An Act to Allow Residents of Low-income Housing to Keep Pets
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1193
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: CHIPMAN, DOUDERA, HASENFUS, RANA, SAYRE
Amends: 14 MRSA §6014, 30-A MRSA §4707

Legislative Document
No. 1193
S.P. 489
In Senate, March 14, 2023
An Act to Allow Residents of Low-income Housing to Keep Pets
Reference to the Committee on Labor and Housing suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative DOUDERA of Camden and
Representatives: HASENFUS of Readfield, RANA of Bangor, SAYRE of Kennebunk.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  14 MRSA §6014, sub-§1, ¶D is enacted to read:
D.  No landlord may evict a tenant from housing funded wholly or partly by the Maine 
State Housing Authority or the housing authority of a municipality on the basis of 
owning or maintaining a common household pet in adherence with Title 30-A, section 
4707.
Sec. 2.  30-A MRSA §4707 is enacted to read:
§4707.  Pets
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Common household pet" means a domesticated animal, including but not limited 
to a dog or cat, that is commonly kept in the home for pleasure and not commercial 
purposes.
B. "Public housing" means a residential building funded wholly or partly by the Maine 
State Housing Authority or by the housing authority of a municipality.
2.  Pets allowed.  Subject to other applicable federal law and state or local laws 
regarding public health, animal control and animal cruelty and rules adopted by the Maine 
State Housing Authority or the housing authority of a municipality, the Maine State 
Housing Authority, a housing authority of a municipality or other entity in control of public 
housing shall allow a resident of public housing to own and maintain one or more common 
household pets.
3. Pet deposit allowed.  The Maine State Housing Authority, a housing authority of a 
municipality or other entity in control of public housing may charge a reasonable, 
refundable pet deposit for each pet to a resident of the public housing who owns one or 
more common household pets.
4. Pet rent prohibited. The Maine State Housing Authority, a housing authority of a 
municipality or other entity in control of public housing may not charge a resident of the 
public housing a monthly fee or other surcharge, other than the pet deposit authorized under 
subsection 3, for a common household pet owned and maintained by the resident.
5. Reasonable conditions.  The Maine State Housing Authority, a housing authority 
of a municipality or other entity in control of public housing may impose reasonable 
conditions on the ownership of a common household pet in the public housing, including 
policies on nuisance behaviors, leashing requirements, limitations on the number of 
common household pets allowed in a unit based on the unit's size and prohibitions on 
dangerous or vicious animals.  A reasonable condition imposed under this subsection may 
not include a restriction on the breed or size of the animal or a requirement that an animal 
be declawed or devocalized.
6.  Liability. This section may not be construed to affect a landlord's liability.
7. Rules.  The Maine State Housing Authority may adopt rules to implement this 
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 
5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Maine State Housing Authority, a housing authority of a 
municipality or other entity in control of public housing to allow a resident of public 
housing to own and maintain one or more common household pets.