Cover image via 
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.
If you've ever stayed in a condo, you may have seen notices prohibiting pets in common areas or warning residents that animals are "not allowed"
These signs often sound absolute, but under Malaysian law, pet ownership in strata properties isn't automatically illegal.
But, can the condo management actually do that?
The short answer is, yes, but with conditions.
Pet ownership in condos is governed by the Strata Management Act 2013 and the Strata Management Regulations 2015, specifically By-Law 14 of the Third Schedule.
Importantly, By-Law 14 does not impose a general ban on pets. Instead, it allows residents to keep animals inside their homes unless the animal:
- Causes annoyance or nuisance to other residents
- Endangers the safety or health of others
- Is kept in breach of written law or local authority rules
If a pet becomes a problem, By-Law 14(2) allows management to issue a written notice requiring the animal's removal. This enforcement applies to the specific offending pet — not to all pets in general.
While By-Law 14 itself does not authorise a blanket ban, management bodies are allowed to create additional by-laws under the Strata Management Act 2013
This is specific to Sections 32 and 70, depending on whether it's a Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC).
These additional by-laws must be passed via a special resolution at a general meeting and must be reasonable and lawful.
In practice, this is how some condos impose tighter controls, such as introducing restrictions that effectively prevent pets. However, these rules do not override By-Law 14 automatically and can be challenged if they are unreasonable, improperly passed, or inconsistent with the Act and Regulations.
If you want to keep a pet but management says no, the first step is to check the registered by-laws
If the restriction wasn't passed correctly or goes beyond what the law allows, you can raise the issue at an AGM or EGM, or apply to the Strata Management Tribunal, which decides whether by-laws are valid and reasonable.
On the other hand, if pets in your condo are causing disruption, management is legally empowered to act. Under By-Law 14, nuisance-causing animals can be ordered to be removed, ensuring the rights of other residents are protected.
