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 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. 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, and it’s free to you.