New Washington DC law bans landlords from imposing dog breed restrictions
Landlords can no longer refuse pit bulls, rottweilers, dobermans or other breeds considered ‘scary’
TL;DR
- Washington DC landlords can no longer refuse tenants based on a dog's breed, size, or weight.
- Special charges related to a dog's breed, size, or weight are also prohibited.
- The law, named 'Roscoe's Law', is an amendment to the pets in housing act.
- Animal welfare groups support the law, stating breed bans penalize responsible owners and that aggression is linked to owner management.
- Previous restrictions often targeted breeds like pit bulls, rottweilers, and dobermans.
- The first part of the legislation, effective since 2025, caps pet security deposits at 15% of monthly rent and pet rent at 1%.
- Landlord associations worry that the new fee caps may not cover pet-related damages.
- Breed and weight restrictions will be prohibited in all residential leases starting after October 1, 2026.
- Currently, some real estate listings still include weight limits for pets.