Civil Code Property, Pets & Rentals
Pets
Chapter 5 · Property Use and Maintenance · Protected Uses
Text current as of 2026-07-07 · Last amended by AB 805, eff. 2014-01-01
The code says CIV §4715
(a) No governing documents shall prohibit the owner of a separate interest within a common interest development from keeping at least one pet within the common interest development, subject to reasonable rules and regulations of the association. This section may not be construed to affect any other rights provided by law to an owner of a separate interest to keep a pet within the development.
(b) For
purposes of this section, “pet” means any domesticated bird, cat, dog, aquatic animal kept within an aquarium, or other animal as agreed to between the association and the homeowner.
(c) If the association implements a rule or regulation restricting the number of pets an owner may keep, the new rule or regulation shall not apply to prohibit an owner from continuing to keep any pet that the owner currently keeps in the owner’s separate interest if the pet otherwise conforms with the previous rules or regulations relating to pets.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “governing documents” shall include, but are not limited to, the conditions, covenants, and restrictions of the common interest development, and the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the association.
(e) This section shall become operative on January 1,
2001, and shall only apply to governing documents entered into, amended, or otherwise modified on or after that date.
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.)
In plain English
Editorial summary — not the statute’s text.
Governing documents adopted or changed on or after January 1, 2001 can’t prohibit an owner from keeping at least one pet, though the association can set reasonable rules. The statute defines “pet” as a domesticated bird, cat, dog, aquarium animal, or another animal the association agrees to.
What this means for you
Editorial summary — not the statute’s text.
- Documents not adopted or changed since 2001 aren’t covered — check when the pet restriction was last amended.
- A new limit on the number of pets can’t force out a pet an owner already keeps under the earlier rules.
- Distinguish pets from assistance/service animals, which have separate protections.
How courts have read this
Editorial summaries — not the court’s words.
Every decision listed was decided before the current text (eff. 2014-01-01, AB 805).