About 59% of renters now have at least one pet, up from 46% in 2019. But finding a pet-friendly apartment is only half the battle -- the real surprise is how much that "pet-friendly" label actually costs. Between pet deposits, pet fees, monthly pet rent, and screening fees, having a dog in an apartment can add $700-$1,500+ to your first-year housing costs on top of what you are already paying for the animal itself.

Here is the full breakdown so you know exactly what to budget.

What Is the Difference Between Pet Deposits, Pet Fees, and Pet Rent?

These three charges sound similar but work very differently. Most renters confuse them, and some landlords count on that confusion.

Pet deposit -- a one-time, refundable payment held by the landlord to cover potential pet-related damage (stained carpet, scratched floors, chewed trim). If your pet causes no damage, you get it back at move-out. Average: $200-$500, with large cities averaging about $311 and small cities around $290.

Pet fee -- a one-time, non-refundable payment. You pay it when you move in and never see it again regardless of whether your pet causes any damage. Think of it as the price of admission for having a pet. Average: $150-$500, with the national average around $315.

Pet rent -- a recurring monthly charge on top of your base rent, specifically for having a pet. This is the one that adds up fast. National average: about $36/month, but urban markets charge $50-$75/month. About 72% of pet-friendly properties now charge monthly pet rent, up from 58% in 2018.

Many apartments charge a combination -- a pet fee or deposit upfront plus monthly pet rent. Some charge all three.

Charge Type	Average Cost	Refundable?	How Often?
Pet deposit	$200-$500	Yes	One-time
Pet fee	$150-$500	No	One-time
Pet rent	$25-$75/month	No	Monthly
Pet screening fee	$25-$30	No	Annual

How Much More Do Dogs Cost Than Cats?

Dogs consistently cost more than cats in apartment settings. Landlords charge more because dogs are more likely to cause damage (scratched doors, stained carpet, noise complaints) and pose liability concerns (bites).

Cost Category	Dog (Average)	Cat (Average)
Pet deposit	$300-$500	$200-$300
Pet fee	$250-$500	$150-$300
Monthly pet rent	$35-$75	$25-$40
Annual pet rent total	$420-$900	$300-$480
First-year housing premium	$720-$1,400	$450-$780

Some landlords vary pet rent by animal size -- $30/month for cats or small dogs under 25 lbs, and $50-$75/month for large breeds. A few charge per pet, so two cats could cost you $50-$80/month in pet rent alone.

What About Pet Screening Fees?

A growing number of apartment complexes use third-party pet screening services like PetScreening.com. The tenant pays $25-$30 per household (not per pet) to create a pet profile that includes vaccination records, behavioral history, and a risk assessment called a FIDO Score.

The screening fee is paid by the tenant, typically annually. Profiles for service animals and emotional support animals are free -- the screening service cannot charge for those under Fair Housing rules.

If your apartment uses pet screening, factor this into your annual costs. It is a small charge but one more line item most people do not expect.

What Are Common Breed Restrictions and Weight Limits?

Even "pet-friendly" apartments often come with significant restrictions. The most common limitations:

Weight limits. Most apartments that restrict by weight cap it at 25-50 pounds. Some luxury buildings go as low as 20 pounds. This eliminates most medium and large breeds.

Commonly restricted breeds:

Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes (most commonly restricted)
Rottweilers
Doberman Pinschers
German Shepherds
Akitas
Chow Chows
Wolf hybrids
Mastiffs
Great Danes

These restrictions exist for three reasons: breed-specific legislation in some cities, insurance company blacklists that buildings must follow, and individual landlord or management company policies. Even if your city has no breed ban, your landlord's insurance carrier may refuse to cover certain breeds, forcing the restriction.

If you have a restricted breed, your options narrow significantly. Look for private landlords (who often have more flexibility than large management companies), buildings that evaluate dogs individually rather than by breed, or properties that use temperament testing instead of breed lists.

What Are Your Rights with Service Animals and ESAs?

This is where federal law overrides apartment pet policies entirely. Understanding the distinction between service animals and emotional support animals matters because the protections are different.

Service animals are protected under both the ADA and the Fair Housing Act. A service animal is a dog (or in some cases a miniature horse) trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Landlords cannot charge any pet deposit, pet fee, or pet rent for service animals. Breed restrictions and weight limits do not apply. The landlord can only ask two questions: (1) Is this a service animal required because of a disability? (2) What task has the animal been trained to perform?

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are protected under the Fair Housing Act only -- not the ADA. An ESA provides comfort through companionship for a person with a documented mental or emotional disability. To qualify, you need a letter from a licensed mental health professional. Under the FHA, landlords cannot charge pet deposits, pet fees, or pet rent for ESAs, and breed and weight restrictions do not apply.

Important: HUD withdrew two key guidance documents on assistance animals in September 2025, which has created some uncertainty in how housing providers evaluate ESA requests. The Fair Housing Act protections still apply, but landlords may be less consistent in how they handle requests. Having a legitimate letter from a treating mental health professional (not an online certificate mill) is more important than ever.

ESAs do not have public access rights -- they are protected for housing only. Airlines are no longer required to accommodate ESAs on flights since the 2021 ACAA amendment.

What landlords cannot do for either category:

Charge pet deposits, fees, or rent
Apply breed or weight restrictions
Require a pet screening fee
Deny housing solely because of the animal

What landlords can do:

Request documentation of the disability and need for the animal
Hold you liable for any damage the animal causes (charged after the fact, not as a deposit)
Deny accommodation if the specific animal poses a direct threat to health or safety

How Do Pet Costs Vary by City?

Pet-related housing charges follow the same pattern as rent -- more expensive in high-cost markets.

City	Typical Monthly Pet Rent	Typical Pet Deposit	Total First-Year Pet Premium
New York City	$50-$100	$300-$500	$900-$1,700
San Francisco	$50-$75	$400-$600	$1,000-$1,500
Austin	$35-$50	$250-$400	$670-$1,000
Chicago	$25-$50	$200-$400	$500-$1,000
Phoenix	$25-$40	$200-$350	$500-$830
Atlanta	$25-$40	$200-$300	$500-$780

In New York City, some buildings charge $100/month per pet in pet rent. Over a 12-month lease, that is $1,200 in pet rent alone -- before the deposit or any fees.

What Is the Total Annual Cost of Having a Pet in an Apartment?

Here is a realistic first-year cost breakdown for a dog owner renting in a mid-cost city:

Expense	Annual Cost
Pet rent ($40/month)	$480
Pet deposit (one-time, refundable)	$300
Pet fee (one-time, non-refundable)	$250
Pet screening fee	$25
Total housing-related pet costs	$1,055
Pet food and treats	$600-$1,200
Veterinary care (routine)	$400-$800
Pet insurance	$400-$550
Supplies (bed, toys, crate, leash)	$150-$300
Total first-year cost	$2,605-$3,905

For subsequent years, remove the deposit and fee -- your annual housing-related pet cost drops to about $505 (pet rent + screening). But the pet rent never stops. Over a 3-year lease, $40/month in pet rent alone costs $1,440.

Cat owners can expect roughly 30-40% lower costs across most categories.

How Can You Reduce Pet Costs in a Rental?

Negotiate pet rent. Pet rent is often negotiable, especially in soft markets or during lease renewals. Offer a larger pet deposit in exchange for reduced or eliminated monthly pet rent. Some landlords will agree because a deposit gives them actual damage protection while pet rent is just profit.

Provide a pet resume. Seriously. Include vaccination records, spay/neuter documentation, training certificates, and a letter from your previous landlord confirming no pet damage. This makes you a lower-risk tenant and gives the landlord less reason to charge maximum fees.

Look for private landlords. Large management companies have standardized pet fee structures with no flexibility. Individual landlords often have more room to negotiate -- some charge no pet rent at all.

Check Colorado's cap. If you are renting in Colorado, state law (HB 23-1068) caps pet rent at $35/month or 1.5% of monthly rent, whichever is higher.

Get the right insurance. Some renters insurance policies cover pet liability (like dog bites) at no extra charge. This can help you negotiate lower pet deposits by showing the landlord you carry coverage already.

When you are comparing pet-friendly apartments, the listed rent is only part of the story. A place advertising $1,500/month with $50 pet rent, a $400 pet deposit, and a $300 pet fee has a very different true cost than one at $1,600/month with $25 pet rent and no deposit. RentCompare lets you factor in pet costs alongside every other expense -- rent, utilities, parking, insurance -- so you can see the real all-in monthly number for each apartment you are considering.

Pet-Friendly Apartments: The Real Cost of Having Pets in a Rental