As a landlord, your chances of encountering a pet owner are high. In fact, a 2025 Apartments.com survey of renters found that 68 percent of respondents own a pet. For many renters, pets are family. If your listing says “no pets,” you may lose otherwise strong applicants.
The goal isn’t to say yes to every animal—it’s to welcome the right pets with clear rules that protect your property and your tenants. Use this step-by-step guide to build a rental pet policy you can enforce confidently.
- What is a pet policy?
- How to create a pet policy in 6 simple steps
- Service animals vs. emotional support animals
- Frequently asked questions
What is a Pet Policy?
A pet policy is a set of rules that explains whether your rental allows pets—and if so, under what conditions. Think of it as a blueprint for pet ownership in your property: what’s allowed, what’s not, and what tenants must do to remain in compliance.
No policy can prevent every pet-related issue. Accidents happen—scratched floors, chewed trim, noise complaints. But a clear policy does two important things:
- Sets expectations upfront, so tenants know the rules before they sign
- Gives you a consistent framework to address problems if they arise
What to Include in a Rental Pet Policy (6 Steps)
When writing your pet lease, you want it to be comprehensive and cover all the critical points that help you reduce pet-related risks. While there are many ways you can craft a smart pet policy, we’ve put together a list of six crucial elements to include in your document.
1. List the permitted types of pets
At the top of your to-do list, specify the types of pets you will allow in your rental. To ensure that you appeal to the broadest pool of potential tenants, consider the most common domestic pets, such as:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Fish
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Small mammals (rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, ferrets)
Pet owners are a large share of the market, and overly strict rules can be a dealbreaker. Allowing a reasonable range of pets may help you fill vacancies faster—without sacrificing control, as long as the rest of your policy is clear.
2. Define restrictions and limitations
Restrictions are common—and often necessary. The key is to spell them out clearly so there’s no confusion about what’s allowed.
Common rental pet restrictions include:
- Number limits: Cap how many pets a tenant can have (for example, two dogs and one cat maximum).
- Size/weight limits: Often applied to dogs to reduce damage risk, noise, and suitability for smaller units.
- Breed restrictions: Some landlords restrict certain breeds due to safety concerns or insurance requirements. If you choose to do this, list the breeds clearly and apply the rule consistently.
Your policy sets the standard. If you want flexibility, you can note that you may consider exceptions case by case, but keep the default rules simple and easy to enforce.
3. Spell out tenant responsibilities
“Pet-friendly” doesn’t mean “anything goes.” Your policy should define what responsible pet ownership looks like on your property.
Consider including rules such as:
- Dogs must be leashed outside the unit
- Tenants must pay for pet-caused damage
- Tenants must clean up waste inside the unit and on the property
- Reptiles, birds, and small mammals must be caged appropriately
- Cats and dogs must wear identification (collar/tag)
Also include what happens if the rules aren’t followed. For example: written warnings, a violation fee (if allowed), required removal of the pet, or—if issues persist—termination of tenancy per the lease and local law.
4. Add a pet screening process
A pet screening helps you evaluate both the animal and the owner. A pet can sound perfect on the phone, but an in-person meeting gives you a clearer picture.
During screening, you can:
- Confirm the tenant’s descriptions (breed, size, temperament)
- Observe behavior: friendly vs. aggressive, calm vs. reactive, responsive to owner
- Decide whether to approve, deny, or approve with conditions (where appropriate)
Helpful pet screening questions
- Is your pet housebroken?
- Has your pet ever bitten someone?
- How old is your pet?
- Has your pet caused property damage before?
- Who cares for the pet when you’re not home?
- Who is primarily responsible for daily care?
This step protects your property—and also helps good renters understand that you’re running a thoughtful, consistent process.
5. Require proper documentation
Documentation reduces risk and helps ensure compliance with local requirements.
Consider requiring current records for cats/dogs such as:
- Vaccination history (and any city/county-required vaccines)
- Licensing/registration (if required by local ordinance)
- Microchip information
- ID tag confirmation
- Parasite prevention records (deworming/flea prevention), if you choose
If your jurisdiction has specific pet regulations, align your documentation requirements with those standards.
6. Explain pet rent vs. pet fee vs. pet deposit
If you allow pets, you may want to offset added wear-and-tear by charging pet-related costs. Your policy should define exactly what you charge, when it’s due, and whether it’s refundable.
Pet rent (monthly) An ongoing monthly charge per pet, similar to rent. Many landlords charge $20–$60 per month, but you can set rates based on your market and property type. Some landlords choose pet rent instead of a pet deposit.
Pet deposit (refundable) Like a security deposit, held in case the pet causes damage. If there’s no pet-related damage beyond normal wear, it’s refunded at move-out (subject to your lease terms and local law).
Pet fee (one-time, typically nonrefundable) A one-time charge collected at move-in. It’s usually nonrefundable and can help cover cleaning or administrative costs.
Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
Your pet policy should also acknowledge a critical exception: service animals and emotional support animals.
Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), housing providers must avoid discrimination and provide equal access to housing, including for people who have assistance animals.
- Service animals are trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities.
- Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide psychological support, and they may not have specialized training. ESAs can include a wider range of animals, as long as the request is reasonable.
When a landlord may be able to deny an ESA or service animal
There are limited circumstances where denial may be allowed, such as:
- The animal is an unreasonable size for the unit
- The animal presents a direct safety hazard to others
- The tenant does not provide appropriate documentation when required
- The animal is illegal to own in the jurisdiction
Outside of limited exceptions, it may be unlawful to deny a qualified tenant because of an assistance animal—and you generally cannot charge pet-related fees for them, since they’re not considered pets under FHA guidelines. For details on obligations and best practices, consult federal and state regulations.
A simplified way to integrate a pet policy into your lease
After your policy is ready, the next step is to make it enforceable: put it in writing and attach it to the lease (often as a pet addendum).
To save time, use Apartments.com’s free leasing solution to add a pet policy directly to your lease agreement. To create the policy, you’ll answer simple questions such as:
- Are pets allowed?
- What types of pets are allowed?
- Maximum weight limit?
- Maximum number of pets?
- Breed restrictions?
- One-time pet fee amount?
- Monthly pet rent amount?
- Pet deposit amount?
- Violation fee (if applicable): when it applies and how much per infraction?
Your responses will automatically populate a pet addendum, helping you standardize rules across tenants and reduce back-and-forth. That means fewer missed details, faster lease creation, and a smoother move-in process for everyone.
FAQs
Why should I include a pet agreement in the lease?
A pet agreement helps and sets clear expectations. Once you finalize your pet policy, include it in a pet agreement clause and attach it to the lease so tenants understand their tenancy depends on following the pet rules.
Can I change the pet policy?
Yes. If you plan to update rules, state in the policy that you have the right to amend it—and provide tenants reasonable notice (commonly at least 30 days, where allowed). In many cases, changes are easiest to implement at renewal or for new leases.
What is a grandfather clause for pet policy changes?
A grandfather clause can exempt current tenants (and their existing pets) from new rules, while applying updates to new tenants or new pets going forward. This can reduce friction and help you avoid forcing a compliant tenant into an impossible situation.
Originally published on May 6, 2022.
