05/28/2026
A new federal housing policy change could affect some tenants who rely on assistance animals.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the federal agency that oversees national housing policy and fair housing protections, issued a memo narrowing which animals qualify for housing accommodations under disability rules. The change would exclude emotional support animals from some protections while tightening rules around service animals.
Housing advocates say the policy could impact people who rely on emotional support animals for mental health or disability-related support, and could make it harder for some tenants to keep those animals in housing with pet restrictions.