In New York, day-to-day scale inspection is handled at the county or local level, with the state agency setting standards and providing oversight. If you operate a commercial scale in New York — at a warehouse, farm, recycling yard, retail store, or truck stop — here is who regulates it, what the law requires, and exactly who to contact.
Who inspects commercial scales in New York?
60 county and city Weights and Measures departments perform device inspections and take complaints (directory: agriculture.ny.gov/weights-and-measures/weights-measures-departments). The state division tests specialized classes (LP gas meters, large vehicle scales, terminal rack meters) and runs the metrology lab.
What New York requires of scale owners
Commercial devices must be type-approved (NTEP Certificate of Conformance per NIST Handbook 44) before use in New York, and are inspected/sealed by the local county or city W&M department.
Getting a scale into service — 4 steps
- Buy a legal-for-trade (NTEP-certified) scale appropriate for your application and capacity.
- Contact your county or local Weights & Measures office to confirm registration, fees, and inspection scheduling; the state program is the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at (518) 457-3146.
- Arrange compliant installation and calibration. Where required, placing-in-service must be done by a licensed or registered service company.
- Stay compliant. Pass required inspections, keep calibration current, retain service records.
Common questions
What is NTEP certification?
Where do I find official forms and fees?
Need calibration, repair, or installation in New York?
Browse companies listed as serving New York in the ScaleRegistry directory and contact them directly, and check the official licensing and registration information for New York. Listings are not ranked or endorsed, and ScaleRegistry does not route requests to any company.