A new Washington DC regulation that took effect on Thursday prohibits landlords from denying housing to tenants because of a dog's breed, size or weight, and bars additional charges tied to those factors. The measure, part of the Pets in Housing Amendment Act often referred to as "Roscoe's Law," was championed by councilmember Robert White in memory of his dog. The first phase of the legislation, which limited pet-related fees to 15% of monthly rent for security deposits and 1% for recurring pet rent, had been partially in force since 2025. Animal welfare groups praised the full implementation, saying it lowers barriers to pet ownership in the capital. Advocates argued that breed-specific bans often punish responsible owners and that most aggressive behavior stems from poor handling rather than genetics. The DC Landlord Association acknowledged the goal of keeping families together but warned that the fee caps might not fully offset costs from pet-related property damage, calling for "adequate" deposits. Starting 1 October 2026, all residential leases must allow dogs regardless of breed or weight, though many listings on real estate platforms still show weight limits, such as a 75-pound maximum, as of a recent Zillow search.