SB 1296: Written Pet Policies Before Rental Applications

Not legal advice. We’re property managers, not attorneys. This post reflects our professional experience — not legal counsel. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney ↓

Key Facts

Starting April 1, 2027, California landlords must have a written pet policy, even a no-pets policy, link it in online listings, and give it with every rental application, or refund the application fee on request.

Citation: SB 1296 (Stats. 2026, ch. 1025); Civ. Code § 1942.7.5 (new)
Status: Upcoming
Effective: Apr 1, 2027
Jurisdiction: California
Applies to: All California residential landlords and their agents, including property managers

Key number	Value	As of
Operative date	April 1, 2027	Oct 5, 2026
Application fee refund	Within 7 business days of a written request	Oct 5, 2026
Where to link the policy	Property website, digital ads, and rental search listings, where the platform allows	Oct 5, 2026
No-pets properties	Still need a written policy	Oct 5, 2026

Last reviewed Oct 5, 2026 · Checked against the official text · Changed in 2026

What it requires

Put the pet policy in writing, including a no-pets policy or a statement that there are no pet rules, with a plain-language description of tenant pet owners’ rights, responsibilities, and requirements.
Link the policy on the property’s website and in digital ads and rental search listings, where the platform allows a link.
Give a copy with every rental application, electronically if the application is online, and include a space for the applicant to acknowledge receiving it.
If you charge an application fee before disclosing the policy and the applicant becomes ineligible or withdraws because of it, refund the fee within seven business days of a written request.
A tenant’s failure to sign a pet addendum can’t be the only basis for an eviction. Service and support animal rules don’t change.

Owner checklist

Written pet policy for each property
Policy linked in listings and on the website
Policy included in the application packet
Acknowledgment line added to the application

What changed and what’s next

Sep 30, 2026: Signed by the Governor (ch. 1025); adds Civil Code 1942.7.5, operative April 1, 2027
Expected Apr 1, 2027: Law takes effect

From our East Bay files

Every property we manage already has its own written pet policy or addendum, so SB 1296's core requirement is in place for our owners. What the law adds is getting that policy in front of applicants: linked in listings and included with every application.
All East Bay Properties, Emeryville

Go deeper

Official source: SB 1296 bill text (California Legislative Information)
Spot something out of date? Report an error

Article provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. California landlord-tenant law is subject to change, and local ordinances in Berkeley, Oakland, and other East Bay cities may impose requirements beyond those described here. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified property management professional before taking action based on any information in this guide.

Jason Crouch · Founder, All East Bay Properties · CA DRE #01295378 · Licensed broker and East Bay property manager since 2005 — Jason Crouch · Founder,
All East Bay Properties

Jason Crouch is the founder of All East Bay Properties, which he established in Emeryville in 2005. For more than 20 years, he has managed residential rental properties across Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, and the broader East Bay — navigating some of California’s most tenant-protective rental markets in the country.

Jason holds a California real estate broker license (DRE #01295378) and is a member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) — the professional association for property management specialists — and is a member of the Bridge Association of Realtors. He has served as Chair of the Emeryville Chamber of Commerce, as incoming Chair of the Oakland Association of Realtors, and on the board of BridgeMLS. He was also a board member of ECAP, the Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program.

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