Washington DC Landlords Can No Longer Turn Away Dogs Over Breed, Size or Weight

Landlords in Washington DC can no longer refuse a tenant’s dog because of its breed, size or weight, or charge extra fees based on those traits, under a law that took effect on October 1, The Guardian reported.

Pit bulls, rottweilers and dobermans were often excluded

Breeds seen as intimidating, especially pit bulls, rottweilers and dobermans, were often banned outright, regardless of how an individual dog behaved. Animal welfare groups argued that breed bans penalize responsible owners and that aggression is mostly linked to how a dog is managed, not its breed. They also warned that high pet fees and restrictions were putting housing out of reach.

The law is named after a council member’s rescue dog

The rules are the final part of the Pets in Housing Amendment Act, known as “Roscoe’s Law” after the late rescue dog of Councilmember Robert White, who introduced it. The DC Council passed it unanimously, Humane World for Animals noted.

Earlier provisions already cap pet security deposits at 15% of monthly rent and pet rent at 1%, and ban other non-refundable pet fees. The breed, size and weight rules apply to residential leases that begin after October 1, 2026.

Landlords raised concerns about damage costs

The DC Landlord Association acknowledged the law’s aim “to help keep families together and prevent the separation of pets from their owners due to restrictive housing policies.” In May, however, it said the capped deposits and pet rent might not cover pet-related damage and called for “adequate” amounts.

The change may take time to show up in listings. A Guardian search of Zillow on the day the law took effect found many “pet-friendly” DC listings still stating weight limits for dogs, some set at 75 pounds.