City Hall of Cluj-Napoca proposes pet-friendly policy, expanding pet access to local institutions
In a significant move towards fostering a more inclusive urban environment, the cities of Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest, Romania, are proposing pet-friendly policies that allow companion animals, therapy animals, and service dogs to enter public institutions, including City Hall buildings.
The initiative in Cluj-Napoca, spearheaded by Mayor Emil Boc, is outlined in a draft regulation currently open for public consultation. The proposal aims to make Cluj-Napoca a more animal-friendly city, aligning pet access rules with European standards. The draft regulation outlines conditions to balance respect for all citizens while caring for animal welfare, as stated in the proposal. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance civic inclusivity, and the full draft can be reviewed on Cluj-Napoca City Hall’s official website.
Similarly, in Bucharest, the General Council approved a decision in March 2025 that allows pets—including dogs and cats of all sizes and breeds—to enter the headquarters of the City Hall and local institutions of public interest. This move, which precedes the proposal in Cluj-Napoca, reflects a growing trend in Romanian cities towards recognising companion animals as part of everyday urban life.
These proposals indicate a shift towards more pet-friendly public policies in Romania’s two major cities, balancing citizen needs and animal welfare in public institutions. Notably, the proposals do not specify any exceptions or limitations for the types of pets allowed in public institutions, nor do they mention any penalties or consequences for non-compliance with the regulations.
The Regulation on the Access of Companion Animals, Therapy Animals, and Service Dogs to the Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Its Subordinate Institutions, if implemented, would permit these animals in the mentioned institutions, according to the proposal. The document detailing the proposed rules is now available for public consultation.
The pet-friendly policies in Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest are not the first such proposals in Romania. The decision by the General Council of Bucharest to allow pets in their city hall and local institutions of public interest precedes the proposal in Cluj-Napoca. The new proposals, however, highlight a growing commitment to creating more animal-friendly cities in Romania.
In conclusion, the pet-friendly policies in Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest are a step forward in recognising the role of pets in urban life and promoting animal welfare. As these cities continue to refine and implement their proposals, they are setting an example for other cities in Romania and beyond to follow.
The Regulation on the Access of Companion Animals, Therapy Animals, and Service Dogs to the Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Its Subordinate Institutions, if implemented, signifies a deliberate effort to integrate pets into the home-and-garden of city life in Cluj-Napoca. This adjustment in lifestyle, not limited to Cluj-Napoca but also observed in Bucharest, underscores the vision of making these cities more pet-friendly and aligned with the European standards of animal welfare.
