Q: Are property owners authorized to demand service dogs registration papers to rent a property?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
As a property owner in California, you cannot demand service dog registration papers from potential renters. According to the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you are required to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, which includes allowing service dogs.
When a potential tenant informs you they have a service dog, you may ask if the animal is required due to a disability and what tasks it has been trained to perform. However, you cannot request any documentation, registration, or certification for the service dog.
It's important to respect the privacy and rights of individuals with disabilities. Denying housing or imposing additional requirements based on their need for a service dog can lead to legal consequences. Treating all applicants fairly helps ensure compliance with federal laws and fosters a respectful community.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
