduct before the date shown.

| Requirement | In force until | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Present the automatic renewal offer terms clearly and conspicuously next to the consent request (2021-2025 text) <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.a.2021` | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(a) (L. 2020, ch. 267); former § 527(2)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| Retainable acknowledgment with the terms, cancellation policy and how to cancel (2021-2025 text) <br>`US-NY.527-a.1.c.2021` | 2025-11-05 | [N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(1)(c) (L. 2020, ch. 267)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| Cancellation mechanism described in the acknowledgment (2021-2025 text) <br>`US-NY.527-a.2.2021` | 2025-11-05 | [former N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(2) (L. 2020, ch. 267)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| Online sign-ups can terminate exclusively online (2021-2025 text) <br>`US-NY.527-a.3.a.2021` | 2025-11-05 | [former N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(3)(a) (L. 2020, ch. 267)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |
| Notice of material changes before implementation (2021-2025 text) <br>`US-NY.527-a.4.2021` | 2025-11-05 | [former N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 527-a(4), (5)(b) (L. 2020, ch. 267)](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/527-A) |

## Check your subscription flow {#check}

Checkbox evaluates these requirements automatically: the sign-up page, the emails and the cancellation flow are checked against New York's rules (and every other jurisdiction's) on every check. 23 machine checks cover this page.

- Free to start: [get test API keys](https://app.checkbox.site/sign-up) or connect the MCP server at `https://app.checkbox.site/mcp` from your coding assistant.
- Preflight a disclosure, a Stripe Checkout Session or an email before you ship: [preflight checks](https://checkbox.site/docs/preflight) (`--jurisdictions US-NY` limits a check to New York's rules).
- Start from the [subscription compliance checklist](https://checkbox.site/docs/learn/subscription-compliance-checklist).

## Data and citation {#data}

This page is generated from the open [subscription law dataset](https://checkbox.site/laws/data) (catalog `2026.11.01.1`, CC BY 4.0), available as [JSON](https://checkbox.site/laws/data.json) and [CSV](https://checkbox.site/laws/data.csv). Cite it as: *Checkbox, "New York automatic renewal law", checkbox.site/laws/new-york, catalog 2026.11.01.1 (last reviewed 2026-10-29).* Report an error: support@checkbox.site.

> **Not legal advice**
>
> A summary for builders, not legal advice. Requirements are drafted from the cited sources and are pending attorney review; laws change — check the catalog version and the source links, and have counsel review your final terms.