An Apartment Renter’s Guide to Dog Adoption

Adopting a dog can be more challenging when you rent because many landlords have strict rules about dogs. If you adopt a dog while already living in a rental, you might have to pay a pet deposit, and your monthly rent could even increase if your landlord charges pet rent. Additionally, landlords commonly have restrictions or limitations on a dog’s breed and size, as well as the number of pets you are permitted to have in your home. 

TL;DR: Renting with a dog can involve breed restrictions, size limits, noise concerns, as well as pet deposits (often $300 to 800) and/or monthly pet rent ($50 to 150). This process is easier if you have a well-trained, smaller, quieter breed with no known bite history, and if you can provide vaccination records, training certificates, and proof of liability insurance. 

Tips for renting with a dog

Before starting your dog-adoption search, review your lease, speak to your landlord, and learn about the costs associated with having pets in your home. Never adopt a pet without discussing them first with your landlord. Even if your rental agreement says pets are allowed, you should get permission before bringing home a dog. 

Review your lease’s terms

Check your lease to see if there is a pet policy that outlines if dogs are allowed and, if so, the breeds, sizes, and number of dogs permitted. If your lease includes a pet policy, clarify the type of pet deposit required and if monthly pet rent will be charged. 

Speak with your landlord before adopting

Many renters are understandably nervous about approaching their landlord for permission to adopt a dog — but this is a crucial step and should happen before you adopt. Even if your lease includes a clear pet policy, you still need to get permission from the landlord to adopt a pet.

Related article

Renting With Pets: What to Know Before You Sign a Lease

Considering renting with pets? Read more to learn about renter policies and how to navigate them.

If the lease does not include a pet policy, ask your landlord to provide details — in writing — of what the policy entails, including what is not allowed. You must have all this information sorted out before adopting a pup, so you don’t get yourself and your dog into a sticky situation with your landlord. The safest way to protect yourself is to ask your landlord for a lease addendum that includes a pet policy and outlines the fees that will be charged. 

Prepare for pet rent or pet deposits

Landlords usually charge extra fees when renters have pets. Pets often cause more general wear and tear on homes, sometimes damaging carpets, flooring, walls, and other parts of the home due to potty accidents, chewing, scratching, fleas, and so on. Pet fees are intended to pay for additional cleaning and/or repairs that a landlord might need to perform on a rental unit after a pet has lived there. 

Some common pet fees to be aware of include: 

• Refundable pet deposit (similar to a security deposit, which might be returned if no damage occurs)

• Nonrefundable pet fee (one-time fee that’s paid upfront but not returned)

• Pet rent (monthly fee that’s tacked onto your rent)

Some states have limits on pet deposits and fees. For instance, a state might have a maximum amount that can be charged, or require that all pet deposits be refundable. To learn about the laws where you live, check your state attorney general’s website for information regarding rental security deposits. 

Pet-deposit fees and pet rent for dogs will vary quite a bit, but here’s an average:

• Pet deposit (refundable): $100 to $500 per pet

• Pet fee (nonrefundable): $100 to $500 per pet

• Pet rent: $10 to $100 per month, per pet

Get a permission letter from the landlord

If your landlord says you have permission to adopt a dog — and if you are OK with the required pet deposits, fees, or additional rent that will be charged — ask for a written letter from your landlord stating that you are allowed to have a dog. Many animal shelters and rescue groups want to see a written pet-permission letter from the landlord (that states the renter is permitted to have a dog) before moving forward with an adoption.

Collect relevant information for your landlord

It’s common for landlords to request certain documentation prior to officially adding a pet to a lease. Some information you might be asked to provide includes:

• Vaccination records

• Spay-neuter certificate

• Copy of a pet license and/or registration

• Proof of renters’ insurance

• Training certificate or training-course signup

• Photo of the dog (to confirm their breed and size)

Related article

How Much Space Does a Dog Need to Be Happy?

Dogs need space to live their best lives, but how much is enough?

Can any dog be an apartment dog?

If you’re renting a smaller home, such as an apartment or condo, it’s a good idea to think about the best dog breeds for apartments before starting your adoption search. Some dogs are better-suited to apartment living than others, so consider the following traits prior to falling in love with a dog.

Size

Small- to medium-sized dogs are usually the best dogs for apartments, but some larger, low-energy dogs can live happily in an apartment. Giant breeds are not good choices for small spaces. Always check your lease’s pet policy or ask your landlord to find out if there are any weight limits on approved dogs.

Activity level

Steer clear of very active dogs who need hours of daily exercise to be calm and well-behaved indoors. Dogs with low-to-moderate energy levels will be happiest in smaller homes without yards.

Barking

Dogs who bark a lot in response to sounds are not the best choices for apartment living, where many neighbors are nearby — whether sharing walls, or living above or below your unit. Excessive barking can cause problems with neighbors and landlords.

Breed

Many breeds and mixed breeds are suitable for apartment living, as long as a dog’s size, energy level, and tendency to bark are within the limits described above. Be sure to check your lease’s pet policy or ask your landlord about any breed restrictions. 

Protecting your security deposit

If your landlord charges a refundable pet deposit, there are steps you can take to increase the odds that you’ll get that deposit back when your lease ends. Pets tend to accelerate the wear and tear in a home, and they sometimes cause damage that, if not repaired, could prevent you from getting your deposit back. 

Prevent damage

Dogs can exhibit destructive behaviors such as digging, chewing, or house-soiling if they are bored, have pent-up energy, or are nervous when left home alone. Set up your new dog for success by enrolling them in training classes, providing an appropriate amount of daily exercise (generally one to two hours a day), and utilizing dog walkers or pet sitters if you work long hours. 

Limit wear and tear 

Most dogs can shed, drool, or bring mud into the house — all of which contribute to excessive wear and tear on carpets, flooring, walls, and other places in your home. Although you can’t eliminate the mess completely, regular cleaning and maintenance go a long way. 

Consider these tips.

• Take move-in photos: Use a camera to document any damage or wear that existed prior to your dog moving in. Share those photos with your landlord, so they can’t later claim that damage or wear was caused by your new pet.

• Use air purifiers: These systems filter out pet hair and dander, and help control pet odors. Some air purifiers are specifically intended for homes with pets.

• Keep up on regular cleaning: Vacuum, mop, and wipe down floors, walls, and baseboards regularly, especially in high-traffic areas and places your dog spends a lot of time. Address any pet-related wear immediately. Spot-clean carpets with a hand-held carpet cleaner (some are made specifically for pet homes). 

• Professional cleaning: Consider hiring professional cleaners periodically (or at move-out time) to keep things in good shape.

Related article

Can a Landlord Make You Get Rid Of Your Dog?

Your legal responsibilities as a renter

Be a conscientious pet parent when it comes to your lease rules, your neighbors, and house maintenance. 

• Lease compliance: Follow all pet-related lease terms, including honoring limits on size, breed, and number of pets allowed. 

• Neighbor consideration: Make sure, to the best of your ability, that your dog doesn’t disturb your neighbors. You can do this by managing your dog’s barking, keeping them securely enclosed in your yard, and leashing them when heading out for walks.

• Property maintenance: Do your best to prevent or minimize any pet-related damage. If damage occurs, address it promptly.

• Insurance: Consider purchasing renters’ insurance that protects you if your dog hurts someone or damages property. Some companies offer a pet-damage rider you can add to your policy that covers damage your dog causes to your rental unit. 

What if my landlord isn’t pet-friendly? 

If your lease agreement specifies no pets, you can attempt a respectful negotiation with your landlord. Sometimes, a landlord might be open to renting to the right tenant with the right pet. 

Share with them the type of dog you’re hoping to adopt and the steps you will take to be a good tenant. (This may include training the dog, providing appropriate daily exercise, regularly cleaning up after them, and addressing any pet-related wear in the home.) If you’ve previously had pets, share reference letters from past landlords, neighbors, or a veterinarian who can attest to you being a responsible pet parent. 

If your landlord does not grant you permission, but you have your heart set on adoption, consider searching for other rental units that do allow pets. Do not secretly adopt a dog. This can lead to you having to surrender or rehome your pet, or the loss of your home through a termination of your lease. 

What if I need an emotional support animal?

Pet parents with certain mental-health conditions or emotional disabilities can get emotional support animals (ESAs). These pets help reduce pet-parent anxiety and stress, loneliness, improve symptoms of depression, and provide many other emotional benefits. To qualify for an ESA, you must obtain a diagnosis from a licensed mental-health professional and a written statement from them that says an emotional-support animal helps with your condition. 

The right of a tenant with a disability to have an emotional support animal is protected under the Fair Housing Act. If you qualify for an emotional support animal, you are generally allowed to have the pet even if your lease has a no-pets policy — as long as the animal is not aggressive or destructive. 

Commonly asked questions

How much is a pet deposit?

A pet deposit typically costs $100 to $500 per pet, but this varies depending on where you live, your landlord and/or lease agreement, and the type of home you rent.

Is it OK to have dogs in apartments?

Yes, it is OK to have dogs in apartments as long as their sizes, activity levels, and barking tendencies mesh well with apartment living. Generally, small- to medium-sized dogs, with low to moderate activity levels, who don’t bark a lot do best in apartments. 

How do apartments verify dog breed?

Apartments verify dog breed through photos, veterinary records, adoption records, registration papers (for purebred dogs), and sometimes DNA tests.

References

“Adopt a Pet: Maricopa County, AZ.” www.maricopa.gov, www.maricopa.gov/214/Adopt-a-Pet.

‌“Buying a Pet.” Sa.gov, 2025, www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/ACS/Caring/Resources/Buying.

‌College, Dallas. “Pets, Rentals, & the Fair Housing Act: What You Need to Know.” Accessible Law, 2 May 2020, www.accessiblelaw.untdallas.edu/post/pets-rentals-the-fair-housing-act-what-you-need-to-know.

“Community Care College.” Community Care College, 3 Apr. 2023, communitycarecollege.edu/veterinary-assistant/pet-adoption.‌

“FAQs: What Are the Requirements to Adopt an Animal?” ca.gov, 2023, www.contracosta.ca.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=523. 

‌Fair Housing Information Sheet # 6 Right to Emotional Support Animals in “No Pet” Housing. ubwp.buffalo.edu/ccny/wp-content/uploads/sites/70/2017/06/Fair-Housing-Information-Sheet-6-Bazelon-Law.pdf. 

“Truth in Renting: A Guide to the Rights and Responsibilities of Residential Tenants and Landlords in New Jersey.” sites.rutgers.edu/fssth/wp-content/uploads/sites/665/2021/12/Truth_in_Renting.pdf.