Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: need feedback re community pet policies

[PAMELA LEITCH (info]

Lisa,

My Oregon community has restrictions in our Bylaws- max of 4 pets per unit, 
only 2 can be dogs.  Cats must be indoor cats unless on a leash.

Any new restrictions on pets needs to be more than a policy; you will likely 
need at least a Board resolution or possibly a Bylaw change. California is a 
highly regulated state for condos and HOAs but I am not sure what a limited 
equity community is from California’s perspective.  Also be aware of Federal, 
State and local Fair Housing Laws.  (ADA does not apply to most housing).  
There are service animals trained to do specific tasks and then there are 
emotional support animals; neither of which are legally pets. It is possible to 
get a pet reclassified as an emotional support animal.

An animal with one of these designations could require you to let the animal 
into common space and exceed any restrictions on the # of animals. A violation 
is not something you want to have happen because the feds and the state are not 
tolerant of non-compliance by an HOA.


Pam Leitch, JD, CMCA
HOA Coaching, LLC
hoacoaching.com <http://hoacoaching.com/>

> On Jul 28, 2024, at 7:23 PM, lisa pletka <lisampletka [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hello, co-housers
> I am a fairly new member at Santa Rosa Creek Commons, a limited equity
> intentional community in Santa Rosa, CA. Our community is now 42 years old,
> and there has been some contention around pets and how many are allowed on
> our campus. (Our long-standing policy permits only 4 dogs and 8 cats on a
> campus housing 35-40 people.) I am serving on an ad hoc committee to
> re-evaluate our pet policy.
> 
> I would really appreciate hearing from other co-housing communities about
> the pet policies that work for you. Specifically, do you set a limit for
> the number of animals allowed per household or in the community as a whole?
> Plus any other restrictions you think are important.
> 
> Thanks in advance for your feedback -- Lisa Pletka
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