PRINTER'S NO. 3646
No. 2709 Session of 1982
INTRODUCED BY PRATT, SEPTEMBER 28, 1982
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 28, 1982
AN ACT
1 Imposing limitations on the power of public agency's to regulate
2 the keeping of pets in public housing projects.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
6 public agency which owns and operates rental housing
7 accommodations shall prohibit the keeping of less than two pets
8 by persons residing in the rental housing accommodations.
9 Section 2. The following words and phrases when used in this
10 act shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise,
11 the meanings given to them in this section:
12 "Person." Any person who resides in a public agency owned
13 and operated rental housing accommodation.
14 "Pet." Any domesticated dog, cat, bird or aquarium.
15 "Public agency." The administrative unit of the Commonwealth
16 or any county, city, borough, township or an authority thereof
17 responsible for the ownership and operation of rental housing
1 accommodations.
2 Section 3. (a) Nothing in this act shall prevent the public
3 agency from requiring the removal from any housing of any pet
4 whose conduct or condition is duly determined to constitute a
5 threat or nuisance to the other occupants of the housing. No pet
6 may be kept in violation of humane or health laws.
7 (b) Nothing in this section shall prevent the public agency
8 from adopting reasonable regulations relating to limitations on
9 use of common areas by any such pets; prevent the adoption of
10 differing terms for the tenancy which are reasonably related to
11 the presence of such pet; or relieve a tenant from any liability
12 otherwise imposed by law for damages caused by such pet when
13 proof of same exists.
14 Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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