H.R. 5828 – Pets Belong With Families Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 7:47 AM UTC

The Pets Belong With Families Act would stop public housing agencies from banning pets based on their breed. It changes the U.S. Housing Act so that only reasonable rules—like limits on the number of animals, bans on animals that show dangerous behavior, and size or building‑related limits—can be applied. The bill affects residents of public housing who keep pets, ensuring they can keep animals regardless of breed as long as they meet the other criteria.

Key Provisions

Amends the Housing Act to remove any provision that allows breed‑based restrictions on pets in public housing.
Permits reasonable requirements such as limits on the number of pets based on unit size.
Allows prohibitions on animals classified as dangerous only when based on specific behaviors, not breed.
Allows restrictions based on the size or type of building or other relevant conditions, but bans breed‑based prohibitions.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Financial Services Committee

November 2, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 2, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Financial Services Committee

November 2, 2021

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 5828 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. J. French HillR-AR-2 · Jun 16, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 5828.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 2, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5828

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 2, 2021

Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Underwood, and Ms. Bush) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

A BILL

To prohibit public housing agencies from imposing breed restrictions on household pets owned by residents of dwelling units in public housing, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Pets Belong With Families Act.

2.

Prohibition on breed restrictions

Section 31 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437z–3) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b)

Reasonable requirements

(1)

In general

The reasonable requirements referred to in subsection (a) may include—

(A)

limitations on the number of animals in a unit, based on unit size;

(B)

prohibitions on types of animals that are classified as dangerous, provided that classification is based on specific behaviors or actions by the animal and is not based on the breed of the animal; and

(C)

restrictions or prohibitions based on size and type of building or project, or other relevant conditions.

(2)

Limitation

The reasonable requirements referred to in subsection (a) may not include prohibitions on breeds of animals.

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