24 C.F.R. § 960.505
§ 960.505 Occupancy by police officers to provide security for public housing residents. (24 CFR Part 960)
Operative Text
(a) Police officer. For purpose of this subpart E, “police officer” means a person determined by the PHA to be, during the period of residence of that person in public housing, employed on a full-time basis as a duly licensed professional police officer by a Federal, State or local government or by any agency of these governments. An officer of an accredited police force of a housing agency may qualify. (b) Occupancy in public housing. For the purpose of increasing security for residents of a public housing development, the PHA may allow police officers who would not otherwise be eligible for occupancy in public housing, to reside in a public housing dwelling unit. The PHA must include in the PHA annual plan or supporting documents the number and location of the units to be occupied by police officers, and the terms and conditions of their tenancies; and a statement that such occupancy is needed to increase security for public housing residents.
Under 24 CFR Part 960 § 960.505, a public housing authority (PHA) has the option to permit full-time, licensed police officers employed by a government entity to live in public housing units even if those officers would not otherwise meet standard eligibility requirements. This arrangement is specifically authorized as a security measure for the benefit of existing public housing residents. For the program to operate, the PHA must document the number and locations of officer-occupied units, the terms of those tenancies, and a justification that the placement is needed to improve resident security, all within the PHA's annual plan or its supporting materials.
Plain English — not legal advice.
PHAs administering public housing under 24 CFR Part 960 § 960.505 that wish to use this occupancy option generally ensure that any officer placed in a unit meets the provision's definition of a full-time, duly licensed professional police officer employed by a government or government agency. Compliant operators document the specific units designated for officer occupancy, the applicable tenancy terms and conditions, and a written statement of security need within the PHA annual plan or its supporting documents before placing officers in those units. Keeping this documentation current and accurate is a standard part of operating the program in conformance with the regulation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 960 § 960.505, public housing residents have an interest in knowing that any police officer living in their development was placed there through a documented, PHA-approved process that is required to appear in the PHA's annual plan or supporting materials. Residents can review the PHA annual plan—which is a public document—to confirm whether officer-occupied units have been properly designated and justified as a security measure. Tenants who have questions about whether their PHA is following this process may contact their local PHA resident advisory board, a HUD field office, or a tenant-rights organization for general information about how the rule applies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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