Pet Legislation Update: Rental Housing Operators Should Prepare to Proactively Meet Challenges
With more changes on the horizon, operators should modify restrictive pet policies.
I recently published a blog titled “Embracing the Future: Why Rental Housing Operators Must Stay Informed of Legislative Trends Toward Dog Ownership.” With sweeping legislative proposals introduced recently in both California and Arizona, it seems like a good time for a reminder as well as some proactive steps.
Recent proposed legislation
Current language in the proposed Arizona SB 1439 states that “if a landlord allows a tenant to house a dog in or on the tenant’s premises, the landlord may not prohibit specific breeds or types of dogs.”
Similar legislation introduced in California, AB 2216, would require property owners to accept all common household pets, and would prohibit owners from asking about pets on applications and limit their ability to charge fees or deposits for pets.
What does this mean?
As we stated in our previous blog, legislative bodies across the country have been reevaluating their approach to pet policies in housing and insurance–due largely to the continuing rise in pet ownership as well as shifting attitudes of pet owners who think of their pets as members of the family.
