Why Pet Rent Is Becoming a Bigger Part of the Housing Bill

A pet-friendly label does not necessarily mean a pet-inclusive price. Monthly pet rent, upfront fees, and deposits can turn one line in a lease into a significant long-term expense.

Finding an apartment that welcomes a cat or dog can feel like a victory. Then the lease arrives—with a pet deposit, a nonrefundable fee, monthly pet rent, or some combination of the three.

The individual charge may look modest beside the apartment’s base rent. But because pet rent returns every month, a small fee can become a major expense over a multiyear tenancy.

Pet rent is not the same as a pet deposit

Pet-related charges generally fall into three categories, although the terminology and rules vary by location.

A pet deposit is normally a one-time, refundable payment intended to cover animal-related damage. If the lease conditions are met and the pet causes no damage beyond normal wear, the renter may be entitled to receive that money back.

A pet fee is usually a one-time, nonrefundable payment for permission to keep an animal in the home. Pet rent is different again: It is a recurring, nonrefundable charge added to the monthly housing bill.

Zillow says monthly pet rent commonly ranges from $25 to $100 per pet. That means a $50 monthly charge costs $600 a year—or $3,000 over five years—without accounting for an upfront fee or deposit. At properties that price the charge per animal, a second pet can multiply the expense. Zillow

This is why renters should not compare apartments using the advertised rent alone. The useful number is the total monthly housing cost, including mandatory pet charges, utilities, parking, insurance, and other required fees.

More renters now need pet-friendly homes

Pet costs matter to a growing share of the rental market. Zillow reported in 2025 that 58% of renters had pets, up from 46% in 2019. Its analysis of more than 11 million rental listings also found that pet-friendly properties were typically leased eight days faster than those that did not allow pets. Zillow Research

That demand gives pet-friendly housing genuine value. Renters may have fewer acceptable homes to choose from, particularly when listings also impose weight, breed, species, or number-of-pet restrictions.

Accepting animals can also benefit property owners by expanding the tenant pool and shortening vacancies. Owners may argue that additional charges compensate for cleaning, odor removal, flooring damage, landscaping problems, or greater administrative and insurance costs.

The tension is straightforward: Pets can make a rental more desirable, while the permission to keep one can become another separately priced feature.

The recurring charge is easy to underestimate

In Zillow’s 2025 renter survey, 49% of recent renters who had a pet said they paid a pet fee or pet rent. Among recent renters paying such a charge, 45% reported an amount between $40 and $59, while 12% reported $100 or more. The survey groups fees and rent together, so it should not be read as a precise measure of monthly pet rent alone. Zillow Research

It also does not establish that pet-rent rates are rising everywhere. The market varies too much by city, building type, landlord, animal, and local law for such a broad conclusion.

What the data do show is that pet-related charges affect a meaningful portion of renters. The cost feels especially large because it can be layered onto a security deposit, moving expenses, application fees, and the first month’s rent.

Unlike a refundable deposit, monthly pet rent does not build toward ownership or repayment. It ends only when the tenancy, the pet arrangement, or the lease terms change.

Local laws can change the calculation

There is no single rule covering every U.S. rental. Some jurisdictions allow broad discretion, while others limit the amount or type of pet-related charge.

Bellingham, Washington, offers one example of a local restriction. For qualifying leases entered into from August 1, 2025, the city allows landlords to charge either a refundable pet deposit of up to 30% of one month’s rent or periodic pet rent capped at 2% of monthly rent—not both. The ordinance also prevents the charge from being multiplied by the number of pets. City of Bellingham

That rule should not be assumed to apply elsewhere. Renters need to check the law where the property is located and read the proposed lease carefully.

Assistance animals are a separate legal category

In the United States, a service animal or qualifying emotional support animal is not treated simply as a pet under federal fair-housing protections.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development says tenants with a disability can request a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal. When the legal requirements are met, the tenant is not required to pay ordinary pet fees or deposits for that animal. Appropriate supporting information may be required when the disability-related need is not readily apparent. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

This protection should not be confused with purchasing an online “registration” or misrepresenting an ordinary pet. Renters who believe they qualify should use the legitimate accommodation process and consult HUD, a local housing agency, or a qualified housing professional if needed.

Calculate the pet’s full lease cost

Before applying, ask for every animal-related charge in writing. Confirm whether it is refundable, recurring, assessed per pet, and due before move-in. Also ask whether rent may change at renewal and whether the property has size or breed restrictions.

Multiply monthly pet rent by the full lease term, then add every nonrefundable fee. Keep refundable deposits separate in the calculation because they affect move-in cash even if they may eventually be returned.

A rental advertised at an attractive price can become less competitive once those expenses are included. “Pet-friendly” describes access, not affordability—and understanding that distinction before signing can prevent an unpleasant surprise every month.