Roscoe’s Law also caps pet deposits at 15%, pet rent at 1% of rent
The last part of Washington DC’s pets in housing amendment act, known as “Roscoe’s Law,” took effect Thursday, prohibiting landlords from refusing tenants based on a dog’s breed, size or weight and barring related special charges. The law was introduced by DC Council member Robert White and named after his dog.
The new breed, size and weight restrictions apply to all residential leases beginning after October 1, 2026. They build on the first part of the legislation, which has been partially in effect since 2025 and included caps on pet-related fees: pet security deposits cannot exceed 15% of a tenant’s monthly rent, pet rent is capped at 1% of the monthly rent, and all other non-refundable fees are prohibited.
Before the law, dog breeds considered “scary” faced restrictions, especially pit bulls, rottweilers and dobermans. Landlords in the district could refuse to rent to tenants with those breeds and could impose weight limits. Property owners could ban certain breeds regardless of their behavior. With these restrictions, landlords tried to avoid incidents with aggressive dogs that could damage property or harm other tenants or pets.
Animal welfare organizations and animal shelters challenged that rationale, saying breed bans penalize responsible dog owners and that, in the vast majority of cases, aggressive behavior is linked to owner management and control, not to the dog’s breed. They also warned that exorbitant pet fees and breed restrictions were putting housing out of reach for people.
The DC Landlord Association acknowledged the law’s intent “to help keep families together and prevent the separation of pets from their owners due to restrictive housing policies.” The group raised concerns in May, however, that the security deposits and rent caps included in the law might not cover the costs associated with pet-related damages, and called for “adequate” deposits and rent.
Immediate changes may not be evident, however: the breed and weight restrictions apply to residential leases beginning after October 1, 2026, and real estate websites commonly include pet restrictions on their property listings. In a quick search on Zillow on Thursday, many “pet-friendly” DC listings included a “pet essentials” section stating whether the property allowed cats or dogs and their weight limit, sometimes set at a maximum of 75 pounds.
Animal welfare organizations and animal shelters applauded the legislation, emphasizing the benefits of reducing barriers to pet ownership in the US capital.