Congress Approves D.C. Council's Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2025) - Today, Congress approved the Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024. Now known as Roscoe’s Law, it will bar certain restrictions on common household pets in apartments. Additionally, it will limit fees that may be charged to tenants with pets and allows pet owners access to homeless shelters.
The Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024 was petitioned by the People + Paws Coalition for Affordable Housing, a collective of D.C. animal protection and housing advocates. Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs in America’s shelters, joined more than a dozen other participants in the P+P Coalition to advocate for this law in an effort to help keep the people of D.C. and their pets together.
"One in ten D.C. residents lack stable housing,” said Councilmember Robert White. “Our pets, like my family’s sweet pit bull mix Roscoe who we had for 14 years, are our family. But often exorbitant pet fees and breed restrictions put housing out of reach for people. As chair of the Housing Committee, I take seriously my role to unlock more affordable housing for residents, and this bill breaks down real barriers residents have faced.”
In a memo to Chairman White and the Committee on Housing last fall, the P+P Coalition argued that restrictive pet policies and pet bans can have devastating implications for D.C. residents and are a barrier to securing safe, affordable, and inclusive housing. In many cases, people put themselves at risk to remain with their companion pet, including exposing themselves to unsafe outdoor living conditions, eviction, economic instability, or enduring violence at home.
The law will reduce these barriers and improve access to affordable housing by eliminating breed discrimination and weight and size restrictions starting October 1, 2026. Beginning on October 1 of this year, a 1% cap on pet rent and 15% cap on pet deposits District-wide will help curb excessive pet housing fees. Washington, D.C.’s first pet-friendly shelter, where people experiencing homelessness can stay with their companion animals, will also be established pending funding by the Council.
“The Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024 is a major victory for animal welfare,” said Laura Donahue, Director of Legislation and Advocacy, Best Friends Animal Society. “This law will keep more pets with their families, reducing the number entering shelters and, as a result, reducing unnecessary deaths of healthy and treatable pets.”
For additional information about the Pets in Housing Amendment of 2024, visit the D.C. Council’s website.
Visit bestfriends.org for additional information about no-kill and the most comprehensive and accurate data from more than 10,000 shelters and rescue groups across the United States.
About People + Paws for Affordable Housing
The P+P Coalition is a collective of D.C. animal protection and housing advocates working together to pass the Pets in Housing Amendment Act. Recognizing the important bond between people and their pets, our Coalition aims to ensure that renters and residents facing housing insecurity in the District aren’t forced to choose between a safe place to live and their furry family members.
Members: The GW Animal Law Program, Humane Rescue Alliance, DC Voters for Animals, ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Policy Group, Embark Veterinary, Best Friends Animal Society, Michelson Center for Public Policy, Human Animal Support Services, and individual volunteers.