Learn About The Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
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.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 19901 - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/health-and-safety-code/hsc-sect-19901/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)