Pet Adoptions are on the rise during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic

One of the trends during the Coronavirus pandemic is that pet adoptions are on the rise . Dogs, cats and other animals are helping families and residents cope with the Shelter-in-Place orders from Governor Newsom. Community Associations may see an increase in Reasonable Accommodation applications for Assistance Animals, and will need to adhere to the new Department of Fair Employment and Housing Regulations as they consider the requests.   Community associations, including condominium associations, planned developments and cooperatives, as well as the entities and people who manage those associations are specifically referenced in the new Regulations which became effective on January 1, 2020. Associations must make reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities, and it is unlawful for associations to refuse to consider a request for an assistance animal. The most important areas and guidance contained in the DFEH Regulations which will impact associations and management are the following: There are two types of assistance animals: Service Animals and Support Animals. Service Animals are dogs that are individually trained to do work or tasks for the person with a disability. The work or tasks performed by the Service Animal must be directly related to the person's disability. Support Animals are also known as emotional support animals, comfort animals, or therapy animals. Support Animals do not have to be trained and may provide assistance or therapeutic emotional support for persons with disabilities. Assistance animals are not pets. Associations cannot apply pet policies to assistance animals. Associations cannot charge a separate fee, charge, deposit or other charges for assistance animals that may be applied to pets. For questions about this and other legal issues affecting community associations, please contact Diane Weissberg at [email protected] .

Leaders in the Community Association Legal Field Since 1973  Fiore Racobs & Powers is The Recognized Authority in Community Association Law . Our clients include residential and commercial condominiums, planned unit developments, stock cooperatives and community apartment projects. These clients consist of both on-site and off-site managed projects, including small and large scale communities with controlled gated access, privately owned streets, lakes, clubhouses, equestrian facilities, marinas, high and mid-rise buildings, senior living and other amenities.  Fiore Racobs & Powers is a full service law firm, providing complete representation of common interest developments.

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