Nevada Expands Pet-Inclusive Housing Protections with New Law
Nevada has taken a major step forward for pet-inclusive housing. On May 31, 2025, Governor Joe Lombardo signed Senate Bill 166 (SB 166) into law—expanding protections for renters and families with pets across the state.
The new legislation, sponsored by Senator Melanie Scheible and supported by organizations including the ASPCA, Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States), the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and the Michelson Center for Public Policy, removes key barriers that have long forced families to choose between stable housing and keeping their pets.
Closing the Gap in Insurance-Based Breed Restrictions
Nevada’s SB 103, passed in 2021, was a milestone in preventing discrimination against certain dog breeds by insurance companies. However, that law only covered homeowners and renters insurance—not the liability policies held by landlords.
SB 166 closes that loophole.
By removing dog breed from underwriting criteria for landlord liability insurance, the law ensures landlords can allow all dogs without risking their coverage. This expands protections to multi-family dwellings, not just single-family homes—meaning more families can find and keep housing without breed-based restrictions.
Pets Now Protected in Supportive Housing
A second provision of SB 166 requires that supportive housing programs—often funded through state grants—allow tenants to keep at least one pet.
Supportive housing provides critical stability for people who have faced homelessness, institutionalization, or chronic health challenges. Under the new law, recipients of supportive housing grants must agree in writing to allow residents to have a companion animal.
This change addresses a major barrier for pet owners in vulnerable situations. Studies consistently show that lower-income renters and communities of color have fewer pet-friendly options and face higher fees, leading to unnecessary pet surrenders and housing instability.
Why It Matters
Keeping pets and people together is essential to community well-being. Pets provide emotional support, security, and stability—especially for those rebuilding their lives after hardship.
Nevada’s new law serves as a model for other states working to strengthen housing protections for families with pets. Ohio Animal Advocates supports policies that recognize pets as family and ensure that no one is forced to give up their companion animal due to housing barriers.
Take Action: Support Pet-Inclusive Housing
Join us in advocating for humane, pet-inclusive policies across Ohio and beyond. Here’s how you can help make housing fairer for families with pets:
Support Unhoused People and Pets
The Providing for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act would establish a federal grant program to help homeless shelters support clients with pets—ensuring families don’t have to choose between housing and their beloved animals. Learn more and take action through our federal PUPP Act Alert.
Explore Local Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing housing or financial insecurity with a pet, visit our Housing and Financial Insecurity Program page to find Ohio-based assistance and advocacy resources.
Stay Engaged
Share the PUPP Act Alert on social media, talk with your community leaders about supporting pet-inclusive policies, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on future housing legislation.
Together, we can build a future where every family—two- and four-legged—has a place to call home.
