Are There Breed Restrictions in Pet-Friendly Apartments?

Yes, there are often breed restrictions in pet-friendly apartments. But that’s not always the case.

Breed restrictions in rental units vary widely. Restrictions can vary depending on the city, landlord, management company, or even the property’s insurance provider. So, while an apartment may be listed and advertise itself as pet-friendly, that doesn’t always mean all pets or breeds are welcome.

Breed restrictions are most commonly applied to dogs, especially large or so-called “aggressive” breeds, such as pit bulls or dobermans. However, these rules aren’t universal and may be negotiable in some cases.

In this guide, we’ll explore what breed restrictions mean, why they exist, and how to work around them to find a truly pet-friendly apartment.

What Are Dog Breed Restrictions?

Breed restrictions are rules established by property managers or landlords that prohibit certain dog breeds (or mixes) from residing on the property. These restrictions often come from concerns over potential aggression, safety concerns, or insurance liability.

What’s the difference between breed restriction and size limits?

Breed restrictions prohibit specific breeds regardless of size or behavior. Size limits, on the other hand, are just restrictions on dogs of a specific size (typically by weight or height) that prohibit animals over that size from living there.

How Do Breed Restrictions Work?

Breed restrictions reflect a property manager's concerns about dogs that are potentially harmful to tenants, other dogs, or to the property itself. Landlords generally work within local laws as well as with their insurance agency to determine breed restrictions. By offering a blanket restriction on breeds, landlords hope to avoid incidents with aggressive dogs.

However, many animal groups have challenged the logic of breed restrictions, arguing that ownership style is a more important factor in aggression.

Common Breeds That Are Often Restricted in Rentals

Breed restrictions often target the following dogs:

• Pit Bulls (which includes American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bulldog)
• German shepherds
• Akitas
• Rottweilers
• Boxers
• Doberman pinschers
• Mastiffs
• Malamutes
• Cane corsos
• Huskies
• Chow chows
• Any wolf hybrid
• Great danes

The breeds listed above are some of the most targeted dogs. While there may be various reasons they’re targeted, it’s commonly due to stereotypes or misconceptions about aggression or size or it may be due to liability reasons.

Restrictions are not necessarily based on an individual dog’s behavior or temperament.

Common Myths & Statistics About Restricted Dog Breeds (And the Real Truth About Them)

Most myths about “dangerous” breeds are simply inaccurate. Here are the top myths pet owners face:

1. Myth: “Pit Bulls are naturally aggressive.”

Reality: Temperament is a dog-by-dog situation. The American Temperament Test Society reports that pit bulls pass the temperament tests at a higher rate than other popular breeds, such as golden retrievers or beagles.

American Pit Bull Terriers scored 87.6% on the ATTS temperament test, higher than Golden Retrievers (85.9%) and Beagles (80.5%) (American Temperament Test Society)

2. Myth: “Breed determines behavior.”

Reality: A 2022 study published in Science found that breed accounts for less than 9% of the variation in individual dog behavior. Environment and training are much bigger factors than breed.

3. Myth: “Large dogs are more dangerous.”

Small breeds are just as likely to bite as any other dog. Behavior issues and problems such as biting require proper training, no matter the size of the dog.

4. Myth: “Restricted breeds are more likely to attack people.”

There’s no consistent evidence that the most commonly restricted breeds are more likely to bite than other dogs. Reporting bias and media coverage often distort our perception of the data.

5. Myth: “All landlords restrict these breeds.”

Every landlord or rental management team is different, and many don’t have breed restrictions. Breed restrictions may be more flexible in smaller or privately owned buildings.

How Do Landlords and Property Managers Decide on Breed Restrictions?

While it may seem like there’s no logic to breed restrictions, there may be math or other thinking behind the maneuvers.

Business owners are often not considering how cute your dog looks in his onesie, and instead are considering any insurance or liability considerations they have if they allow certain breeds in their buildings.

There may be other factors to consider, such as an HOA with influence over details like dog breeds and any community rules restricting certain types of animals.

In each of these situations, those in charge are often attempting to balance tenant demand with risk management.

How Can You Find Apartments with No or Flexible Breed Restrictions?

The first step is to use a rental platform to filter for pet-friendly rentals. Apartment List has a great search function that allows you to filter by “pet-friendly” units. Other rental platforms, such as RentCafe, Apartments.com, and Zillow, offer similar features.

But when it comes to finding no or flexible breed restrictions? You’ll need to get a bit more creative. There are various resources that you’ll likely have to sift through to ensure your sweet pup can join you in your new home.

A great place to start is often local pet advocacy groups, which have on-the-ground intel of places where commonly restricted breeds can live in the area. You can also look for individually owned buildings, where they may be more flexible than larger companies.

How To Approach Landlords About Exceptions or Negotiations

If you want to improve your chances of landing a lease, there are a few things you can do:

• Make a pet resume: Put everything important or relevant to your dog in this resume. Get your vet records, training certifications, and a photo (so they can see how cute your dog is). You can even go the extra mile and obtain pet references from previous landlords.
• Purchase pet liability insurance: Signing up for pet liability insurance shows you’re prepared and take renting from future landlords seriously.
• Arrange a meet-and-greet: Some landlords just need to meet your dog before giving the green light. You can alleviate their fears during this meeting and show them how wonderful your dog is, and why they should definitely rent to you.

Are There Alternative Solutions If You’re Facing Breed Restrictions?

Yes, you can always try one of these workarounds if you’re dealing with breed restrictions.

Consider Pet Insurance or Liability Coverage

If you’ve almost gotten your foot in the door on a new rental unit and you just need one more thing to win a landlord or management team over, you can try investing in pet insurance or liability coverage.

These types of coverage can help you cover any unexpected costs when living in a rental. It can also help those around you, specifically landlords, feel more comfortable if something goes wrong. (Aka it assuages their fears).

Training and Certification Programs That Might Influence Landlord Decisions

If you’re struggling to find a rental because your dog is a “restricted breed,” there may be courses or certifications you can obtain to show the world (aka landlords and property management companies) how well-behaved your dog is.

The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification from the American Kennel Club is a 10-skill test that “teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners.” Other obedience training certificates typically come from individual dog training and obedience programs.

Provide References

Provide references for your pet from previous landlords, trainers, and veterinarians whenever possible. They can speak to your dog's behavior and ability to co-exist peacefully around people. The reference should also mention that you are a responsible pet owner who always follows best practices and caution with your pup.

Create a Dog Resume

A dog resume gives you the opportunity that speaks to your pet's best qualities and your responsibility as a pet owner.

Include their age, breed, weight, vaccination status, disclosure of past incidents, photo, and link to a video if possible. This way, your landlord can see your dog and get to know them before declining your apartment application.

Get Your Dog an Emotional Support License

Depending on your situation, you might convince your landlord to make an exception if your restricted breed is an emotional support animal.

Research local regulations on emotional support animals to see if there is a certification you can go through to make your dog more official. Some states require a certified letter from a qualified mental health professional.

Offer a Pet Deposit

If your landlord doesn't charge for pet deposits, suggest one. You can offer more than the standard amount to show confidence in your dog's peaceful behavior.

Get a Complete DNA Test

If your landlord is skittish because your dog looks like an aggressive breed, prove them wrong. Offer a complete DNA test providing a breed breakdown and information going back several generations.

Rent from Private Property Owners

You can simplify renting with dogs by going directly to private property owners. Look for apartment or condo owners, single-family homes for rent, and townhouses that are more likely to waive these restrictions.

Look Into Service Animal Certifications

The Fair Housing Act states that service animals of any breed cannot be banned simply because of potential behavioral issues, but only issues that have already happened. You may be able to file a complaint with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Final Thoughts on Breed Restrictions

There are ways to get around breed restrictions in apartments. You may also need to combine efforts, like providing a dog resume and offering a DNA test and deposit, to change their mind about renting with a pet.

The more organized and proactive you are during the process, the more likely the landlord will see you are a responsible dog owner and say yes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Breed Restrictions in Apartments

What is considered a large dog for apartments?

Landlords make individual determinations about what constitutes a large or small dog. However, most landlords set a limit of 20 to 50 pounds, which also coincides with the weight of many restricted breeds.

What is considered a small dog for apartments?

Most small dogs are 20 pounds or less, but restricted dog breeds are more about the weight limit. Your landlord may not care if you have a 50-pound dog, provided it's not on a restricted breed list.

How do apartments verify dog breeds?

Pet medical records are usually required to verify your dog's breed. Depending on your landlord, they may also need a DNA test.

Why do apartments have weight limits for dogs?

Weight restrictions are often in place to prevent property damage, noise complaints from other tenants, and unforeseen issues. For example, a large dog is more likely to intimidate tenants than a smaller one.

What states have breed restrictions?

Some cities and counties ban entire dog breeds, particularly pit bulls. To date, there are no state-specific bans. Some states prohibit breed-specific local ordinances, including:

• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Virginia

Remember, there's a difference between state-specific bans and apartment bans. Your city may not ban pit bulls, but your landlord can still restrict the breed from the building.

Can landlords legally ban certain breeds?

Yes, technically, landlords (in most states) are allowed to deny housing to those with certain types of dog breeds. The landlord or management company can decide what type of animals are permitted onto its property; therefore, they can reject certain breeds.

What if my pet is a mixed breed that looks like a restricted breed?

When it comes to breed restrictions, much of it is based on what dogs look like and the breed they appear to be. So if you have a mixed-breed dog that looks like a pit bull, you’ll likely face a lot of problems. In the same way, an owner of a full pitbull would.

Are breed restrictions more common in urban vs. suburban areas?

Breed restrictions are more commonly found in urban areas. Well, there may be stereotypes of prejudice, and it's significantly more common in larger cities, where local laws often restrict certain breeds.

How can I prove my pet’s good behavior to a landlord?

It would be great if your future landlord is willing to meet your pet before you move in, so you can show them how great your pet is! But, a lot of the time, that isn’t possible.

We recommend creating a pet resume to provide interested parties with information about your sweet, well-behaved dog.