Pet Addendum to a Lease Agreement Template

Use our pet addendum to let a tenant know the specific rules for having a pet on your property.

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Updated April 30, 2024
Written by Sara Hostelley | Reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

A pet addendum to a lease is a document expanding upon an existing lease agreement to allow the tenant to keep a pet.

Landlords use pet addendums when the tenant wishes to bring a pet into their home. In most cases, landlords write an addendum when the original lease has no clauses allowing or disallowing pets.

Can Landlords Charge Fees for Protected Animals?

According to 42 US Code § 3604(f) (the Fair Housing Act), a landlord can’t charge an emotional support animal fee because doing so would discriminate against a renter with a disability.

Furthermore, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act allow tenants to live with service animals without paying extra fees.

However, if the pet isn’t a service or emotional support animal, the landlord can charge any fee they’d like as long as it abides by the laws and regulations in their area.

What Is a Pet Addendum to a Lease?

A pet addendum to a lease agreement explains the conditions under which a tenant can keep a pet while living at a rental property. It’s a legal and binding contract between a landlord and the tenant, and the landlord adds it to the original lease agreement.

Because the landlord owns the rental, they have the final say in allowing the tenant to have a pet.

When to Use a Pet Addendum

Use a pet addendum to a lease to fulfill the following goals:

Benefits of a Pet Addendum

A landlord has the right to say no to pets, but they may agree to let pet owners bring their animals for various reasons.

Benefits

Key Elements of a Pet Addendum

A simple pet lease addendum will identify the following key elements:

Remember: Protected Animals

Please remember that tenants bringing animals to help with their physical or emotional disabilities shouldn’t be subject to a pet fee or pet rent.

Common Provisions

Here are some common provisions in a pet addendum to a lease:

Pet Addendum Sample

Download a pet addendum to a lease agreement in PDF or Word format below: