Section 1. Short title

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

Sec. 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)

requiring payment of a pet deposit by a tenant owning or having pets, except that—

(i)

the pet deposit—

(I)

shall not exceed 10 percent of the tenant’s monthly base rent; and

(II)

shall be amortized over not less than 3 months as part of a tenant’s rental payments; and

(ii)

any amount of a pet deposit that is unused at the termination of the tenancy shall be reimbursed to the tenant within 30 days of vacating a dwelling unit;

(B)

limitations on the number of animals in a dwelling unit or building, based on unit size or other relevant conditions;

(C)

prohibitions on certain species of animals prohibited by State or local law; and

(D)

prohibitions on any individual animal that is declared a threat to public health and safety by a court of competent jurisdiction or whose ownership is otherwise prohibited by State or local law.

(2) Prohibition on withholding

A public housing agency may not withhold a pet deposit described in paragraph (1) for damage unrelated to the pet, including due to ordinary wear and tear.

(3) Limitation

The reasonable requirements described in subsection (a) shall not include any prohibition based on the breed, size, or weight of an animal.