Not legal advice. This guide explains how New York AED statutes are structured. Confirm current law with the NYS Department of Health, and consult a New York-licensed attorney for decisions about your organization.
Quick answer
New York requires AEDs in large public assembly venues, health clubs with 50 or more members, and schools. Most offices are not required to have one.
Anyone who owns an AED must train at least one person, maintain the device, register it with the Department of Health, report every use, and post a sign at the main entrance.
New York AED Law at a Glance
| Topic | What New York law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Offices and general businesses | No general AED mandate | No statute |
| Public assembly venues | AED and a trained person at events, capacity 1,000 or more | PHL 225(5-b) |
| Health clubs | AED and a certified person on duty, 50 or more members | GBL 627-a |
| Schools | AEDs in every instructional facility and at school events | Educ. Law 917 |
| Registration | Every AED registered with the Department of Health | PHL 3000-b(3)(c) |
| Signage | Sign or notice at the main entrance | PHL 3000-b(3)(f) |
| Liability | Good Samaritan protection for users and owners | PHL 3000-a |
| Tax credit | Up to $500 per AED purchased | Forms IT-250, CT-250 |
What changed in 2026. New York removed the old requirement that every AED owner sign a collaborative agreement with a physician or hospital. Owners now register with the state Department of Health, which keeps a public AED location database.
Owners must also report AED use data to the Department, and sellers must tell buyers about these duties at the point of sale. Most guides online still describe the old rules.
Who Must Have an AED in New York?
Public assembly venues. Stadiums, arenas, gymnasiums, field houses, concert halls, theaters, and amphitheaters with a capacity of 1,000 or more must have an AED. At least one trained staff member or volunteer must be present during events.
Halls owned by churches, religious organizations, granges, and free libraries are excluded. Congregations that choose to equip anyway can compare church AED packages; venues can see stadium AED packages.
Health clubs. Every health club with 50 or more members must keep an AED in an obvious, readily accessible spot. A person certified in CPR and AED use must be on site during all staffed hours. The threshold was lowered from 500, which many guides still cite.
Offices. No statewide law requires an AED in a general office or store. If you add one, the owner duties below apply. See the best AEDs for offices and our business AED packages.
What Every New York AED Owner Must Do
Public Health Law 3000-b calls any organization that owns an AED a "public access defibrillation provider." Every provider must:
- Train at least one person in AED and CPR use under Department-approved standards.
- Maintain and test the AED to the manufacturer's standards and any applicable agency standard.
- Register the AED with the Department of Health, including its location and type.
- Report every use immediately to the local EMS system or 911 center.
- Report use data to the Department for its cardiac arrest surveillance program.
- Post a sign or notice at the main entrance showing where the AED is stored.
For the maintenance record, a dated Avid Safety AED inspection tag works well. Track AED replacement pads and AED replacement batteries, and use proper AED signs for the entrance notice.
Prescription and Physician Oversight
New York no longer requires a physician collaborative agreement to own an AED. The Department of Health can set operating rules by regulation, so watch for its guidance.
The prescription requirement comes from federal FDA rules. Every AED needs one except the three cleared for over-the-counter sale: the Philips HeartStart OnSite AED, the Philips HeartStart Home, and the HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P.
Our AED value packages include the prescription at no charge. Owners who want help with tracking can add Arch AED medical direction.
New York Good Samaritan Protection for AEDs
Public Health Law 3000-a protects anyone who voluntarily gives first aid or emergency treatment, without expecting payment. They are not liable unless the injury or death was caused by their gross negligence.
It also protects organizations that buy, operate, or make an AED available. They are not liable for damages from a volunteer's use of the AED, or from defectively manufactured equipment.
The limit that matters. That protection does not cover the organization's own negligence, gross negligence, or intentional misconduct. An AED that fails because nobody replaced expired pads is your exposure, not the manufacturer's.
New York School AED Requirements
Under Education Law 917, school districts, BOCES, and charter schools must keep enough AEDs in each instructional facility for ready access in an emergency.
At least one trained staff member must be present at school-sponsored events held in school facilities. Off-site competitive athletic events must have an AED on site.
See our school AED packages and the best AEDs for schools.
New York City Adds Its Own Rules
NYC Local Law 20 (Administrative Code 17-188) requires AEDs in city-listed public places, including golf courses, stadiums, arenas, senior centers, nursing homes, and certain city buildings and ferry terminals.
The city's Health Department rules add specific signage: a sign reading "AED" or "DEFIBRILLATOR" in letters at least 2 inches high, mounted 5 to 7 feet above the floor. No publicly accessible area may be more than five floors from an AED.
Covered NYC sites also need a written site-specific response plan naming trained responders, AED locations, and how each use is documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are AEDs required in NY businesses?
Only in certain settings. Public assembly venues with capacity of 1,000 or more and health clubs with 50 or more members must have one. General offices and stores have no statewide mandate, though NYC requires AEDs in some public places.
Is AED registration mandatory for all NY businesses?
For businesses that own an AED, yes. Public Health Law 3000-b requires every owner to register the AED's existence, location, and type with the Department of Health.
Does NY law require a physician's oversight for my AED program?
Not anymore. The 2026 rewrite of Public Health Law 3000-b removed the physician collaborative agreement. A prescription is still needed for most AEDs under federal FDA rules.
What is the New York Good Samaritan law for AEDs?
Public Health Law 3000-a protects anyone who voluntarily gives emergency care without expecting payment, unless they are grossly negligent. It also protects the organizations that make AEDs available.
Who can use an AED in New York?
Anyone. The law requires owners to train at least one designated person, but it does not stop an untrained bystander from using an AED in an emergency. Good Samaritan protection still applies.
Can I be sued in NY if the AED fails during an emergency?
If a manufacturing defect caused the failure, the law protects you. If it failed because you did not maintain it, you remain liable for your own negligence.
What are the AED requirements for schools in NY?
Districts, BOCES, and charter schools must keep enough AEDs in every instructional facility and have a trained staff member at school-sponsored events. Off-site competitive athletic events must have an AED on site.
Are there different AED laws for NYC compared to the rest of the state?
Yes. NYC Local Law 20 requires AEDs in listed public places, and city rules add signage specifications, a five-floor distance limit, and a written site response plan. State law still applies on top.
How many AEDs are required per square foot in a New York office?
None. New York has no square-footage formula. Schools must have enough AEDs for ready access, and NYC public places may not have any public area more than five floors from an AED.
Are there specific fines for missing an AED inspection in NY?
No AED statute sets a specific inspection fine. Public Health Law 12 allows civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation of the Public Health Law. A missed inspection also weakens your defense if the AED fails.
What records should I keep to prove AED compliance in New York?
Keep your Department of Health registration, maintenance and testing logs, training certificates for designated responders, and reports of every AED use. NYC sites also need their written response plan.
Does New York offer a tax credit for buying an AED?
Yes. New York allows a credit of the lesser of the AED's cost or $500 per unit. Individuals and partnerships claim it on Form IT-250, corporations on Form CT-250. It is not refundable and cannot be carried forward.
Related Resources
Sources: N.Y. Pub. Health Law 3000-b; 3000-a; PHL 225(5-b) and 12; Gen. Bus. Law 627-a; Educ. Law 917.
Also: NYS Form IT-250 instructions; NYC Admin. Code 17-188 (Local Law 20); NYC Health Department AED rules (Chapter 24).
