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New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 240.21 — Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 240: Offenses Against Public Order, New York Penal Law.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 240.21

Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.

N.Y. Penal Law § 240.21Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
240.21 Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service. A person is guilty of disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service when he or she makes unreasonable noise or disturbance while at a lawfully assembled religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service, or within three hundred feet thereof, with intent to cause annoyance or alarm or recklessly creating a risk thereof. Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service is a class A misdemeanor.

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Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What class of misdemeanor is disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service in New York?

Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 240.21.

Which New York statute covers disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service?

Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 240.21 (Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.