The City of Los Angeles is experiencing a housing affordability crisis of unprecedented proportions, with estimates of the need for additional rental units ranging as high as 500,000 over the coming decade. While federal, state and local housing finance programs are in place to help ad- dress this need, “no-pet” policies require tenants to choose between residence in these units and relinquishing their pets.
The growth in housing relocation over the past decade has exacerbated this problem. As the City promotes and assists in financing new, affordable housing, pet ownership should not pose a barrier to individuals and families who qualify for residence in publicly-financed rental housing. Federal and state laws already require allowing pets in certain publicly-financed housing developments, including California Health and Safety Code Section 50466 and 24 Code of Federal Regulations Part 960.
The purpose of this article is to ensure that tenants of a housing development financed by the City are allowed to maintain pets in their homes, consistent with and subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.