03/25/2026
It is now officially against the law in New York for retail stores and food establishments to be “cashless only.”
With the signing of New York Senate Bill S4153A by Kathy Hochul, the state is requiring “retail establishments” and “food stores” to accept cash payments for in-person transactions and it took effect March 20, 2026. This applies to Restaurants, cafes, bars and retail stores (clothing, convenience stores, etc.)
This law is really about access and fairness, not just payment preference.
💡 Who it benefits most: People without bank accounts (“unbanked”) - Millions of people don’t have debit or credit cards. This includes lower-income communities, immigrants, and some elderly folks 👉 Cash is their only way to pay, so this keeps them from being excluded
Bottom line… if a spot tries to hit you with “card only,” they’re violating the law and could get fined 💸 If you’re physically there trying to pay, they can’t refuse your cash.
NY really said everybody eats. 🗽 Have you ever been somewhere that refused cash? iHeartRadio
