A. An applicant for, or a tenant of, a rental unit in a housing development publicly financed by or through the City on or after the effective date of this article, shall not be rejected on the basis of pet ownership, nor denied the ability to own or otherwise possess and maintain at least one pet per rental unit, provided that the pet is maintained in accordance with Article 3, Chapter V, of this Code pertaining to animals and fowls, and all other applicable state and local laws and regulations, including those related to public health and humane animal welfare, and guidelines and regulations promulgated by the Department in furtherance of this article. This article shall also apply to a publicly financed housing development for which a contractual modification or amendment, or additional public financing, is provided by or through the City, on or after the effective date of this article.
B. Each pet maintained pursuant to this article shall be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, implanted with an electronic animal identification device (microchip) and, if required, licensed. The pet shall be maintained consistent with all state and local laws and regulations, and not constitute a nuisance to the housing development and/or to the other tenants.
C. Any pet deposit charged to the tenant shall be reasonable and refundable. The pet deposit shall be used only to pay reasonable expenses directly related to the presence of the pet in the housing development, such as the cost of repairs and replacements to, and fumigation of, the tenant's rental unit. Pet deposits shall be administered consistent with state and local laws applicable to the retention of security deposits, interest on security deposits, and return of the deposit or portion thereof to the tenant, and any other applicable requirements.
D. The Department shall, in consultation with the Department of Animal Services, develop "pet policies" that provide guidance to ensure that the presence of pets in publicly-financed housing developments is done in a responsible, safe, and harmonious manner. The Department shall incorporate such "pet policies" in the Department's public financing regulations. The Department's public financing regulations shall require landlords to provide a copy of the "pet policies" to the tenants of such housing developments.
E. Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect other statutes or laws that require reasonable accommodations to be made for an individual with a disability who maintains an animal to provide assistance, service or support.
F. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prohibit the removal of any common household pet from a housing development if the pet's conduct or condition is determined to constitute a violation of state or local law or a nuisance or a threat to the health or safety of other occupants of the housing development, or of other persons in the community where the housing development is located.