HF 831

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/17/2023 12:02am

A bill for an act
relating to housing; requiring the Housing Finance Agency to require reasonable
pet policies in buildings financed by the agency; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 462A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [462A.41] REASONABLE PET POLICY REQUIREMENT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Requirement. new text end

new text begin The agency shall require each housing development that
is financed, on or after January 1, 2024, by a grant, by a loan, or by any other money
administered or otherwise provided by the agency to authorize a resident of the housing
development to own or otherwise maintain one or more common household pets within the
resident's dwelling unit, subject to applicable state laws and local government ordinances
related to public health, animal control, and animal anticruelty, and subject to other reasonable
conditions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Reasonable conditions allowed. new text end

new text begin Reasonable conditions on pet maintenance
or ownership include but are not limited to policies on nuisance behaviors, leashing
requirements, requirements to carry liability insurance coverage, limitations on the number
of animals in a unit based on the unit's size, and prohibitions on dangerous or potentially
dangerous dogs, as defined by section 347.50, subdivisions 2 and 3. A prohibition on a
breed of common household pets or a limitation on the weight of a pet is not a reasonable
condition. A onetime nonrefundable or monthly fee for the ownership or maintenance of
common household pets is not a reasonable condition.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Defense to eviction action. new text end

new text begin Tenants may use the protections afforded in this
section as an affirmative defense in an eviction action.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Common household pet. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, "common household
pet" means a domesticated animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish, or turtle, that is
traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Limitations. new text end

new text begin (a) This section does not alter or affect the rights and duties of a
landlord with respect to preventing harm to third parties caused by a resident's pet.
new text end

new text begin (b) This section shall not be construed to limit or otherwise affect applicable state laws
and local government ordinances related to public health, animal control, and animal
anticruelty, or other statutes or laws that require reasonable accommodations to be made
for an individual with a disability who maintains an animal to provide assistance, service,
or support.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end