Berkeley City Council Considers Banning Pet Restrictions For Tenants

BERKELEY (CBS SF) — The city of Berkeley is considering a new ordinance that would ban landlords from having any pet restrictions on their properties.

The proposal brought forward by City Councilman Jesse Arreguin would allow tenants to virtually keep any pet with them as long as the animal can be kept safely in the unit, and is not disruptive to other tenants.

A tenant would also be responsible for any property damage the pet might cause.

State law allows for exemptions to rental pet bans for service animals which are used by people with physical or mental disabilities, but Arreguin's proposed ordinance would extend to all tenants with pets.

Arreguin told the San Francisco Chronicle the ordinance would provide clarity and convenience for both landlords and tenants, who would be required to disclose whether they have a pet.

Currently, he said, landlords have to contend with a "floodgate" of tenants claiming mental illnesses and the need for emotional-support pets.

According to Arreguin says the proposal would also cut down on the number of homeless pets which he says are increasingly left at shelters when people can't find an apartment that accepts pets.

Landlords groups are opposed to Arreguin's idea.

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Sid Lakireddy, president of the Berkeley Property Owners Association told the Chronicle that the proposal is unnecessary.

"It's going to create more disputes, more strife, more problems. I don't think it's something the city needs to get involved with," he said.

Landlords say there are many valid reasons for pet ban, including costly property damage done by pets which is often more than the tenant's security deposit—leaving them to cover the additional costs.

The council is scheduled to take a vote Tuesday on the issue. But it is likely to refer the issue to the housing and animal commissions for further review.