Update — March 4, 2026: While the Virginia House of Delegates passed this bill last month, it did not receive the Senate votes it needed to become law. Thank you for each action you took to advocate for this bill. With your partnership, we will continue efforts to expand access to pet-friendly housing during future legislative sessions.
This important bill would have removed unnecessary barriers to pet-friendly housing, finally preventing families from having to choose between keeping their beloved pets and having a safe place to live.
The solutions outlined in this bill promoted housing stability, protected responsible pet owners and strengthened communities across the Commonwealth. It aimed to:
Expand pet access in publicly financed housing, improving housing stability and reducing the number of pets surrendered by low-income families.
Increase transparency around pet policies, helping renters avoid wasting time and money pursuing housing that won’t accommodate their entire family.
More than half of Virginia households include at least one pet, and these pets are loved and cared for as part of the family. Yet in today’s tight rental market, families with pets — especially those with limited incomes — face steep obstacles when searching for housing. Barriers like insurance based breed discrimination and unclear or inconsistent pet policies often lead to heartbreaking outcomes, including the surrender of beloved pets to already overburdened animal shelters. This bill can change that.
Families with pets face added challenges in an already competitive rental market. In addition to “no pets” policies, renters often encounter excessive fees that make housing unaffordable or unavailable. These barriers disproportionately impact lower-income households and underserved communities.
Pets also play a critical role in emotional and mental well-being, especially for people experiencing eviction, displacement or homelessness. For many, being forced to give up a pet is more painful than remaining unhoused. Keeping pets and people together supports healthier families, reduces strain on animal shelters and improves public health outcomes statewide.
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