This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and rules change, so check the current law and the Office of Cannabis Management before you grow. You must be 21 or older to grow cannabis for adult use in New York.

In New York, adults 21 and older may grow up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants for personal use at their private residence, with a household cap of six mature and six immature plants no matter how many adults live there. Plants must be kept secure from anyone under 21, out of plain public view, and you must take reasonable steps to keep odor from becoming a nuisance. Adult use home cultivation has been allowed since June 26, 2024. Here is what each rule means and how to follow it in 2027.

Where New York’s home grow rules come from

New York legalized adult use cannabis with the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) in 2021. Home grow rules live in a few places:

• New York Penal Law 222.15, which sets personal cultivation and home possession limits.
• 9 NYCRR Part 115, the Cannabis Control Board’s home cultivation regulations.
• The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which publishes adult use information and a home cultivation FAQ.

Certified medical patients have had home cultivation rights since October 5, 2022, under separate rules. This article covers adult use.

Rule 1: You must be 21 or older

Adult use home cultivation is limited to adults 21 and older.

Rule 2: Three mature and three immature plants per adult

Each adult 21 and older may grow up to three mature and three immature plants. Immature plants are those not yet flowering. Mature plants are flowering.

Rule 3: Six and six per household

No matter how many adults live in a home, the household limit is six mature and six immature plants. A household of three adults does not get nine mature plants.

Practical tips:

• Count every plant in the residence, including seedlings.
• Plan staggered grows so the mature count never goes over the limit.
• Keep a simple log of each plant’s stage.

Rule 4: Grow at your private residence

Home cultivation must take place at your private residence, which can include the grounds around it. OCM guidance makes clear that hotels and other temporary lodging do not count.

Rule 5: Keep plants secure from anyone under 21

You must take reasonable steps to keep plants and homegrown cannabis secure from anyone under 21. A locked grow tent, a locked room or a locked greenhouse are common approaches.

Rule 6: Keep plants out of public view

Plants must not be readily visible from public view. Indoor tents, privacy fencing or a greenhouse can keep plants out of sight. Window grows that are visible from the street are a bad idea.

Rule 7: Manage odor

The regulations ask home growers to take reasonable steps to keep odor from becoming a nuisance to neighbors. In apartments and townhouses, that usually means an exhaust fan with a carbon filter.

Rule 8: Do not sell, trade or barter

Homegrown cannabis is for personal use. You may not sell it, trade it or barter it. Adults 21 and older may gift limited amounts to other adults without any payment.

Rule 9: No flammable processing

You may not use flammable or volatile solvents to process homegrown cannabis at home. Simple manual methods are a different matter, but anything involving flammable solvents is off limits.

Rule 10: Home possession limit

Penal Law 222.15 allows adults to keep up to five pounds of cannabis flower at their private residence, which covers the harvest from homegrown plants. It must be stored securely and away from anyone under 21.

Landlords and rentals

New York’s rules address home cultivation by tenants, and landlords’ rights are a nuanced area. If you rent, read your lease and talk to your landlord before you grow, and check the OCM home cultivation FAQ for the current position. This is a good question for a local attorney if you are unsure.

How to set up a compliant New York home grow

1. Check your count. Three mature and three immature per adult, six and six per household.
2. Pick your space. In most New York homes, a lockable indoor grow tent is the easiest way to meet the secure and out of view rules.
3. Control odor. Install an exhaust fan with a carbon filter.
4. Secure everything. Keep tents and storage locked and away from anyone under 21.
5. Store your harvest safely. Use sealed, labeled containers in a locked spot.
6. Pick genetics that fit. See the next section.

Choosing seeds for a New York home grow

Space is tight in many New York homes. A few tips:

• Small apartments: compact autoflowers like Girl Scout Cookies Auto or Fat Bastard Auto stay short and finish fast.
• Houses with a basement: a trained photoperiod like Northern Lights is forgiving and compact.
• Backyards upstate: short seasons favor autoflowers and early finishing strains.

Browse our New York seeds page for more options.

Is anything changing in 2027?

As of October 29, 2026, the plant limits, security and visibility rules and the ban on selling homegrown cannabis remain in place. OCM updates guidance from time to time, so check its adult use and home cultivation pages before you plant each season. Federal law is separate from state law and is also changing.

Frequently asked questions

How many plants can I grow in New York?

Each adult 21 and older may grow three mature and three immature plants, with a maximum of six mature and six immature plants per household.

When did adult use home grow become legal in New York?

Adult use home cultivation began on June 26, 2024. Certified medical patients could grow starting October 5, 2022.

Can I grow cannabis outside in New York?

Home grow can include the grounds of your private residence, but plants must be secured from anyone under 21 and not readily visible from public view. Check any local rules and your lease first.

Can I sell cannabis I grow at home in New York?

No. You may not sell, trade or barter homegrown cannabis. Adults may gift limited amounts to other adults 21 and older without payment.

How much homegrown cannabis can I keep at home?

Up to five pounds of cannabis flower at your private residence, stored securely and away from anyone under 21.

Can I grow in a hotel or vacation rental?

No. Home cultivation must be at your private residence. Hotels and temporary lodging do not count.

Grow legally in New York

Stay within three and three per adult and six and six per household, keep plants secure and out of view and control odor. When you are ready, browse the Kind Seed Co New York seeds page for strains that fit your space.

Not legal advice. Sources: New York Penal Law 222.15, 9 NYCRR Part 115, and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management adult use information and home cultivation FAQ, accessed October 29, 2026. Verify current law before you grow. 21+ only.