{"id":142284,"date":"2025-10-20T05:26:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?page_id=142284"},"modified":"2025-12-09T04:16:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T12:16:41","slug":"pet-friendly-housing-statistics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/pet-friendly-housing-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet-friendly renting statistics for renters and their pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Last updated October 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Join us as we dive into the world of renting with pets in 2025 \u2014 a world that\u2019s growing quickly, carries higher stakes than many expect, and often brings additional costs along the way. This is a page dedicated to a statistical overview of pet-friendly rentals in the U.S. and how the trends shaping the market shift thanks to the huge surge in pet ownership. We’re looking for where the markets are adapting, what exact costs to factor in, and some legal aspects that can actually save renters time and money.<\/p>\n

We’re seeing a fundamental shift here, driven by basic economics, with around 94 million U.S. households owning at least one pet. This increase in pet ownership has created a powerful economic incentive for landlords. They know they can gain a competitive and financial edge from catering to this demographic and renting pet-friendly apartments.<\/p>\n

However, despite clear benefits, there’s still a noticeable supply gap. Across the United States, around 80% of rental apartments allow pets. What’s more, renters needs to spend extra for pet-friendly apartments, typically paying around $34-$37\/month in pet rent and $287-$311 as a deposit or around $300 as a one-time fee. However, in that sum, there are sometimes additional amenities that can make life easier for both pets and pet owners. Let’s unpack the information.<\/p>\n

Contents<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n
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  • Pet-friendly housing availability<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Pet-related renting costs: rent, deposit, fees<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Pet-friendliest cities<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Pet-related restrictions in rentals<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Pet-related amenities in rentals<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Context: Pet ownership statistics<\/a><\/li>\n
  • FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    For specific advice for renters, our Renting with Pets Guide<\/a> contains information about moving with pets, pet-proofing rentals, training pets for apartment living, and advice from vets and specialists on key aspects.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Methodology <\/em><\/h3>\n

    For this page, we have analyzed the properties on RentCafe.com<\/a>, checking for the availability of pet-friendly properties, the costs associated with renting with pets, the restrictions that apply, and the pet-specific amenities that are listed on the properties. For the page, the terms we have used refer to:<\/p>\n

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    • Pet-friendly:<\/em> rental apartment that allows at least one common pet (dog\/cat).<\/li>\n
    • Pet rent:<\/em> monthly surcharge per apartment or per pet.<\/li>\n
    • Pet deposit:<\/em> one-time fee that is refundable.<\/li>\n
    • Pet fee:<\/em> one-time fee that is non-refundable.<\/li>\n
    • Amenities: <\/em>pet-related benefits for renters, such as\u00a0on-site dog park, pet wash, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      We analyzed listings at city, state, and region levels. We considered small cities those with a population under 100,000, mid-size cities with a population between 100,000 and 300,000, and large cities those over 300,000. <\/span>Besides our proprietary data, we have included information about pet ownership and adoption, as well as emotional support and service animals, from external sources.<\/p>\n

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      \n      <\/a><\/p>\n

      What percentage of US apartments allow pets?<\/h2>\n

      In the U.S., as more people have become pet-owners, the rental industry has adapted, and now, around 80% of the properties listed for rent are pet-friendly, meaning they allow at least one pet (Source: RentCafe.com<\/a> analysis of proprietary data). When looking at the distribution by regions, we can see where this adaptation is strongest. The South and Midwest are neck and neck, with 82.98% and 82.94% share of pet-friendly apartments from total listings, respectively.<\/p>\n

      Diving one level deeper, at state level, Oklahoma has the highest share of pet-friendly properties, with 92.77% of all apartments in the state allowing pets. It is followed by Nevada with 92.16% and Arkansas with 91.23%.<\/p>\n