What's happening
This bill prohibits landlords and public housing from discriminating against tenants based on a dog's breed, size, or weight, with some safety exceptions.
Why it matters
Expands housing access for dog owners. By preventing landlords and public housing authorities from rejecting tenants based solely on their dog's breed, size, or weight, the bill could make it easier for responsible pet owners to secure housing, reducing surrenders to shelters and disruptions for families with dogs.
Shifts focus to behavior, not appearance. The bill discourages blanket bans based on how a dog looks or its breed reputation, which are not reliable indicators of aggression, and instead allows for restrictions based on individual dog behavior or proven dangerousness as defined elsewhere in law.
Allows for reasonable safety rules. While breed, size, or weight restrictions are prohibited, the bill still permits landlords and housing authorities to set and enforce reasonable rules—such as leash requirements or limits on the number of dogs—and to take action regarding dogs legally deemed dangerous, balancing tenant rights with community safety.
May influence broader housing and animal policy. By codifying that breed and size discrimination is not acceptable in leases or public housing, New York could set a precedent that encourages other states to reevaluate similar policies, potentially reducing breed-based stigma and promoting more evidence-based approaches to dog regulation.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
End Dog Breed Discrimination
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Dog Breed Discrimination
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1878
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the public housing law and the real property law, in relation to discrimination against owners of specific breeds of dog
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public housing law is amended by adding a new section 223-c to read as follows:
§ 223-c. Discrimination against persons who own certain dogs. No person shall be denied occupancy in a dwelling in any project or be subjected to eviction from any such dwelling on the grounds that such person owns a dog of a specific breed, size, or weight and such dog resides with such person. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any authority from prescribing and enforcing reasonable restrictions or requirements on the ownership of dogs, regardless of their breed, size, or weight, or on the ownership of dangerous dogs as prescribed in section one hundred twenty-three of the agriculture and markets law.
§ 2. Article 7 of the real property law is amended by adding a new section 238-a to read as follows:
§ 238-a. Discrimination in leases with respect to certain dogs. No person, firm or corporation owning or having in charge any apartment house, tenement house or other building or mobile home park used for dwelling purposes shall restrict a tenant's ability to own a dog of a specific breed, size or weight. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit such persons, firms or corporations from prescribing and enforcing reasonable restrictions or requirements on the ownership of dogs, regardless of their breed, size or weight, or on the ownership of dangerous dogs as prescribed in section one hundred twenty-three of the agriculture and markets law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01210-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public housing law and the real property law, in relation to discrimination against owners of specific breeds of dog
Purpose of the bill
This bill will prohibit certain housing organizations from discriminating against ownership of dogs based on the dog's breed, size or weight.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 223-c of the public housing law as it relates to prohibiting public housing authorities from restricting a person occupancy based on a person's ownership of a dog of a specific breed, size or weight. It will not restrict a public housing authority's right to impose reasonable restrictions on the ownership of dogs, regardless of their breed, size, or weight. They would be able to restrict the ownership of dogs classified as "dangerous dogs."
Section 2 of the bill adds a new section 238-a of the real property law as it relates to prohibiting landlords from prohibiting a person occupancy based on a person's ownership of a dog of a specific breed, size or weight. It will not restrict a landlord's right to impose reasonable restrictions on the ownership of dogs, regardless of their breed, size, or weight. They would be able to restrict the ownership of dogs classified as "dangerous dogs."
Section 3 of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
Many housing organizations have banned ownership of dogs of specific breeds, size or weight causing hardship on families. These types of discriminatory policies reduce housing opportunities for families, limit the adoption of certain breeds such as pit bulls and further the negative stigma against these dogs.
New York State law already prohibits municipalities from enacting breed specific laws that restrict ownership. This bill would prohibit rental properties and public housing authorities from having policies that restrict ownership of dogs that are a specific breed, size or weight.
This bill would not infringe a housing unit's right to restrict ownership of all dogs regardless of breed or "dangerous dogs" as defined in law.
Rousing policies should focus on preventing ownership of dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog owners from their premises, not a discriminatory ban on specific breeds. Bad dogs are a result of bad owners.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.5944A/A.2065-A (Zebrowski) 2015: A.2065 Died in Rules 2014: A.6949C Died on Third Reading 2013: A.6949-B Amend and Recommit to Housing as of 8/26/13
Fiscal implications for state
None. EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.