HB699 amends Hawaii’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to limit how landlords may charge tenants for keeping pet animals in rental housing. The bill states that pet ownership can make housing harder to secure and can contribute to pet surrender, and it is intended to reduce those barriers by restricting pet-related charges in leases.
The measure generally prohibits landlords from charging separate monthly pet fees, with a narrow exception for multi-dwelling properties that have dedicated common pet areas. In that case, a landlord may charge an additional amount capped at 0.5% of the tenant’s gross rent, and the money must be used only for maintenance of those pet areas. The bill also limits pet-related security deposits to no more than one-third of one month’s rent, while preserving the ability to charge a standard security deposit and first month’s rent at lease start.
The bill also clarifies that no pet deposit may be required from tenants without pets, and that assistance animals used as a reasonable accommodation for a disability are excluded from the pet-deposit provision. The changes would apply to rental agreements entered into or renewed on or after the effective date, and the bill amends sections 521-21 and 521-44 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is supportive of tenants and pet owners, with a consumer-protection and animal-welfare rationale. The findings emphasize housing instability, pet surrender, and strain on rescue organizations as reasons for the legislation. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no additional public discussion or vote history to indicate broader support or opposition.
The main point of potential contention is the impact on landlords’ ability to recover costs associated with pet-related wear, cleaning, or maintenance. The bill addresses that concern only in limited form through the narrow common-area maintenance fee exception and the capped pet deposit. Another possible issue is the unusually distant effective date of July 1, 3000, which appears in the text and would delay implementation unless changed in later legislative action.
Impact
HB699 would amend Hawaii Revised Statutes sections 521-21 and 521-44 to restrict landlord-imposed pet charges in residential leases. It would bar most recurring pet fees, cap pet-related security deposits at one-third of one month’s rent, and exempt assistance animals and tenants without pets from pet-deposit requirements. The bill would apply prospectively to new or renewed rental agreements on or after the effective date.
Sentiment
The bill’s stated purpose and findings show a clearly pro-tenant, pro-pet-owner, and animal-welfare orientation. It frames the issue as a housing-access problem that can lead to pet surrender, suggesting a policy goal of reducing financial barriers to pet-friendly housing. No committee testimony or votes were provided, so there is no recorded opposition or support beyond the bill’s own framing.
Contention
The likely area of disagreement is whether limiting pet fees and deposits unfairly shifts risk and maintenance costs to landlords, especially in buildings where pets may cause additional wear or require dedicated upkeep. The bill partially addresses that concern by allowing a narrow additional charge for multi-dwelling units with dedicated pet common areas, but the cap is small and the funds are restricted to maintenance. The effective date of July 1, 3000 is also notable and could be viewed as a drafting anomaly or a practical barrier to implementation.