Checked October 2026 · Source: California Legislature, SB 1296 (Chapter 1025, Statutes of 2026)
Renting in California with a dog often means filling out an application and paying a fee before you find out whether your dog is even allowed. A new state law changes that. Senate Bill 1296, signed by the governor on Sept. 30, 2026, requires landlords to put their pet policy in writing and show it to applicants up front. It takes effect April 1, 2027.
What landlords will have to do
- Have a written pet policy or pet addendum. A policy that bans pets counts, and a landlord with no pet rules must say so in writing.
- Link to it online on the property’s website, in digital ads the landlord controls, and in listings sent to rental search sites, where those sites allow a link.
- Hand it over with every rental application, on paper or electronically if the application is online.
- Include a space on the application for you to acknowledge that you received the pet policy.
- Write it in plain language, covering the rights, responsibilities and requirements for tenants with pets and any other material rules or restrictions.
Your application fee back
If a landlord charges an application fee without first disclosing the pet policy, and because of that you turn out to be ineligible or decide not to go ahead, you can ask for a refund in writing. The landlord must return the fee within seven business days.
What the law does not do
- It doesn’t require landlords to allow pets.
- It doesn’t stop landlords from setting or enforcing pet rules, or from denying pets for health, safety, insurance or other reasons, as long as the rules are in the written policy and follow other laws.
- It doesn’t change the rules for service animals and support animals, which are covered by other state and federal law.
- A landlord can change the policy, but only for future tenants. The version in effect when you received the application is the one that applies to you.
The law also says a tenant’s failure to sign a pet addendum can’t be the only reason for an eviction case, though a landlord can still require you to sign one before approving a new pet.
What dog owners can do now
- Until April 2027, ask for the pet policy in writing before you pay any application fee.
- Keep a “pet résumé” ready: vaccination and license records, spay or neuter status, training classes, and a reference from a past landlord.
- Read size, breed, number-of-pets and pet-rent terms closely; SB 1296 requires disclosure but doesn’t cap pet rent or deposits.
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This article is general information for dog owners, not veterinary or legal advice. This is a summary of the bill text, not legal advice. Follow the official source when it differs from this article.
Sources
- California Legislature: SB 1296 bill status (approved by the governor and chaptered Sept. 30, 2026)
- California Legislature: SB 1296 bill text and Legislative Counsel’s Digest (Civil Code § 1942.7.5, operative April 1, 2027)