42 U.S.C. § 1437z–3 | Pet ownership in public housing

(a)

Ownership conditions

A resident of a dwelling unit in public housing (as such term is defined in subsection (c)) may own 1 or more common household pets or have 1 or more common household pets present in the dwelling unit of such resident, subject to the reasonable requirements of the public housing agency, if the resident maintains each pet responsibly and in accordance with applicable State and local public health, animal control, and animal anti-cruelty laws and regulations and with the policies established in the public housing agency plan for the agency.

(b)

Reasonable requirements

The reasonable requirements referred to in subsection (a) may include—

(1)

requiring payment of a nominal fee, a pet deposit, or both, by residents owning or having pets present, to cover the reasonable operating costs to the project relating to the presence of pets and to establish an escrow account for additional costs not otherwise covered, respectively;

(2)

limitations on the number of animals in a unit, based on unit size;

(3)

prohibitions on—

(A)

types of animals that are classified as dangerous; and

(B)

individual animals, based on certain factors, including the size and weight of the animal; and

(4)

restrictions or prohibitions based on size and type of building or project, or other relevant conditions.

(c)

Pet ownership in public housing designated for occupancy by elderly or handicapped families

section 1437a(b) of this title section 1701r–1(d) of title 12For purposes of this section, the term “public housing” has the meaning given the term in , except that such term does not include any public housing that is federally assisted rental housing for the elderly or handicapped, as such term is defined in .

(d)

Regulations

section 553 of title 5This section shall take effect upon the date of the effectiveness of regulations issued by the Secretary to carry out this section. Such regulations shall be issued after notice and opportunity for public comment in accordance with the procedure under applicable to substantive rules (notwithstanding subsections (a)(2), (b)(B), and (d)(3) of such section).

Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896 Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 526Oct. 21, 1998112 Stat. 2568(, title I, § 31, as added , , .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Oct. 1, 1999section 503 of Pub. L. 105–276 section 1437 of this titleSection effective and applicable beginning upon , except as otherwise provided, with provision that Secretary may implement section before such date except to extent otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date of 1998 Amendment note under .