Updated 12-17-2012

Caution to advertising landlords: pets are simply allowed or prohibited. No picking and choosing.

Civil Code §1942.7

Added by S.B. No. 1229

Effective date: January 1, 2013

A landlord allowing tenant pets may not:

  • favor declawed or devocalized animals in any advertisement;
  • refuse to rent or negotiate for rent to a tenant because their pet has not been declawed or devocalized; or
  • require tenants’ pets to be declawed or devocalized as a condition of renting the property.

A landlord who violates these rules is subject to up to $1,000 for each violation.

Editor’s note — Although landlords may not favor declawed or devocalized pets, they may still protect against property damage or noise by including a lease provision barring specific pet behavior or prohibiting pets altogether.