Where to Find the Best Pet-Friendly Apartments

It’s 10:59 pm. You’re deep into a new season of Bridgerton, Fifi the cat is purring, and Fido the dog is snuggled at your feet. Then it hits you: you have to move in less than two months.

A new job in a new city means one thing: it’s time to find a new apartment for the whole crew. But as any pet parent knows, finding a pet-friendly apartment isn’t always easy.

And babe, you’re not alone. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 45.5% of U.S. households have a dog, and 32.1% have a cat; however, not every rental property allows pets, meaning the demand for pet-friendly units is fierce. Don’t worry, though; this guide will help you land the perfect pet-friendly apartment faster than Fifi can swat your mocktail off the kitchen counter.

The Rise in Pet-Friendly Apartments (and Why It Matters)

Demand for pet-friendly apartments has grown in the last few years. More Americans are adopting furry friends, as roughly 94 million U.S. households have at least one pet, surpassing the 82 million reported in 2023.

Many factors could be fueling the trend. From remote work, which means you can take better care of pets while working from home, to more cities investing in pet infrastructure like dog parks or pet-friendly public transit.

So, why the rise? Because there’s a steep growth in American pet ownership, and they also need a place to live.

What Are the Top Rental Platforms for Pet-Friendly Apartments?

Apartment List

On Apartment List, you can use the “pet-friendly” filter. Visit the site, narrow it down by city or region (if you have more flexibility), select “pet-friendly,” and scroll through the listings. You can also filter by your maximum or minimum budget.

Then take a quick quiz (about four minutes) and get matched with listings that meet both your budget and pet needs. It’s one of the most personalized search options out there, especially for multi-pet households.

Apartments.com

Pet owners can narrow down their search for apartments suitable for furry family members using special filters. On Apartments.com, scroll to “Pet Policy” and select from one of the options: Dog Friendly, Cat Friendly, or Dog and Cat Allowed. This tool will show only pet-friendly apartments for dogs or cats, depending on your selection.

RentCafe

When searching for an apartment on RentCafe, you can filter your results using pet-friendly filters. Type in the area you’d like to move to, then open the filters and scroll down to “Pet Policy”. From here, you can select Pet Friendly, Cats, Dogs, or No Pets. You’ll find listings clearly marked by pet type, and sometimes even by size or breed restrictions.

Realtor.com

Realtor.com has more to offer than just rentals, so you’ll first need to select “Rent”. Then type in an address, city, or neighborhood you’re interested in. From here, select “More” and click “Pet friendly”. You can choose from “Cats OK” or “Dogs OK” to filter for pet-friendly apartments.

Bonus mentions: Zillow, HotPads, and Padmapper also offer pet filters, but usability and accuracy vary by rental market in different locations.

Where Are the Most Pet-Friendly Cities?

If you’re open to relocating or have to move for a new job, some U.S. cities are more welcoming to pets than others.

Dallas and San Antonio follow closely, with 79% and 78% respectively. Charlotte, North Carolina, and Indianapolis also show up strong, offering a high share of welcoming rentals.

Looking at things from another angle—dog-friendly apartments per capita—Atlanta leads the pack. OneVet.ai and TotalVet found that Atlanta boasts more than 3,200 dog-friendly units per 100,000 people, making it one of the best cities for renters with dogs. Baltimore, Orlando, and Irving, Texas, also rank high, while cities such as Minneapolis and Richmond follow closely behind.

OneVet.ai / TotalVet / Veterinarians.org (Apartments.com, May 2023)

Whether you're moving for work, love, or wanderlust, it might be worth considering a city that makes life easier for pet parents, both in terms of listings and lifestyle.

What Strategies Work Best for Finding Pet-Friendly Rentals?

This ain't the 1900s, babes. No need for handwritten letters to a boarding house that doesn’t even allow goldfish.

Here’s how to use technology to your advantage to find the best pet-friendly apartments:

1. Use Advanced Filters

Become the ultimate user of technology. Advanced filters on rental websites are your new BFF.

You’re not just filtering for pets, you’re filtering for the right kind of apartment and amenities. Some properties accept cats but not dogs, or impose strict breed or size limits. Using these filters can help you avoid mistakes and point you in the right direction.

2. Set up Alerts

Turn on alerts for pet-friendly rental units. We recommend text updates if you’re trying to find a new place to live ASAP, and emails if you’re on a slower search. Rental units often snap up quickly, so text alerts can help you snag a unit before others.

3. Bookmark Your Favorites

Saving listings saves time. It also helps you compare amenities and fees quickly across multiple properties or units.

4. Use Map Tools

Allow map tools to guide you. Arm yourself with the knowledge of where you want to move to. Ideally, look at safety, affordability, and pet-friendliness to help you find your new rental.

5. Create a Renter “Pet Package”

Create a folder with documents you might need to convince a landlord/management company to sign a lease with you. Particularly, pet owners with senior pets or animals with special needs.

What should you gather? Current vet records with vaccination information. Any other relevant information, such as pet insurance, renters insurance, or other types of insurance that may cover costs if something related to your pet happens.

What’s the Best Way To Talk to Landlords and Property Managers?

Even if the listing says “pets allowed,” the landlord still has the final say. The key is to make it easy to say yes.

Top tips to convince the landlord and property managers to rent to you:

1. Time Your Inquiries

Timing is everything, and we’re not just talking about romantic relationships. If you’re speaking with a landlord or company, inquire about their pet policies early in the conversation.

Questions to ask: What’s included in the rent? Will you have to pay a pet deposit? Do they allow emotional support animals, etc?

Timing could also benefit you if you’re willing to rent during periods of low demand. Typically, winter is a less popular time for signing leases, so they may be willing to accept your application if you’re willing to move into a unit to keep their rental cash flowing.

2. Know How To Present Yourself

Come on strong with a pet resume. (Include a photo!) Yes, a pet resume, detailing everything a potential landlord needs to know about Fifi and Fido. How calm they are, what their favorite activities are, how committed you are to talking to them on multiple walks a day, so no walls get destroyed, etc. Show them how committed you are to being a pet parent, and let’s be honest, everyone loves a good story. So sell it.

Present training certificates that show you have well-behaved, mannered, and overall wonderful they are. Oh, and the more certificates, the merrier.

3. Meet and Greets

If a potential landlord or management team is undecided about your furry family member, consider offering to have a meet-and-greet. We have no notes here as it’s pretty self-explanatory. You’ve got this.

Negotiation Tactics & Legal Know-How

Before signing a lease, familiarize yourself with the local laws in your new city.

Read up on laws related to pet owners and tenant rights. What you can look for in your new city or region:

• Are there any breed bans?
• Service animals - what’s legally required and allowed vs. what isn’t?
• Emotional support animals (same as above)

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to convince a landlord to rent to you, a slight push, such as offering to pay a pet deposit or adding a pet clause to the contract, may help you land the unit.

Other options include offering to get liability insurance to cover any unforeseen costs.

About Finding Pet-Friendly Apartments

What’s the difference between pet rent and a pet deposit?

Pet rent is a monthly fee included in your rent every month, while a pet deposit is a one-time, non-refundable fee you pay before moving in.

Are breed and weight restrictions negotiable?

Sometimes, but honestly, this depends on where you’re renting from and their policies, as well as how flexible they are.