New Washington, D.C. Rental Rules Limit Pet Restrictions and Charges
New protections for renters with pets began applying in Washington, D.C. on October 1, 2026. For covered residential leases beginning after that date, landlords cannot restrict tenancy based on a common household pet’s breed, size or weight. They also cannot charge different pet fees or rent because of those characteristics. The provisions are part of the Pets in Housing Amendment Act.
The law also limits permitted pet charges. Its provisions allow a refundable pet deposit of no more than 15% of monthly rent and cap additional pet rent. These protections have their own lease-date conditions, so the start date of a rental agreement matters. Tenants should check which provisions cover their contract before assessing a charge.
Landlords may still establish reasonable policies to protect residents and maintain the property. The legislation expressly allows limits on the number of common household pets in a rental unit. Removing breed, size and weight restrictions therefore does not eliminate all pet rules. The change addresses specific barriers and charges associated with keeping animals in rental housing.
The protections are relevant to renters across the District, including Albanian families with pets who hold covered leases. Service and assistance animals also have separate protections under disability law. D.C.’s Office of Human Rights explains that qualifying assistance animals are not treated as ordinary pets and generally require reasonable accommodation. Those rules should be considered separately from the new household-pet provisions.