Updated October 2026. How to find and keep a pet-friendly apartment: what to ask, what fees to expect, how deposits come back, and the Florida rules for emotional support animals. Sources were read on October 28, 2026.
As of October 2026, the fastest way to rent a good pet-friendly apartment is to ask for the written pet policy before you apply, get every pet fee in the lease, and bring a short pet résumé. In Florida, a landlord with no claim must return your deposit within 15 days of move-out under Statute 83.49, and a pet deposit is still a deposit.
Jump to: 🏠 Finding one · 💲 Pet fees and deposits · 🤝 Support animals · 🪜 Living with a pet · 📍 Renting vs buying · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Ask for the pet policy in writing: species, breed and weight limits, number of pets, and every fee.
- Know the difference between a refundable pet deposit, a one-time pet fee and monthly pet rent.
- Florida Statute 83.49 gives landlords 15 days to return a deposit with no claim, or 30 days to send notice of a claim.
- Under Florida Statute 760.27, a landlord can’t charge extra for an approved emotional support animal.
A lot of listings say “pets OK” and mean “one cat under 15 pounds.” Others welcome big dogs but charge for it every month. The trick is to find out early, before you fall for a place or pay an application fee. Here’s how we’d go about it.
How do you find a truly pet-friendly apartment?
Filter for pets on rental sites, but treat the filter as a starting point, especially when you’re after a 2 bedroom house for rent with a yard. Then call or email and ask for the written pet policy. You want answers to a few specific questions.
- Which animals are allowed, and are there breed or weight limits?
- How many pets can live in one unit?
- What’s the deposit, the one-time fee and the monthly pet rent?
- Is there a dog run, a park nearby, or a pet washing station?
- Are floors carpet, tile or vinyl? Who pays to clean carpet at move-out?
Think about your animal’s daily life too. A large dog on the fourth floor with no elevator gets old fast. A cat might do better in a quiet unit away from the laundry room. Visit at different times of day if you can. You’ll hear the barking, or not.
Bring a pet résumé. One page with your pet’s age, breed, weight, vaccination dates, spay or neuter status, training, and a reference from a past landlord. It shows you take it seriously. It also answers the questions most managers ask anyway.
What pet fees and deposits should you expect?
There are three common charges, and some landlords use all of them.
| Charge | What it is | Comes back? |
|---|---|---|
| Pet deposit | Held against pet damage | Yes, minus documented damage |
| Pet fee | One-time, non-refundable charge | No |
| Pet rent | Added to monthly rent | No |
Amounts vary a lot by city and building, so compare the total over the lease, not just the deposit. A $300 deposit plus $35 a month in pet rent is $720 in the first year, and you only get the deposit back.
In Florida, deposits follow Statute 83.49. The landlord has to tell you in writing, within 30 days of receiving the money, how and where it’s held. When you move out, if there’s no claim, the deposit comes back within 15 days. If the landlord wants to keep some, they must send written notice within 30 days. You then have 15 days to object in writing. Always give your new address when you leave. Our guide to Florida landlords’ rights and duties covers both sides of the lease.
Move-in photos protect you. Take dated pictures of every floor, door and wall before your pet sets a paw inside. Do the same on move-out day.
What about service and emotional support animals?
They’re not pets under housing law, and different rules apply. Florida’s Statute 760.27, which follows the federal Fair Housing Act, says a person with a disability or a disability-related need may keep an emotional support animal as a reasonable accommodation once the landlord approves the request. The landlord may not charge extra for it.
The landlord can ask for reliable information if the disability or the need isn’t obvious, like a note from a health care practitioner who has personal knowledge of it. They can’t ask for your diagnosis or medical records. And the statute is clear that an online registration, ID card or certificate isn’t enough on its own. You’re still liable for any damage the animal causes.
Don’t try to pass a pet off as a support animal. It puts your lease at risk, and it makes life harder for people who really need one.
How do you keep a landlord happy once you move in?
Good habits are the best reference for your next rental. Pick up after your dog every time, on the property and off. Keep your pet on a leash in shared spaces. Use scratch posts and chew toys so the trim and carpet survive.
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Buy a home →A tired dog is a quiet dog. Plan walks before and after work, and look into a dog walker or day care if you’re gone long hours. Keep vaccines current and the vet records handy, since some buildings ask for proof every year. The AVMA’s tips on the health of your pets are a good checklist.
Plan for move-out from day one. Keep receipts for any professional carpet cleaning, patch small scratches as they happen, and replace a chewed blind before the walk-through. Ask your landlord for a move-out checklist a month ahead. When you hand back the keys, do the walk-through together if you can, and take your own photos of every room. That record, plus your move-in photos, is what settles a deposit dispute fast.
If you’re on the other side of the lease, our post on keeping your apartment ready for rent covers turnover between tenants. Renting with a thin credit file? See seven ways you can rent with low to no credit.
Is buying a home easier than renting with pets?
For many pet owners, yes. You set the rules, there’s no pet rent, and a yard can change a big dog’s life. You’ll still face HOA rules in some condos and communities, so read them before you make an offer.
When you start looking, our tips for house shopping with your pet and adapting a house for a large pet help you spot the right layout. Short on cash for a deposit? Read how to buy a house without a deposit.
The Beycome buyer program is open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents (the commission credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers). There’s no upfront fee. Beycome keeps 1% of the price, minimum $1,499, and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing with lender approval. On a $400,000 home with 3% offered, that’s $8,000 back, which can go toward closing costs.
Already own a home and moving? You can list it on the MLS for a flat fee with Beycome: Basic $99, Enhanced $399, $0 at closing. See the flat fee MLS packages.
Pet-friendly apartment questions people ask
What’s the difference between a pet deposit and a pet fee?
A pet deposit is refundable, minus documented damage. A pet fee is a one-time charge you don’t get back. Pet rent is a monthly add-on.
How long does a Florida landlord have to return a deposit?
Under Statute 83.49, 15 days if there’s no claim. If the landlord intends to keep part, written notice must go out within 30 days of move-out.
Can a landlord charge pet rent for an emotional support animal?
No. In Florida, Statute 760.27 says a person with an approved emotional support animal can’t be required to pay extra for it. You’re still liable for damage.
Is an online ESA certificate enough?
Not on its own. Florida law says an internet registration, ID card or certificate isn’t sufficient proof by itself.
What should a pet résumé include?
Age, breed, weight, vaccination dates, spay or neuter status, training, a photo, and a reference from a past landlord.
Deposit rules: Florida Statute 83.49. Emotional support animals: Florida Statute 760.27. Both read October 28, 2026. Other states have different deposit deadlines; check your state’s landlord-tenant law. General information, not legal advice.
Beycome prices as of October 2026. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; other closing costs and taxes still apply. Basic is $129 in California and Illinois. Buyer credit: minimum $1,499, lender approval, not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers.
Sources
- Florida Statutes, 83.49, Deposit money or advance rent, read October 28, 2026.
- Florida Statutes, 760.27, Emotional support animals in housing, read October 28, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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