An addendum to attach to an existing lease — pet details, deposit/fees, house rules, and liability terms, with a clear carve-out for service and assistance animals.
Pet deposit and fee amounts, and breed/weight restrictions, are subject to state and local law — several states cap the total security deposit inclusive of pet deposits, and service/assistance animals are legally distinct from pets under fair housing law. This is a general template, not legal advice. Confirm your local requirements before using it.
PET ADDENDUM TO LEASE AGREEMENT
This Addendum is made part of the Lease Agreement dated
[LEASE DATE] between [LANDLORD NAME] ("Landlord") and
[TENANT NAME] ("Tenant") for the property located at
[PROPERTY ADDRESS, UNIT NUMBER].
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1. PET INFORMATION
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Type/Species: __________ Breed: __________ Name: ____________
Color/Markings: _______________ Weight: _____ Age: __________
Spayed/Neutered: [ ] Yes [ ] No Vaccination records provided: [ ] Yes [ ] No
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2. FEES & DEPOSIT
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Pet Deposit: $__________ (refundable, subject to standard
security deposit deduction terms in the Lease)
Pet Fee: $__________ (non-refundable, if applicable)
Pet Rent: $__________ per month (if applicable)
Note: Fee and deposit amounts and structures are subject to
state and local law, which may cap the total deposit (inclusive
of any pet deposit) or restrict certain fee types.
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3. PET RULES
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- The pet identified above is the only pet permitted at the
Premises without Landlord's prior written consent.
- Tenant must keep the pet leashed/contained in common areas and
comply with all property and local leash/licensing laws.
- Tenant is responsible for prompt cleanup of pet waste on the
Premises and common areas.
- Tenant is responsible for any damage to the Premises caused by
the pet, beyond normal wear and tear, in accordance with the
Lease's security deposit terms.
- The pet may not be left unattended for extended periods in a
manner that causes excessive noise or disturbance to neighbors.
- Landlord may require the pet's removal from the Premises if it
poses a safety concern or repeatedly violates these terms,
subject to the notice and process required under the Lease and
applicable law.
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4. LIABILITY
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Tenant agrees to be solely responsible for the conduct of the
pet and any injury or property damage the pet causes, and to
maintain any pet liability coverage required under the Lease.
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5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
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This Addendum does not apply to service animals or emotional
support/assistance animals, which are governed by fair housing
law and are not subject to pet fees, pet rent, or breed/weight
restrictions under this Addendum.
Landlord Signature: ____________________ Date: _________________
Tenant Signature: ______________________ Date: _________________Charging pet fees to a service or assistance animal
This is one of the most common and highest-risk fair housing mistakes — service animals and documented emotional support/assistance animals are legally distinct from pets, and can't be charged a pet fee, pet rent, or deposit, or be subject to breed/weight limits.
Exceeding your state's deposit cap
Many states cap the total security deposit — including any pet deposit — at a set number of months' rent. Adding a separate pet deposit on top of an already-maximum security deposit can put you over the legal limit.
Breed restrictions that conflict with local law
A handful of cities and states restrict or prohibit breed-specific rules in rental housing — confirm your restriction is enforceable in your jurisdiction before relying on it.
No reference back to the master lease
A pet addendum that doesn't clearly reference and attach to the underlying lease can create ambiguity about whether it's actually part of the binding agreement.
No liability or damage clause
Without clear language making the tenant responsible for pet-caused damage and liability, disputes over deposit deductions for pet damage become harder to resolve.
Not updating the addendum when pets change
If a tenant gets a new pet or their existing pet is no longer present, an outdated addendum leaves you without documented consent for whatever animal is actually living in the unit.
LeasePilot HQ lets you turn on a pet addendum as part of lease generation, so it's automatically included, tracked, and stored with the rest of the lease documents.
Generate it from your real lease and tenant data, keep it filed with the property, and never dig through email for a copy again.
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