SB 1296: Real property: rentals: pet policy.

Existing law governs the obligations of tenants and landlords. Existing law prohibits a landlord who allows an animal on the premises from advertising or establishing rental policies in a manner that requires a tenant or a potential tenant with an animal to have that animal declawed or devocalized as a condition of occupancy, as provided.

This bill would require a landlord who does not allow a tenant to keep pets on a residential rental property premises to clearly disclose the no pet policy in any advertisement, rental application, or lease agreement for the property. The bill would require a landlord that who allows a tenant to have a pet on the premises to have a pet policy in writing and to provide access to the propertys pet policy on the propertys internet website, in digital advertisements, and in information provided for to a residential rental search engine. engine, as prescribed. The bill would require a landlord to provide a written copy or summary of the propertys established pet policy or its pet addendum with any rental application form. The bill would require a pet policy or pet addendum to include specified information, including breed and weight restrictions and required fees. a description of the rights, responsibilities, and requirements for tenant pet owners at the property. The bill would authorize a landlord to substantially comply establish conditions for a landlord to substantially comply with the bills provisions and would specify that nonmaterial errors or omissions by a landlord that are corrected upon notice would not constitute a violation of the bills provisions. The bill would exclude service animals and support animals, as specified, from the definition of pet for purposes of the bills provisions. not affect obligations or rights under state or federal law relating to service and support animals. The bill would require any landlord who charges an application fee but fails to disclose their established pet policy or pet addendum before charging the fee, if and due to the landlords failure to disclose that information, the applicant is no longer eligible to rent the unit or declines to proceed with the application because of the pet policy, application, to refund the application fee to the applicant, as specified. The bill would make the bills provisions operative on April 1, 2027.