Health and Safety Code section 19901

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no public agency which owns and operates rental housing accommodations, shall prohibit the keeping of not more than two pets by an elderly person or person requiring supportive services in the rental housing accommodations.
For the purposes of this section:

(a)

“Person requiring supportive services” means a person as defined in Section 50685.5.

(b)

“Elderly” means any person over the age of 60.

(c)

“Pet” means domesticated dog, cat, bird, or aquarium.

(d)

“Public” means state, county, city, city and county, district, or other political subdivision of the state.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the local housing authority from requiring the removal from any housing of any pet whose conduct or condition is duly determined to constitute a threat or nuisance to the other occupants of the housing. No pet may be kept in violation of humane or health laws. Nothing in this section authorizes a local housing authority to impose any requirement which makes the keeping of a pet by an elderly person or person requiring supportive services financially prohibitive.
The local housing authority shall not be liable for personal or property damages caused by any pet in the rental housing accommodation, except upon proof of prior actual knowledge on behalf of its agents or employees of a dangerous propensity of the pet or hazardous condition created by the pet.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the local housing authority from adopting reasonable regulations relating to any such pets; prevent the adoption of differing terms for the tenancy which are reasonably related to the presence of such pet; or relieve a tenant from any liability otherwise imposed by law for damages caused by such pet when proof of same exists.
The adoption of any regulations pursuant to this section, or the application of any regulation adopted pursuant to this section, may be appealed by an elderly resident or applicant or resident or applicant who is a person requiring supportive services in accordance with grievance procedures of the local housing authority established to resolve tenant disputes. A copy of the grievance procedures shall be provided to an elderly tenant or applicant or tenant or applicant who is a person requiring supportive services who keeps a pet.

Source: Section 19901, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=19901.­ (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).

Last Updated

Apr. 24, 2025

§ 19901’s source at ca​.gov