• Students, guests, and visitors may not sleep overnight in common areas.
• Common area furniture and equipment must remain in in the common room.
• All individuals who use common areas are expected to keep these spaces reasonably clean and orderly for community use.

Out of consideration for all residents, any individual using common areas such as kitchens, lounges or recreational space is expected to return the space to the condition in which it was found. This includes cleaning up after preparing and serving food, putting away food items by storing them securely in pest-proof containers, returning furniture to its proper location and set up, and properly disposing of trash.   Residents should not leave unattended items in public spaces.  Unattended items left in these spaces are subject to disposal by the University.

Although they are University buildings, the College Houses and Sansom Place residences and their common spaces, amenities, etc. are first and foremost intended for the use by on-campus residents.   This includes on-campus residential laundry facilities, which are to be used solely by on-campus residents. Back to top

Residents found to be consistently overloading eletrical circuit (aka, tripping breakers) through use of appliances or other electrical equipment will be required to reduce their electrical usage.  Residents are also encouraged to use surge protectors as a means to further protect electrical equipment. Back to top

When approved by Student Disability Services and in order to provide reasonable accommodations and in compliance with federal law, students may have one Service or Emotional Support Animal (ESA) in the residences.

A Service Animal is any animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Service animals may accompany its owner anywhere in the residence halls.

An ESA is an animal that provides comfort to an individual with a disability upon the recommendation of a healthcare or mental health professional. An emotional support animal does not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living but rather its role is to live with a student and alleviate the symptoms of an individual’s disability to provide equal opportunities to use and enjoy residential life at the University. ESAs must remain in the owners assigned room at all times.

Important rules on owner care and handling:

• ESAs may not leave the owners room, with the exception of taking the animal to relieve itself outdoors and must not create a disturbance while the owner is away from the room.
• ESAs are prohibited from common areas and dining centers.
• Service animals and ESAs must be under the control of the owner at all times (examples include use of a carrier, harness or leash).
• Owners of a service animals or ESA will maintain a clean, healthy, and odor free living space.
• Owners of a service animals or ESA are responsible for cleaning up animal’s waste and should carry sufficient and appropriate equipment to clean up after the animal. Waste must be bagged and discarded in waste receptacles located outside of the residences.
• Owners of a service animal or ESA must assure the animal doesn’t interfere with the daily routine or activities (ability to sleep, enter or exit the hall, study, etc.) of residents.
• The owner of the animal is financially responsible for any damage caused by the animal. This includes bodily injury or property damage.

Individuals other than the owner should never touch or handle an animal unless invited to do so. Individuals other than the owner should not feed the animal, startle the animal, attempt to separate the animal from the owner, or inquire for details about the owner’s disability or reason for having a Service or Emotional Support Animal.

College Houses & Academic Services and Residential Services reserve the right to exclude or remove any animal that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or creates an unreasonable and unmanageable disturbance to the community. Back to top

Residents are encouraged to keep their exterior room or apartment doors locked at all times.

Residents are not allowed to damage, hinder the proper use of, or make changes to any locks or fixtures associated with their rooms or apartment.  Residents cannot add fixtures or locks to any doors, walls, or other surfaces within their apartment. Back to top

Residents are responsible for their own keys or PennCards (depending on location). They should not share keys or PennCards with another individual or duplicate these keys.  Residents should be aware of the whereabouts of their keys and PennCards at all times.

In addition to any posted fines, residents found abusing this policy are subject to additional disciplinary action commensurate with the nature of that abuse.  For more information, see “Keys and Locks” in the Procedures section of this document. Review also the PennCard Policy as published by the PennCard Center.  Back to top

The University does not accept responsibility for and will not repair or replace residents’ personal property that is lost, stolen, or damaged while residing on-campus.  As a result, it is recommended that residents secure renter's insurance for their items either through family homeowners insurance a rider to that policy, or as purchased though a reputable provider.  See “Renters Insurance” in the Services section for more detail on that option. Back to top

• Residents will have 48 hours from first being contacted by a University official to permanently relocate the animal to an off campus location.
• Residents will incur a $50 per day fine each day beyond the first 48 hours.
• Repeat offenses will result in the immediate and permanent loss of housing privileges and the forfeiture of any potential rent refund due under the normal rent refund policy.

For information on Service and Assistance animals, please see "Medical Accommodations" in the procedures section. Back to top

For the College House Posting policy, please visit https://www.collegehouse.upenn.edu/resources/posters or follow up with the House Office of the particular building in which the posting will take place.

For Sansom Place, all notices must clearly state the name of the responsible organization and be posted only on designated bulletin boards.  No such notices should be placed on interior or exterior doors, windows, or elevators.  Flyers may not be placed under student room doors.  Any student or organization found in violation of these policies may face fines and disciplinary action.  Please note additional bulletin board policies and information may be posted on the Sansom Place web site. Back to top

Residents are responsible for their own PennCards and, when issued, their brass keys. They should not share keys or PennCards with another individual or duplicate their keys for any purpose. Residents should be aware of the whereabouts of their keys (if applicable) and PennCards at all times. Back to top

As responsible members of a larger community, residents are expected to maintain reasonable standards of cleanliness and order within their rooms as a means to discourage pests.  Over the counter pesticides do not solve pest issues. They only move the pests elsewhere and potentially put any roommates or neighbors with chemical allergies at risk.  

Residents are also expected to return their rooms to a reasonably clean condition when they move out, including disposing of all trash and non-university furniture from their spaces.

Residents who fail to properly maintain, clean, or clear their apartments or rooms will be subject to disciplinary action, including fines and cleaning costs.

Residents will also be assessed fines for any damage that occurs in their rooms during the school year, including any damage done to walls in the hanging of decorations within their spaces. Back to top

• All residents or a room, suite, or apartment are responsible for what occurs in their space.
• The rooms in College Houses and Sansom Place are to be occupied as designated. For example, a single room is to be occupied by an individual and a four-person apartment by four individuals.
• Any individual found to be residing in a student room without a room assignment will face disciplinary action for theft of services and removal from the residential space.
• Personal possessions may only be stored in a student room over the break period from fall to spring semester when the student's room assignment is for that same room during both semesters. Back to top

Any resident, visitor or guest found within unauthorized areas (student rooms in which they are not either a resident or an accompanied and welcomed guest, mechanical rooms, housekeeping closets, steam tunnels, etc.), found using emergency exits for any reason other than an emergency, or found on any roof, portico or any other architectural feature not designed for recreational or functional use will be subject to fines, assessment for any damaged caused and disciplinary action.  Residents, visitors, and guests are not permitted to place any items in any unauthorized area.  The University assumes no financial or legal responsibility for any student, guest, visitor, or property as a result of such actions. Back to top

Residents may not tamper with window stops where they exist. Back to top