# Pet fees for apartments: how widespread? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330 "2009-08-22T18:26:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/1 "2009-08-22T18:26:29Z")
We are in the midst of thinking about moving again, and I’m just curious–how common is it in your area for there to be monthly/yearly fees for pets in apartments? My partner was raised in California, lived in Texas, Louisiana and Virginia, and claims she never encountered this fee until moving to Washington DC. Around here, it’s not uncommon for there to be an initial fee tacked onto your lease per pet, plus a monthly fee (can be around $200 for the initial fee, plus $20-50 per month). So is this strictly a DC thing, or is it more widespread than that? ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/2 "2009-08-22T18:53:48Z")
I’ve lived in several midwest cities where monthly pet fees were the norm for those places that allow pets. I have searched around for places that only ask for a one-time pet deposit fee. In my experience the one time deposit is somewhat less common but in my opinion is much more reasonable. It’s conceivable that my cats might damage the carpet or something enough that they would need to pay for repairs out of the deposit, but the cats certainly aren’t going to trash the apartment so much to justify asking for an extra $10-$25 every month. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/3 "2009-08-22T18:58:28Z")
In the Des Moines area, it’s very common to see deposits. Monthly fees are not unknown. I tried to find apartments that allowed cats without charging what I felt were ridiculous fees (e.g. $50/month on a $600/mo apartment, with a $500 pet deposit) and most places were in pretty poor repair. Renting with a dog is even harder and locks you in to old and, typically, overpriced places. With a large dog, we had to avoid anything with an apartment management company and just rented from a guy who had a few properties that he advertised on Craigslist. In this case, he wanted a $1000 extra pet deposit, but we convinced him to take $50 extra per month in rent (on a $1200/mo house) in lieu of deposit. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/4 "2009-08-22T18:59:36Z")
I paid a pet deposit when I lived in TX. In NY I’ve not run into one yet. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/5 "2009-08-22T19:04:13Z")
Pet fees were new to me when we moved to Madison this year. We pay an extra $20/month for our cat, and I really have no idea why. Every apartment here that takes pets seems to have a monthly pet fee, usually from $15 to $50 depending on the animal. A deposit would make sense, but I don’t understand this “pet rent.” ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/6 "2009-08-22T22:13:35Z")
In Chicago I’d say there about 50/50, for every place with a fee you see one without a fee. I also agree the ones without fees tend to be older building or places with landlords living on properties. I’ve seen them from $25.00/month to $100 and up for a one time non-refundable pet fee. The one’s I’ve seen always seem to be non-refundable, unlike your security deposit. ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/7 "2009-08-22T23:18:08Z")
In projects in Maine it’s common for cats to have to have yearly rabies and distemper shots. Dogs must be licensed, proof of shots and it’s not uncommon to pay a one-time refundable fee of $200. In private rentals you can find landlords that aren’t so picky. Never ran into it in other states, just limits on how many pets and most places won’t take dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/8 "2009-08-22T23:23:31Z")
I live in Mississippi, and my apartment complex charges a pet fee; I forget how much, but I have a vague impression it’s fairly hefty. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/9 "2009-08-23T00:07:29Z")
Wisconsin Yes there are pet fees. Why? Because pets do cause extra wear on the place and there is a of places that will take a pet, so they can ask more. There are places that will ask more if you have extra people in the place too. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/10 "2009-08-23T00:47:47Z")
I’ve lived in central and northern Califorina all my life and it’s almost impossible to find an apartment that will take ANY pets (except caged ones) for any price. You can rent houses, sometimes, with a deposit. I’ve never heard of a higher monthly fee, but apratments are almost impossible to find at any price. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/11 "2009-08-23T01:24:47Z")
Here in Tucson, pet fees are becoming more common. I’ve lived in 2 places that charged an extra deposit ($50, I think) and about $20 extra per month for a large-sized dog. (Very mellow and well-behaved for a big dog.) It seems places are becoming more willing to charge a fee and allow dogs than to not allow dogs, but take in nothing extra for it. ---
**Author:** ![happiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@happiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happiness)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/12 "2009-08-23T01:52:44Z")
In the Atlanta area, most of the places I’ve looked at have either one-time fees or a pet deposit. For the most part, they seem to range from $250 to $800, at least in my area. I have never seen any that have a monthly fee. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/13 "2009-08-23T01:57:01Z")
I’ve lived in Gainesville (FL), Baton Rouge (LA), and Athens (GA). In all of them, most apartments or places for rent had the following rules regarding pets: 1. No PETS allowed. No exceptions. 2. Pets allowed, but with the following fees: a. A one time pet deposit, somewhat hefty, nonrefundable. b. A monthly fee. c. Both. In Gainesville I lacked a pet, in Baton Rouge, I was lucky to live in houses where the landlords didn’t charge for pets, and in Athens I payed the one time $175 fee for my pet dog. Good investment, as I don’t have to pay any other fee related to her and I intend to keep living on that place for at least 2-3 more years. I’m surprised that the person who lived in Louisiana never encountered the pet fees. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/14 "2009-08-23T03:35:52Z")
Not far off, but I’ve never NOT had to pay one, in the Virginia 'burbs. And that’s just for a fish tank. (I never tell them it’s a 100 gallon tank, Im sure they are picturing a little 10 gallon.) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/15 "2009-08-23T03:50:08Z")
I believe at my last apartment there was an extra deposit, maybe $100 or so, but no fee per month. But we had to have a $1 million insurance on the dog. It was only about $7 a month for that, no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/16 "2009-08-23T15:27:24Z")
Around here, I’ve noticed that most of the places I’ve looked either charge a pet rent (extra $25 or so a month) or ask for an extra pet deposit when the lease is signed. My current place had a non-refundable pet deposit, but that covers all pets I’ll ever have as long as I’m here. ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/17 "2009-08-23T15:53:00Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a landlord that didn’t want at least a pet deposit (sometime refundable, sometimes not). I’ve lived in apartments in Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/18 "2009-08-23T16:24:28Z")
Interesting. In Ontario, landlords may not ask for any kind of “pet deposit”, “security deposit”, or “key deposit” or anything similar. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/19 "2009-08-23T17:08:32Z")
Pet fees are pretty common in MD, DC, PA, and WV, at least in areas where I’ve lived. Some charge for fish tanks, some don’t. Most of the people I’ve known with fish tanks haven’t declared them to their landlord. Our building lease at work forbids fish tanks. I can’t even have a goldfish bowl on my desk (not that I want one). ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330/20 "2009-08-23T17:29:28Z")
For the most part, Pensacola, FL rentals either prohibit pets or charge a non-refundable deposit. Some apartments do require an additional monthly fee. I can understand an additional monthly fee. Pet owners take the animal outside to relieve themselves. The same pet owners may not clean up the mess. Also the complex manager is going to have to deal with fleas from less-than-desirable hygiene maintained by some pet owners. So all pet owners take a hit for the bad ones. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-fees-for-apartments-how-widespread/507330.md?page=2)