VANCOUVER, B.C. — Green Councillor Pete Fry is welcoming City Council’s unanimous approval of a motion he introduced on behalf of the City’s Renters Advisory Committee calling for stronger protections for renters with pets and provincial action to eliminate blanket “no-pet” clauses in rental housing.

The motion, Advocating for Pet-Friendly Rental Housing, directs the City to press the Province of British Columbia, through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), to amend the Residential Tenancy Act, while also strengthening City policies to better support renters with companion animals.

“Pets are part of the family,” said Councillor Fry. “For many renters, especially seniors, people with disabilities, and those facing housing insecurity, being forced to give up a companion animal can be devastating. Housing policy needs to reflect that reality.”

Scarcity Driving Insecurity

Pet-friendly rental housing remains scarce in Vancouver, often commanding higher rents and limiting options for tenants. When tenancies end, renters with pets frequently face impossible choices: pay more than they can afford, move far from their communities, or surrender their animals to avoid homelessness.

Current tenant protection policies offer limited safeguards, particularly during interim displacement caused by redevelopment. Fry’s motion responds to these gaps by calling for clearer, stronger protections that recognize pets as a legitimate housing consideration, not an afterthought.

“No one should lose their home or their pet because our policies haven’t kept up with how people actually live,” Fry added.

Advocating for Provincial Change

As approved, Council will bring forward a motion to UBCM urging the Province to amend the Residential Tenancy Act to prohibit blanket no-pet clauses, while allowing for reasonable management guidelines and tenant responsibilities. Similar protections already exist in Ontario and other jurisdictions, where companion animals are increasingly recognized as central to individual well-being.

Council also directed staff to explore options to expand pet-friendly protections within City policies, including the Broadway Plan and the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy, ensuring displaced tenants can access pet-friendly housing both during interim relocation and upon return.

In addition, the motion encourages a greater proportion of new purpose-built rental housing to be pet-friendly, helping ease scarcity and reduce pressure on renters city-wide.

A Unanimous Signal from Council

Council’s unanimous vote reflects broad agreement that housing policy must better align with the realities facing renters.

“This is a practical, compassionate step that recognizes both housing affordability and human well-being,” said Fry. “It’s about fairness, dignity, and keeping people housed without forcing impossible trade-offs.”

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