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Since COVID, people seem to have more pets, or at least they seem to bring their animals to more places more often. When folks are out and about at the park or on a walk with their animals, that’s great, but you know things have gotten out of hand when a person tries to bring their “emotional support peacock” on a commercial flight (this really happened—look it up!).

This idea that animals should be with us everywhere all the time is about to get a boost from California legislators; however, thanks to the work of the California Apartment Association, the bill aimed at eliminating no-pet policies in rental housing will be amended to exempt smaller buildings.

To be clear, I like pets—I have a dog and a cat—but I don’t expect others to love them as much as I do. Also, as a pet owner, I can tell you that pets are not always easy on the furniture, the drapes, the carpet, or several other areas of the home.

As it stands now, renters can petition landlords to accept service animals and emotional support animals to live with them in most cases, but if the California Senate passes a bill similar to AB 2216, property owners with apartment complexes that have more than 15 units will be required to allow pets—not service or support animals, just pets.

I expect some folks will cheer this turn of events (certainly, the peacock lady, I imagine), but I worry about the unintended consequences. What happens to people who are allergic to pet dander? Terrified of dogs? Sensitive to smells? If a dog leaves a mess in the hallway, how can the landlord prove which pet it belonged to?

And looking at this from the pet’s point of view, is it fair to have a large dog in a tiny space with no access to the outdoors? I’m picturing a German Shepherd or Mastiff in a studio apartment. It just doesn’t seem right.

If the California Senate agrees with the Assembly and passes this bill, pets will be allowed in big apartment complexes, but those property owners will be allowed to charge extra rent and require a deposit for pets. They will also be allowed to mandate that pet owners carry liability insurance and that pets be licensed and vaccinated.

Here are some additional details of AB 2216, a version of which is on its way to the Senate. If it passes, it will go into effect April 1, 2025. Any leases already in place will not be retroactively affected; this only applies to new lease agreements.

Landlords can limit renters to one pet or, alternatively, they can charge an additional $50 per pet per month for each pet after the first one.
Landlords can require a pet deposit that amounts to 50% of one month’s rent (up to $1,000). This deposit can only be used to address pet-related expenses, including carpet cleaning.
Tenants can only have “common household pets,” not any restricted species.
Landlords can set specific standards and rules for pets, including leash rules, cleanup policies, licensing, vaccinations, and requirements for spaying/neutering.

People often believe their pets wouldn’t hurt others, but pets aren’t human and they don’t always understand the context of interactions. If pets are forced to live in tight quarters with unexpected noises and smells and movements, things can go poorly. Even friendly dogs can get protective. This, in addition to the wear and tear on properties, is why landlords often avoid allowing pets.

If you want to share your opinion about this with legislators who can do something about it, contact your state senator. In our case, that’s Mike McGuire. He can be reached at (707) 838-3279 or via his website at senatormikemcguire.com.

If you have questions about property management or real estate, please contact me at rselzer@selzerrealty.com or call (707) 462-4000. If you have an idea for a future column, share it with me and if I use it, I’ll send you a $25 gift certificate to Schat’s Bakery.