The first-year math
The median pet rent across the 15,936 communities that charge one is $30 per month, per pet. Add the median one-time fee of $300, and the typical first year of renting with one pet runs about $660 — before food, before the vet, and before the refundable deposit many buildings also collect.
None of that money protects the pet. Pet rent and fees compensate the landlord for wear and risk; a vet emergency is a separate, uncapped bill — which is the gap pet insurance exists to cover.
Who gets in: cats, dogs, and the two-pet cap
Of the 15,347 communities that state which animals they accept, 92% welcome cats and 81% welcome dogs. Most communities cap the household at 2 pets.
Weight limits: the big-dog problem, measured
4,245 communities in the dataset publish a dog weight limit, with a median cap of 50 lb. Here's the share of those communities whose cap admits a dog of each size:
In plain terms: a 40 lb dog clears about three-quarters of weight-limited buildings; an 80 lb dog clears about a quarter. That's why the practical rental question is hardest for owners of a German Shepherd or an Akita, and barely exists for a Yorkie.
City rankings
Every ranking below is limited to cities with a large enough sample to trust the number; n is the count of communities behind each figure.
Most dog-friendly cities
| City | Dogs allowed | n |
|---|---|---|
| Overland Park, KS | 100% | 116 |
| Dallas, TX | 100% | 445 |
| Houston, TX | 99% | 551 |
| Washington, DC | 98% | 131 |
| San Antonio, TX | 98% | 542 |
| Kansas City, KS | 98% | 104 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 97% | 122 |
| Plano, TX | 89% | 235 |
| Orlando, FL | 89% | 580 |
| Tampa, FL | 85% | 535 |
Least dog-friendly cities
| City | Dogs allowed | n |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | 45% | 209 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 45% | 195 |
| Cleveland, OH | 56% | 207 |
| Chicago, IL | 59% | 481 |
| Riverside, CA | 61% | 118 |
| San Diego, CA | 62% | 437 |
| Detroit, MI | 65% | 155 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 65% | 402 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 67% | 416 |
| Sacramento, CA | 69% | 238 |
Highest median pet rent
| City | Pet rent | n |
|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | $75/mo | 117 |
| Boston, MA | $75/mo | 166 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | $65/mo | 115 |
| San Jose, CA | $65/mo | 156 |
| Washington, DC | $50/mo | 340 |
| San Diego, CA | $50/mo | 340 |
| Riverside, CA | $50/mo | 72 |
| Oakland, CA | $50/mo | 94 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $50/mo | 227 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $50/mo | 301 |
Lowest median pet rent
| City | Pet rent | n |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta, GA | $20/mo | 86 |
| Mobile, AL | $20/mo | 53 |
| San Antonio, TX | $20/mo | 400 |
| Arlington, TX | $25/mo | 171 |
| Atlanta, GA | $25/mo | 386 |
| Austin, TX | $25/mo | 218 |
| Birmingham, AL | $25/mo | 135 |
| Charleston, SC | $25/mo | 106 |
| Charlotte, NC | $25/mo | 189 |
| Columbia, SC | $25/mo | 90 |
Strictest weight limits
| City | Median cap | n |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 30 lb | 46 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 35 lb | 210 |
| Sacramento, CA | 35 lb | 132 |
| El Paso, TX | 38 lb | 90 |
| Cleveland, OH | 42 lb | 76 |
| Memphis, TN | 45 lb | 95 |
| Portland, OR | 45 lb | 95 |
| San Diego, CA | 45 lb | 159 |
| Arlington, TX | 50 lb | 56 |
| Baltimore, MD | 50 lb | 110 |
By state
The same measurements, state by state, alongside what pet insurance costs there:
The fees protect the landlord
Protect the pet, too
Pet rent never pays a vet bill. Compare pet insurance quotes for your dog or cat in about a minute.
Methodology
SafeButler maintains a dataset of 37,330 U.S. apartment communities across 116 cities. 23,533 of them publish pet terms — pet policies, fee schedules, or both — and every figure in this report is computed from those published terms. All dollar figures are medians among communities that charge the given fee; acceptance shares are computed only over the 15,347 communities that state which species they accept; weight-limit figures cover only the 4,245 communities that publish a numeric limit. City rankings require a minimum sample per city. Published terms can lag leasing-office practice, and buildings that don't publish terms are not represented. Data as of July 2026.
Our articles are intended for informational purposes and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Our articles are not written or reviewed by insurance agents. Consult your policies with your agent or a professional for details regarding terms, conditions, coverage, exclusions, products, services, and programs.
SafeButler Inc. strives to ensure that the information on this site is up to date, but we will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. This site and all materials contained on it are distributed and provided "as is" and "as available" for use. SafeButler.com makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of this site or to the information, content, materials, or products included on this site. You expressly agree that your use of this site is at your sole risk.