Ban No-Pet Policies, Animal Fees at Rental Housing Properties

April 23, 2024

The Honorable Ash Kalra, Chair
Judiciary Committee
California State Assembly
10209 N Street, Room 104
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: AB 2216 (Haney) – Housing Access for Renters with Pets Act

Dear Chair Kalra,

On behalf of the San Francisco Dog Owners Group (SFDOG), I am writing to respectfully express our STRONG SUPPORT for AB 2216 (Haney). Founded in 1976, SFDOG promotes responsible dog ownership and works for increased off-leash recreation opportunities for responsible dog owners and their canine companions. Although we’re based in San Francisco, we work closely with pet advocacy groups on the Peninsula and San Jose and throughout the Bay Area.

AB 2216 would increase access to rental housing in California by prohibiting blanket pet bans and requiring landlords to have reasonable justifications for not allowing a pet in a rental unit. Additionally, the bill would prohibit landlords from charging additional pet rent and fees reducing burdensome costs for pet-owning tenants.

The need for this legislation is clear: It’s already incredibly difficult for tenants in California to find affordable housing, but for tenants who have pets, there is an additional burden, because so many landlords do not accept tenants who have pets. 

In our interactions with tenants, we’ve learned that some people would rather become homeless than be without their furry family member. Other people are forced to give up their pet to find an affordable place to live. In fact, one of the top reasons people must surrender their animals to shelters is because of housing insecurity.

Pet restrictions and exorbitant pet-related fees create barriers that make housing affordability more difficult for millions of Californians. People will forgo opportunities to become housed or won’t leave a dangerous living situation when they can’t bring along their pet. 

Allowing more tenants to have pets will help the housing crisis, alleviate animal shelter overcrowding, and support California families. AB 2216 ensures a tenant is not denied access to a rental unit solely for owning a pet.

Unfortunately, only 30% of available rentals in any given city are pet friendly. For instance – only 21% of the available rentals in San Francisco allow pets. Similarly, despite having close to 3 million pet-owning renters, only 26% of Los Angeles rentals allow pets.

It’s hard to understand why so few landlords are willing to rent to tenants who have pets. There is little difference in damage to units being lived in by tenants who have pets in comparison with tenants who don’t have pets. But landlords who have not rented to pet owners may have misperceptions about this. They fear a worst-case scenario, based on anecdotal stories they heard from someone somewhere, when the reality is that such damage rarely actually occurs. (See Companion Animal Renters and Pet-Friendly Housing in the U.S.)

For all the above reasons, we ask that you vote AYE on AB 2216 to expand housing options for California residents and keep families and their pets together. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for any additional information.

Thank you for your consideration,

Sally Stephens, Chair
SFDOG