ENGROSSED ORIGINAL
1 A BILL
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3 25-827
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5 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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7 ______________
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10 To amend the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to limit the amount of fees and deposits that a housing
11 provider may charge a prospective tenant associated with owning a pet and to prohibit
12 certain restrictions on common household pets; and to amend the Homeless Services
13 Reform Act of 2005 to ensure access to shelter for individuals with pets.
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15 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
16 act may be cited as the “Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024”.
17 Sec. 2. The Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C.
18 Official Code § 42-3501.01 et seq.), is amended as follows:
19 (a) Section 103 (D.C. Official Code § 42-3501.03) is amended by adding a new paragraph
20 (6A) to read as follows:
21 “(6A) “Common household pet” means a domesticated animal traditionally kept in
22 the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes, including the following:
23 “(A) Domestic dogs, excluding hybrids, with wolves, coyotes, or jackals;
24 “(B) Domestic cats, excluding hybrids with ocelots or margays;
25 “(C) Domesticated rodents and rabbits;
26 “(D) Captive-bred species of common cage birds;
27 “(E) Non-venomous snakes, fish, and turtles; and
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28 “(F) Ferrets.”.
29 (b) Section 217 (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.17) is amended by adding a new
30 subsection (d) to read as follows:
31 “(d) A housing provider may charge a security deposit for a common household pet
32 pursuant to section 510(b-3).”.
33 (c) Section 510 (D.C. Official Code § 42-3505.10) is amended as follows:
34 (2) New subsections (b-3) and (b-4) are added to read as follows:
35 “(b-3) For residential leases beginning after October 1, 2025, a housing provider may:
36 “(1), Require a prospective tenant to pay a refundable security deposit, subject to
37 the requirements of section 217 and the provisions of Section 2908 of the Housing Regulations
38 of the District of Columbia, effective August 11, 1955 (C.O. 55-1503; 14 DCMR §§ 308 through
39 311), associated with the residence of common household pets in the rental unit; provided, that:
40 “(A) The pet security deposit authorized by this paragraph does not exceed
41 15% of the monthly rent, in addition to any security deposit otherwise authorized by law;
42 “(B) The pet security deposit shall be withheld only for compensation for
43 damages directly caused by a common household pet that are not due to ordinary wear and tear;
44 “(C) The tenant shall be responsible for any damages in excess of ordinary
45 wear and tear by the common household pet that exceed the total amount of the security deposit
46 withheld by the landlord pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and any other security
47 deposit withheld by the landlord; and
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48 “(D) No security deposit may be required for a service or assistance
49 animal required by a tenant with a disability as a reasonable accommodation under local or
50 federal law; and
51 “(2) Require a tenant to pay an additional rent for common household pets;
52 provided, that:
53 “(A) The amount of additional rent charged for each common household
54 pet that is a dog may not exceed 1 percent of the first full month’s rent charged to that tenant for
55 the dwelling unit per common household pet;
56 “(B) The amount of additional rent charged for all other common
57 household pets may not cumulatively exceed 1 percent of the first full month’s rent charged to
58 that tenant for the dwelling unit;
59 “(C) No additional rent for common household pets may be required for a
60 service or assistance animal required by a tenant with a disability as a reasonable accommodation
61 under local or federal law;
62 “(3) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, establish reasonable pet policies to
63 ensure the safety and maintenance of the property, including limitations on the number of
64 common household pets permissible in a dwelling unit”.
65 “(b-4) A housing provider shall not:
66 “(1) For residential leases beginning after October 1, 2025, charge an additional
67 security deposit, fee, or additional rent associated with the residence of common household pets
68 except as authorized by subsection (b-3) of this section; or
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69 “(2) For residential leases beginning after October 1, 2026, impose restrictions on
70 tenancy or impose differential fees or rent charged associated with the residence of a common
71 household pet based on the pet’s breed, size, or weight.
72 Sec. 3. Section 7 of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, effective October 22,
73 2005 (D.C. Law 16-35; D.C. Official Code § 4-753.01), is amended to add a new subsection (j)
74 to read as follows:
75 “(j) No later than October 1, 2026, the Department shall ensure that at least one low
76 barrier shelter has space available for residents who are homeless and are accompanied by a
77 common household pet as defined by Section 103(6A) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985,
78 effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Official Code § 42-3501.01(6A)).”.
79 Sec. 4. Applicability
80 (a) Section 3 shall apply upon the date of inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved
81 budget and financial plan.
82 (b) The Chief Financial Officer shall certify the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect in an
83 approved budget and financial plan, and provide notice to the Budget Director of the Council of
84 the certification.
85 (c)(1) The Budget Director shall cause the notice of the certification to be published in
86 the District of Columbia Register.
87 (2) The date of publication of the notice of the certification shall not affect the
88 applicability of this act.
89 Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement.
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90 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
91 impact statement required by section, 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
92 approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).
93 Sec. 6. Effective date.
94 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
95 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as
96 provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
97 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of
98 Columbia Register.
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