Cal. Civ. Code § 6.07
Pet Ownership in Elderly/Disabled Housing
Operative Text
(1) LHA Pet Policy for Elderly/Disabled Housing. Each LHA shall have a Pet policy for its
elderly/disabled housing. The policy shall be consistent with and reflect the requirements in
St. 1989, c. 151, 760 CMR 6.00, and the Pet Guidelines.
(2) LHA Approval of Pet Ownership in Elderly/Disabled Housing. The LHA shall attach an
application for Pet ownership to every lease of a unit in elderly/disabled housing. Each Tenant
(including a prospective Tenant about to sign a lease) who seeks to keep a Pet (other than caged
birds, which are not unreasonably noisy, or fish in tanks) shall first ask for the LHA's approval
of an application for Pet ownership. If a Tenant does not own a Pet at the time, he or she may
ask for conditional approval of an application, and the LHA may approve Pet ownership by the
Tenant conditional upon his or her subsequent satisfaction of stated conditions. Upon approval
of an application by the LHA, the Tenant shall sign a Pet Rider to the lease. Following approval
of an application by the LHA and prior to keeping the Pet, the Tenant shall post the requisite
security deposit with the LHA.
(3) Application for EOHLC Approval of Pet Ownership in Elderly/Disabled Housing. In the
event an LHA denies an application for Pet ownership, it shall notify the Tenant in writing of the
reasons for denial and the Tenant's right to appeal to EOHLC, and it shall specify the time for
appeal and the documentation required to be submitted with the appeal. The Tenant (including
a prospective Tenant about to sign a lease) may, within 14 days of receipt of the denial, appeal
to EOHLC for permission to keep a Pet. In seeking permission from EOHLC, the Tenant or
prospective Tenant shall provide the following documentation (or an explanation why the
documentation is not reasonably available):
(a) a copy of the completed application for Pet ownership and the LHA's denial of the
application;
(b) a color photo and identifying description of the proposed Pet;
(c) the name, address and telephone number of a veterinarian and his or her statement of the
current health, weight and age of the proposed Pet;
(d) veterinary certificates of spaying or neutering and of all inoculations and testing required
by the guidelines;
(e) a dog license if such a license is required by the municipality;
(f) the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two responsible persons, who are
prepared to assume immediate responsibility for the care of the Pet in an emergency; and
(g) a statement that the Tenant is prepared to post a security deposit of $160.00 or one
month's rent (whichever is less).
(4) EOHLC's Decision. EOHLC shall review the documentation and any other relevant
information and shall render a prompt written decision approving or disapproving the
application. EOHLC shall require a security deposit to be posted with the LHA and may make
other appropriate conditions in approving the application.
(5) The Pet Committee and the Pet Grievance Panel. The Pet Committee at an LHA shall
accept and attempt to resolve any complaint made concerning a Pet by any Resident of
elderly/disabled c. 667 housing. If the Pet Committee fails to resolve a matter or if the Pet owner
or a complaining party is dissatisfied with the Pet Committee's resolution, a request for a hearing
before the Pet Grievance Panel may be made in accordance with the Pet Guidelines. Decisions
of the Pet Grievance Panel shall be binding.
A Tenant's material failure to comply with a decision of the Pet Grievance Panel shall be
sufficient cause for termination of the Tenant's lease and eviction. A Tenant facing eviction as
a result of his or her failure to comply with a Pet Grievance Panel decision shall have no right
to a grievance hearing prior to institution of eviction proceedings. If a Pet Grievance Panel does
not exist at an LHA, a Tenant or a complaining party may file a Grievance regarding a Pet under
the Grievance procedure (see 760 CMR 6.08) in effect for the Development in which the Pet is
kept.Under 760 Mass. Code Regs. 6.00 § 6.07, local housing authorities (LHAs) operating elderly/disabled public housing must maintain a written pet policy and attach a pet-ownership application to every lease in those developments. Tenants who want to keep a pet (other than quietly caged birds or fish) must obtain LHA approval before doing so, and approved tenants must sign a Pet Rider and post a security deposit. If the LHA denies an application, the tenant may appeal to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) within 14 days, and pet-related disputes among residents are handled through a Pet Committee and, if needed, a binding Pet Grievance Panel.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 760 Mass. Code Regs. 6.00 § 6.07, compliant LHAs attach a pet-ownership application to every lease in elderly/disabled housing and maintain a written pet policy consistent with St. 1989, c. 151 and the Pet Guidelines. When an application is denied, operators provide the tenant with a written explanation of the denial, notice of the right to appeal to EOHLC, the applicable appeal deadline, and the documentation required for that appeal. LHAs that have approved pet ownership collect the required security deposit before the pet is brought onto the premises and support the Pet Committee process for resolving resident complaints.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
760 Mass. Code Regs. 6.00 § 6.07 gives tenants in elderly/disabled LHA housing the right to apply for pet ownership, and if that application is denied, the right to appeal in writing to EOHLC within 14 days of receiving the denial notice. The appeal requires specific documentation—such as veterinary records, a photo of the pet, and emergency caretaker contacts—though tenants may explain in writing if any item is not reasonably available. Tenants who face pet-related disputes may bring concerns to the Pet Committee or request a hearing before the Pet Grievance Panel, whose decisions are binding; tenant-rights organizations familiar with Massachusetts public housing rules can help explain what these processes involve.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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