N.Y. Uniform City Court Act Law § 1801

§ 1801. Small claims defined.\n The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used in this act shall\nmean and include any cause of action for money only not in excess of\nfive thousand dollars exclusive of interest and costs, or any action\ncommenced by a party aggrieved by an arbitration award rendered pursuant\nto part 137 of the rules of the chief administrator of the courts (22\nNYCRR Part 137) in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $5,000,\nprovided that the defendant either resides, or has an office for the\ntransaction of business or a regular employment within the county, or\nwhere the claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real property owned\nby the defendant and the claim relates to such tenancy or lease, and\nsuch real property is situated within the county.\n