PET POLICY

November 03, 2025

It is the intention of the Housing Authority to provide a clean, safe and sanitary environment for all. Residents must have the prior approval of the Housing Authority before moving a pet into their unit.

18.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish a comprehensive set of rules and regulations governing the maintenance of common household pets within and upon all premises owned by the Housing Authority.

Common household pet means a domesticated cat, dog, bird and fish in aquariums. Residents may not maintain exotic pets such as, but not limited to the following: reptiles, rodents, simians (monkeys, chimpanzees, etc.) arachnids (spiders, scorpions, etc.), livestock, and any wild animal, bird or fish.

The weight of the dog or cat may not exceed twenty-five (50)

pounds adult size.

Residents are prohibited from feeding or harboring stray animals. The feeding of any stray animals shall constitute having a pet without written permission of the Housing Authority.

It is the intention of the Housing Authority to provide a clean, safe and sanitary environment of all.

18.2 APPLICABILITY

This policy is not applicable to animals that aid persons with disabilities. We as an agency may not have any policies affecting the use of service animals assisting persons with disabilities. This policy applies to animals residing in our housing or visiting animals. Nothing in this policy limits or impairs the rights of persons with disabilities; authorizes anyone to limit or impair the rights of persons with disabilities; or affects any authority that the Housing Authority has to regulate service animals that assist persons with

disabilities, under Federal, State, or local law. All residents must comply with local and state laws pertaining to the keeping of pets.

APPLICATION FOR PET PERMIT

Prior to maintaining any pet on the premises governed by the Housing Authority, the resident shall apply to the Housing Authority for a pet permit which shall be accompanied by all of the following:
1. A current license issued by the appropriate authority, if applicable;
2. Evidence from a veterinarian that the pet has been spayed or neutered, as applicable;
3. Evidence from a veterinarian that the pet has received current rabies and distemper inoculations or boosters, as applicable;
4. Payment of a non-refundable $250.00 pet fee payable in full at time of application;
5. A photograph of the animal and supervisor or owner; and
6. The name, address and telephone number of two (2) adult persons the Housing Authority may contact to either care for or remove the pet should the owner become incapacitated.

The non-refundable pet deposit shall be paid for each separate pet and shall not roll over from one pet to another unless the pet is replaced and all required documentation is submitted within a thirty (30) day time period. It is not part of the rent payable by the pet owner and is in addition

to any other financial obligation generally imposed on residents of the development where the pet owner lives.

18.4 RULES OF PET MAINTENANCE

All residents with pets authorized under this section, shall be governed by, and comply with, the following rules:
1. Residents will update the registration information of the authorized pet each year concurrently with the resident's annual re-examination of income and eligibility. Such registration shall include updated information on required inoculations.

B.Only one pet per household will be permitted. Unless
proper paperwork shows the pet is service.

Pets shall remain inside the resident's unit except for the purpose of exercise and the dropping of waste. When taken outside the unit, dogs and cats must be kept on a leash, controlled by an adult member of the resident household. No animal shall be permitted to be loose in lobby areas, laundry_ rooms, community rooms, yards, play areas or other common areas of the housing development.

Residents are solely responsible for cleaning up pet droppings inside or outside the unit and on facility grounds. Droppings must be disposed of by being placed in a sack and the placed in a refuse container outside the building.
Residents shall take adequate precautions and measures necessary to eliminate pet odors within or around the unit and shall maintain the unit in a sanitary condition at all times.
Residents must identify an alternate custodian for pets in the event of resident illness or other absence from the dwelling unit. The identification of an alternate custodian must occur prior to the Housing Authority issuing a pet registration permit.
If pets are left unattended for a period of twenty-four

(24) hours or more, the Housing Authority may enter the dwelling unit, remove the pet and transfer it to the proper authorities, subject to the provision of state law

and pertinent local ordinances. The Housing Authority accepts no responsibility for the animal under such circumstances.

Visitors are not allowed to bring pets and the residents shall not engage in "pet-sitting".

Residents shall not alter their unit, patio or unit area in order to create an enclosure for any pet.

Residents are responsible for all damages caused by their pets, including the cost of cleaning or fumigation of units. The cost of repairs and /or sanitation will be charged in accordance with the Schedule of Repairs, posted in the Housing Authority's office, and will be due in accordance with the lease agreement.
Residents shall not permit the pet to disturb, interfere, or diminish the peaceful enjoyment of other residents. The terms, "disturb, interfere or diminish" shall include but not be limited to, barking, howling, chirping, biting, scratching and other like activities. Repeated substantiated complaints by neighbors or Housing Authority personnel regarding pets disturbing the peace of neighbors through noise, odor, animal waste, or other nuisance will result in the owner having to remove the pet or move him/herself.

Dogs and cats must be licensed yearly and residents must show proof of annual rabies and distemper booster inoculations required by state or local law.

All dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered, as applicable.

Vicious or intimidating dogs, or dogs which disturb, interfere, or diminish the peaceful enjoyment of the pet owner's neighbors or other residents will not be allowed. If the owner does not remove the dog, the Housing Authority will do so.

0. The owner of a cat shall feed the animal at least once a day; provide a litter box inside the dwelling unit; clean the litter box at least twice a week and take the animal to a veterinarian at least once a year. The owner shall not permit refuse from the litter box at

accumulate or to become unsanitary or unsightly, and shall dispose of such droppings by placing them in a closed trash container outside the residence.

The owner of a dog shall feed the animal at least once a day; take the animal for a walk at least twice a day; remove the animal's droppings immediately and take the animal to a veterinarian at least one per year. The owner shall dispose of droppings immediately in a closed trash container outside of the residence.

Birds must be confined to a cage at all times, including inside the resident's unit.

18.5ENFORCEMENT

The privilege of maintaining a pet in a facility owned by the Housing Authority shall be subject to the rules set forth above.

This privilege may be revoked at any time, subject to the procedures set forth below, if the animal should become destructive, create a nuisance, represent a threat to the safety and security of other residents, or create a problem in the area of cleanliness and sanitation.

The Housing Authority, or an appropriate community authority, shall require the removal of any pet from a project if the pet's conduct or condition is determined to be a nuisance or threat to the health or safety of other occupants of the project or of other persons in the community where the project is located.

Should a breach of the rules set forth above occur, the Authority may also exercise any remedy granted it in accord with appropriate state and local law, including termination of the lease.

18.6NOTICE OF PET RULE VIOLATION

If the Housing Authority determines on the basis of objective facts, supported by written statements, that a pet owner has violated a rule governing the owning or keeping of pets, the Housing Authority shall deliver to the resident a written notice of pet rule violation. Such written notice shall:

Contain a brief statement of the factual basis for the determination and the pet rule or rules alleged to be violated;
State that the pet owner has ten (10) days from the effective date of service of the notice to correct the violation (including, in appropriate circumstances, removal of the pet) or make a written request for a meeting to discuss the violation;
State that the pet owner is entitled to be accompanied by another person of his or her choice at the meeting; and
State that the pet owner's failure to correct the violation, to request a meeting, or to appear at a requested meeting may result in initiation of procedures to terminate the pet owner's tenancy.
PET RULE VIOLATION MEETING

If the pet owner makes a timely request for a meeting to discuss an alleged pet rule violation, the Housing Authority shall establish a mutually agreeable time and place for the meeting but no later than 15 days from the effective date of service of the notice.
At the pet rule violation meeting, the pet owner and Housing Authority shall discuss any alleged pet rule violation and attempt to correct it. The Housing Authority may, as a result of the meeting, give the pet owner additional time to correct the violation.

18.1NOTICE OF PET RULE VIOLATION

If the Housing Authority determines on the basis of objective facts, supported by written statements, that a pet owner has violated a rule governing the owning or keeping of pets, the Housing Authority shall deliver to the resident a written notice of pet rule violation. Such written notice shall:

Contain a brief statement of the factual basis for the determination and the pet rule or rules alleged to be violated;
State that the pet owner has ten (10) days from the effective date of service of the notice to correct the violation (including, in appropriate circumstances, removal of the pet) or make a written request for a meeting to discuss the violation;
State that the pet owner is entitled to be accompanied by another person of his or her choice at the meeting; and
State that the pet owner's failure to correct the violation, to request a meeting, or to appear at a requested meeting may result in initiation of procedures to terminate the pet owner's tenancy.
PET RULE VIOLATION MEETING

If the pet owner makes a timely request for a meeting to discuss an alleged pet rule violation, the Housing Authority shall establish a mutually agreeable time and place for the meeting but no later than 15 days from the effective date of service of the notice.

At the pet rule violation meeting, the pet owner and Housing Authority shall discuss any alleged pet rule violation and attempt to correct it. The Housing Authority may, as a result of the meeting, give the pet owner additional time to correct the violation.

NOTICE OF PET REMOVAL

If both parties are unable to resolve the pet rule violation at the pet rule violation meeting, or if the Housing Authority determines that the pet owner has failed to correct the pet rule violation within any additional time provided for this purpose as described above in this section, the Housing Authority may serve a written notice on the pet owner in accordance with this section, or at the pet rule violation meeting, if appropriate, requiring the pet owner to remove the pet. The notice must:

Contain a brief statement of the factual basis for the determination and the pet rule or rules that have been violated;
State that the pet owner must remove the pet within 10 days of the effective date of service of the notice of pet removal (or the meeting, if notice is served at the meeting); and
State that failure to remove the pet may result in initiation of procedures to terminate the pet owner's tenancy.

2. PROCEDURES TO REMOVE A PET OR TERMINATE TENANCY

The Authority may not initiate procedures to terminate a pet owner's tenancy based on a pet rule violation, unless:
The pet owner has failed to remove the pet or correct a pet rule violation within the applicable time period specified in this section, including any additional time permitted by the owner; and
The pet rule violation is sufficient to begin procedures to terminate the pet owner's tenancy under the terms of the lease and applicable regulations.

The Housing Authority as owner may initiate procedures to remove a pet at any time, in accordance with the provisions of applicable State or local law.