Pet Agreement: What to Include in a Pet Addendum
May 14, 2026A pet agreement (or pet addendum) is a separate document attached to the lease that sets specific rules for any pets on the property — it keeps pet-specific terms out of the main lease body while still making them enforceable.
What to include
A pet agreement should specify:
- • Type, breed, and weight of pet(s) permitted
- • Number of pets allowed
- • Any pet deposit, pet fee, or pet rent, and whether the deposit is refundable
- • Tenant's responsibility for damage caused by the pet, beyond normal wear and tear
- • Requirements around vaccination, licensing, and the tenant's responsibility for cleaning up after the pet
- • Consequences for violating the pet policy (e.g., unauthorized pets)
Pet deposit vs. pet fee vs. pet rent
These are often used loosely, but they can mean different things: a pet deposit is typically refundable (subject to deductions for damage, like a security deposit), a pet fee is typically a one-time, non-refundable charge, and pet rent is an ongoing monthly charge. Some states regulate whether a "pet deposit" counts toward your overall security deposit cap, so check your state's rules before structuring pet charges.
Assistance animals are not pets
Under the Fair Housing Act, service animals and emotional support animals are generally not treated as pets, and a no-pets policy or pet fee typically cannot be applied to them. A tenant with a documented need for an assistance animal is generally entitled to a reasonable accommodation, even in a building that otherwise doesn't allow pets. This is a frequent area of Fair Housing complaints, so treat requests for assistance animals as a distinct process from your standard pet policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charge extra rent for a pet if I have a no-pets policy?
If your standard lease prohibits pets, a pet agreement is really an exception you're granting to a specific tenant, and you can set terms for that exception — but assistance animals are a different legal category and generally cannot be charged a pet fee or rent.
Can I ask for proof that an animal is a legitimate service or emotional support animal?
For an emotional support animal, you can generally request documentation from a healthcare provider if the disability or need isn't obvious. For a trained service animal, Fair Housing and ADA rules limit what you can ask — generally just whether the animal is required because of a disability and what task it performs, not detailed medical documentation.
Is a weight or breed restriction enforceable?
Weight and breed restrictions are common in pet agreements and generally enforceable for regular pets, but they cannot be applied to assistance animals. Check your state and local rules too, since some jurisdictions restrict breed-specific policies.