N.Y. NAV Law § 110

§ 110. Licenses. The local governing body of each county or city in\nthis state may grant licenses for keeping ferries in their respective\ncounties and cities, to such persons as the respective local governing\nbody may deem proper, for a term not exceeding five years. No license\nshall be granted to a person, other than the owner of the land through\nwhich that part of the highway adjoining the ferry shall run, unless the\nowner is not a suitable person or shall neglect to apply after being\nserved with eight days' written notice from such person of the time and\nplace at which he will apply for such license, or having obtained such\nlicense, shall neglect to comply with the conditions of the license or\nmaintain the ferry. Every license shall be entered in the book of\nminutes of the appropriate local governing body by the clerk; and a\ncertified copy thereof shall be delivered to the person licensed. When\nthe waters over which any ferry may be used shall divide two counties or\ncities, or a county and city, a license obtained in either of the\ncounties or cities shall be sufficient to authorize transportation of\npersons, goods, wares and merchandise, to and from either side of such\nwaters.\n