Document Package for Applicant's/Tenant's Consent to the Release Of Information
Exhibit 6-4: Mandatory and Discretionary Pet Rules
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 — Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs · 2026 edition · updated 2026-10-05 · United States
| Mandatory Rules [24 CFR 5.350] |
Examples of Discretionary Rules [24 CFR 5.318] |
|---|---|
| **Inoculation –**Pets need to be inoculated in accordance with state and local law. |
**Pet size and type –**Property owners may place reasonable limitations on the size, weight, and type of common household pets. |
| Property owners must prescribe sanitary standards to govern the disposal of pet waste. These rules may: a) Require pet owners to exercise and allow pets to deposit waste only in designated areas; b) Forbid pet owners from walking pets or allowing them to deposit waste in areas outside designated exercise and waste deposit areas; c) Require pet owners to remove and properly dispose of all removable pet waste; d) Require pet owners to take pets elsewhere to exercise or deposit waste if there are no areas on the premises designated for such purposes; e) Require owners of pets using litter boxes to remove pet waste from litter boxes and prescribe methods for disposal of pet waste, but not more frequently than once each day; and f) Require owners of pets using litter boxes to change the litter and prescribe methods for disposal of pet waste and used litter, but not more frequently than twice each week. |
**Density of tenants and pets –**Property owners may place reasonable limitations on the number of pets that are allowed in each unit. Owners may limit the number of 4-legged, warm-blooded pets to one per unit or group home. |
| **Pet care standards –**Property owners may prescribe standards of pet care and handling to protect the property premises and health, safety, and welfare of tenants, employees, and the public. Standards may: a) Require dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered; b) Bar pets from certain areas, except those that would deny access to the building; c) Require pet owners to control noise and odor; d) Require pet owners to comply with state/ licensing requirements; and e) Exclude from the property any pets not owned by a tenant that are being kept temporarily (less than 14 days). |
|
| **Pet restraint –**All household pets must be under the control of a responsible individual while on the common areas of the property. All pets must be effectively and appropriately restrained and under the control of a responsible individual while on the commonareas ofthe property. |
Potential financial obligations of tenants – a)**Refundable deposit.**Property owners may ask tenants who own or keep cats or dogs in their units for a refundable pet deposit. If the owner chooses to collect a deposit, the deposit must: |
| **Registration –**Pet owners must register their pets with the project owner/ brought on premises and must update the registration annually. Registration must include the following: a) Certification of inoculation; b) Information sufficient to identify the pet and to demonstrate that it is a common household pet; and c) Name, address, and phone number of at least one responsible party who will care for pet if owner dies or is unable to provide care. |
• Be reasonable; • Not exceed the amount periodically fixed by HUD through notice (current limitation is $300); and • Provide for gradual accumulation of the deposit not to exceed an initial $50 when the pet is brought into unit and subsequent monthly payments of $10 per month. For allowable uses of the pet deposit, see paragraph 6.24 D. The unused portion of the pet deposit must be returned to the tenant within a reasonable time after the tenant moves from the project or no longer owns |
or keeps a pet in the unit. b)**Waste removal charge.**Owners may impose a separate waste removal penalty of up to $5 per occurrence for failure to comply with pet rule on waste removal. |
HUD Occupancy Handbook Exhibit 6-4
6/07
4350.3 REV-1
4350.3 REV-1
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