Legislation now on the governor’s desk would require rental housing providers to put their pet policies in writing and provide them to prospective tenants before collecting application fees.

SB 1296, by Sen. María Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, would establish advance-disclosure requirements for written pet policies and pet addendums beginning April 1, 2027. Its definition of a pet policy includes rules allowing pets, restrictions on pets, and complete prohibitions.

What providers would need to disclose

The bill does not require that landlords allow pets. It does, however, require landlords or agents to provide a written pet policy or pet addendum to an applicant and make it available through the property’s website, if one exists. Digital advertisements controlled by the landlord would need to include electronic access to the policy. Third-party advertisements and rental search engines would be covered only when those platforms permit or support a hyperlink or other electronic access.

Landlords also would have to give applicants a written copy of the policy with the rental application and include a place for the applicant to acknowledge receiving it. The policy would need to describe in plain language the rights, responsibilities and material rules that apply to tenant pet owners.

If a landlord collects an application fee without first supplying the policy, the applicant could request a refund of the screening fee. The landlord would have seven business days to issue it.

Final bill contains compliance safeguards

SB 1296 provides that landlords can adopt and enforce pet restrictions for reasons such as health and safety, property conditions, insurance requirements or other business considerations, as long as those restrictions comply with existing laws, such as those that pertain to service animals, support animals and other assistance animals.