California SB 1296: The 2027 Pet Policy Disclosure Rule (And 7-Day Fee Refund Trap)

Direct Answer: Operative April 1, 2027, California SB 1296 (Stats. 2026, ch. 1025, signed September 30, 2026, adding Civil Code Section 1942.7.5) requires landlords and agents to keep a written pet policy and disclose it before taking application fees, even on No-Pets properties.

Silence costs cash. Disclose upfront. I built our leasing checks inside our accountability operating system so our teams follow one playbook while owners keep full No-Pets rights.

Four Disclosure Surfaces Before Taking Fees

Laws govern funnels. Half-finished websites trigger refunds fast. My team audits Santa Ana multifamily management and Irvine multifamily management websites weekly so every listing displays matching pet terms.

Pet Addenda, AB 12 Caps, and Assistance Animals

Rules connect tightly. Our AB 2493 workflow sets terms upfront across San Diego multifamily management and Los Angeles multifamily management assets. Deposits obey AB 12, according to California DRE rules. Late notice forces 7-day refunds, according to LA County Screening bulletins. Assistance animals remain exempt, according to California Civil Rights guidance. Yes, we track Fair Housing.

• Eligibility threshold: Post approved animal rules and written No-Pets notices online before taking screening fees.
• Monthly pet rent: Disclose every exact animal fee clearly inside our online listings. Never surprise prospective renters with hidden charges after application intake.
• AB 12 deposit cap: Keep combined security and pet deposits within our statutory one-month California residential rental limits.
• Fair Housing carve-out: Protect assistance animals. Verified service animals stay exempt from pet bans, monthly rent, and extra deposits.

Our Five-Step Pre-Listing and Refund Workflow

Staff audit units. I stop needless refunds. Run five steps:

1. Assign master rule: Attach one written pet addendum or signed No-Pets notice per California residential property.
2. Sync webpage text: Copy rules verbatim. Marketing checks live property webpages carefully before activating online vacancy portals.
3. Audit syndication feeds: Save weekly portal proof. We capture dated screenshots wherever external rental portals accept written pet rules.
4. Capture packet initials: Collect signed animal acknowledgments inside our packet before taking application fees.
5. Refund inside deadline: Act fast. We refund missed fees within 7 business days inside AppFolio.

Pair our checklists with our Application Fee Guide, Housing Bills Update, and California SB 1365 Guide.

Frequently Asked SB 1296 Questions

Must No-Pets properties publish written pet disclosures anyway?

Yes. Our landlords post written No-Pets statements on websites, ads, portals, and application packets before collecting fees.

How quickly must owners refund missed disclosure fees?

Seven business days apply. We return full screening fees promptly when written requests cite missing pre-fee pet disclosures.

Does SB 1296 force properties to allow pets?

Never. California residential landlords retain full authority to forbid household pets whenever written disclosures precede application fee intake.

How does SB 1296 work beside AB 2493 rules?

Both laws align. Leasing packets pair general screening criteria beside written pet policies before applicants ever pay application fees.

I audit our leasing workflows quarterly so clients avoid preventable fee refunds. Your next step is requesting an operations review via our Coastline Equity Operations Review Request.