California landlords will soon have to put all policies into writing and provide them to tenants at the time of rental applications after the governor signed the California pet policy law.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1296, the Pet Policy Transparency Act, into law, establishing a landmark statewide transparency standard for pet policies in rental housing.
Beginning April 1, 2027, rental housing providers across California will be required to put their pet policies in writing and provide them to prospective renters with rental applications, giving renters critical information about a property’s rules earlier in their housing search. SB 1296 does not require housing providers to accept pets or dictate what pet policies they can adopt.
The new law is designed to prevent a common and costly problem. Renters waste time and money applying for homes that do not work for them and their pets, while housing providers spend resources on applicants who do not meet their policies.
“Too many renters have paid application fees only to learn later that a pet policy ruled them out. SB 1296 fixes that, plain and simple,” said Senator María Elena Durazo, author of SB 1296. “I want to thank Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law, and the renters, housing providers, and advocates who helped shape it into something that actually works.”
New California research shows just how often renters enter the application process without complete information about a property’s pet rules. A recent study from Michelson Found Animals’ Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative, based on a survey of more than 1,100 California renters and an analysis of rental listings across five California markets, found that 51% of renters had paid an application fee before fully understanding a property’s pet policy. Nearly three-quarters, 72%, reported negative consequences from unclear or incomplete pet-policy information, including additional search time and delayed housing placement.
“This is a major win for California renters, housing providers and basic transparency in the rental market,” said Jennifer Naitaki, Senior Advisor to the Michelson Center for Public Policy. “People should not have to pay to apply for a home before learning whether its pet rules work for their household. SB 1296 creates a clear, practical standard that gives renters important information earlier while leaving housing providers in control of their own policies. We are grateful to Governor Newsom, Senator Durazo, Assemblymembers Haney and Bryan, and lawmakers across the Legislature for turning this commonsense idea into California law.”
What SB 1296 means for California renters and housing providers
Under the new law, rental housing providers must maintain a written pet policy or pet addendum that clearly describes the material rules, conditions and restrictions that apply to pets at the property. Housing providers must provide that policy with rental applications and, where applicable, make it accessible through property websites, digital rental advertisements and information supplied to rental search platforms.
If a housing provider fails to disclose its established pet policy before collecting an application fee, and the renter later learns that the policy makes them ineligible or decides not to continue because of the undisclosed policy, the renter may request a refund of the application fee. The housing provider must issue that refund within seven business days of receiving written notice.
At the same time, SB 1296 preserves housing providers’ authority over their properties. The law does not require a landlord to allow pets, limit lawful pet restrictions, create a website, or advertise online. Additionally, it does not affect existing state or federal protections for service animals, support animals, or other assistance animals.
