# Dallas Apartment Breed Restrictions and Pet Fees > Dallas apartment breed restrictions, weight limits, pet deposits, fees and monthly pet rent vary by building. Here's what to ask and how it adds to your cost. URL: https://apartmentlocatordallas.com/guide/breed-restrictions-and-pet-fees/ Last-Modified: 2026-10-12 Reference guide # Dallas Apartment Breed Restrictions, Weight Limits and Pet Fees Dallas apartment breed restrictions differ from one building to the next, and so do pet fees. Restricted breeds, weight limits, deposits, and monthly pet rent are all set by each property. Here's how those charges add up in your total cost. Published August 2, 2026 3 min read ## Three charges, and only one is monthly Most listings say “pet friendly” and quote one number. There are usually three, so ask for all three before you tour. Our pet friendly locating [/pet-friendly/ →](/pet-friendly/) page explains each one. | Charge | When | Refundable | In monthly cost | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pet fee | Once, at move-in | No | No | | Pet deposit | Once, at move-in | Yes, minus any damage | No | | Monthly pet rent | Every month, per animal | No | Yes | Only the third belongs in the community fees [/guide/dallas-apartment-fee-stack/ →](/guide/dallas-apartment-fee-stack/) . With two animals, pet rent alone can change which building comes out cheaper. Some properties add a PetScreening fee, paid to an outside service that collects your pet’s records and checks breed and weight. That fee is separate from the other three. ## Breed and weight rules come from the building Texas law doesn't let cities pass dog rules aimed at one breed (Health and Safety Code Section 822.047), so Dallas has none. Individual properties and their insurers set the restricted breed lists. What varies between properties: - Which breeds and mixes are named - The weight limit: 50, 65, and 80 pounds are all common - How many animals you can have: usually one or two - Whether a second animal costs more each month than the first - Whether they want a pet interview or a reference from your vet None of this is set citywide, so guessing can cost you an application fee. We look up each property’s breed and weight rules for your pet before you apply, and tell you what we find. ## What to have ready - Current rabies certificate and vaccination record - A photo of the animal - Weight, breed or mix, and age - Your vet’s contact info, if the property wants a reference - A PetScreening profile if the property uses one Some properties register pet DNA so they can trace waste left on the grounds. That adds a fee you pay once. > **Service animals are not pets** > > Under the Fair Housing Act, a trained service animal isn’t treated as a pet. A property can’t charge a pet fee, pet deposit, or pet rent for one, and breed and weight limits don’t apply the same way. Emotional support animals are less settled: since a May 2026 memo, HUD only takes up complaints about animals trained to do a task, so an untrained one may not get the same pass. Texas Human Resources Code Section 121.003 covers service animals in housing. We don’t ask about disability. Tell us it’s an assistance animal, and we follow the law. ## Cats and other animals Weight and breed rules are mostly aimed at dogs. For cats, it’s usually only the pet fees and the limit on how many animals you can have. Some properties charge the same for a cat as for a dog. Other animals, like birds, reptiles, and small mammals, get handled differently from one property to the next. Tell us what you have, and we'll look into it. A pet addendum that doesn’t mention your animal isn’t the same as permission. ## What to check on the tour - Where dogs go to the bathroom, and how far that is from your unit at 6am - Whether there’s a dog run, and if anyone keeps it clean - Which floor, and whether the elevator makes four walks a day realistic - Hard floors or carpet, which changes how much of your deposit is at risk and how much noise travels ## Send the specifics Tell us the species, breed or mix, weight, age, and how many animals. Add your budget, move date, and the neighborhood or commute you need. We compare your pet with the rules we have on file for each property and send back the buildings that look like a fit. That’s our pet friendly locating [/pet-friendly/ →](/pet-friendly/) , and it’s free to you. Answers ## Questions about this What dog breeds are restricted at Dallas apartments? Each property sets its own list. The City of Dallas has no laws aimed at specific breeds. The list comes from the building and its insurer, and it changes from one management company to the next. How much are pet fees in Dallas? There are usually three: a pet fee you pay once and don’t get back, a pet deposit you can get back, and monthly pet rent for each animal. The amounts vary a lot from one property to the next. Do pet fees apply to service animals and emotional support animals? Not for a trained service animal: a property can’t charge pet fees, deposits, or pet rent for one. The rules for emotional support animals are less clear. Since a May 2026 memo, HUD only takes up complaints about animals trained to do a task. Tell us about the animal, and we'll look up each property's rules before you apply. ## Learn more about Pet Friendly Breed limits and pet fees explained, plus a calculator that adds pet rent to your monthly cost. Free to renters, with no credit pull. Read the Pet Friendly page [/pet-friendly/ →](/pet-friendly/) Get My List [/get-my-list/ →](/get-my-list/)