10/01/2026
Today is a TRANSFORMATIONAL day for DC’s pet families, renters, and shelter animals.
✨Roscoe’s Law officially takes effect today! ✨
This means DC is now home to one of the most comprehensive pet-inclusive housing policies in the country.
Starting today, for new and renewing leases:
🏡 Landlords can no longer impose pet restrictions based on breed, size, or weight
🐶 Pet rent for dogs is capped at 1% of a tenant’s monthly rent, per dog
🐱 Pet rent for all other animals is capped at 1% of a tenant’s monthly rent
🐾 Pet security deposits are capped at 15%
💰 All non-refundable fees, such as so-called “pet move-in fees,” are eliminated
That means fewer barriers, fewer surprise costs, and more families able to keep the pets they love.
And for animal welfare organizations like us, this is about so much more than housing policy. It’s shelter prevention.
When families can afford to keep their pets and housing providers welcome all dogs, fewer animals have to enter shelters. This is especially meaningful for our wonderful adopters who fall in love with bully breeds.
We’ve been honored to work alongside for the better part of three years to make this day possible and cannot think of a more fitting legacy for his late rescue dog, Roscoe. We are also incredibly grateful to every advocate, organization, renter, pet parent, and community member who helped get us here.
But we’re not done. 🐾
We’re continuing the work to eliminate breed discrimination in renters, homeowners, and property insurance. We also need to secure funding for the next critical step: opening DC’s first-ever pet-inclusive homeless, family, emergency, and domestic violence shelters.
Today, we celebrate a huge step forward.
Tomorrow, we keep going. ❤️
Happy October 1, DC! Roscoe’s Law is officially here!
