Fifteen major US apartment operators, including Greystar, AvalonBay, and MAA, publish dog policies below, but most set the fee, deposit, and breed list per property, not company-wide. Expect a $250-$600 one-time fee, $20-$85 monthly pet rent, and a roughly $300 average deposit (RentCafe, 2025). Breed restrictions are the real deal-breaker; always get the restricted list in writing before you apply. See our pet policy statistics for how this compares across trucking, airlines, hotels, and apartments. Looking for an on-site dog park? Many large operators now build them in -- see the FAQ below. Moving an older parent with a dog instead? See our assisted living communities that accept dogs.
Quick picks by situation
- Have a restricted breed? MAA is the only operator here advertising no breed restrictions company-wide. Camden restricts Pit Bull-type breeds only.
- Big dog (80+ lbs)? MAA and Camden publish no weight limit. Cortland caps dogs at 80 lbs, Bell Partners around 75 lbs.
- Three pets? Camden allows up to 3 per apartment; Invitation Homes and Progress Residential (single-family rentals) take 3 too.
- Want your deposit back? Essex takes a refundable deposit (up to $500 for 2 pets); Cortland, MAA, and UDR charge non-refundable fees instead.
All picks come from the verified table below. Policies are set per community — confirm with the leasing office before you apply.
✓ Policies verified August 1, 2026 Every row links to its source. Policies change — confirm with the company before you commit.
| Company | Deposit / fee | Weight limit | Max pets | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greystar | Fee/rent not published company-wide -- set per community | — | 2 (must be 6+ months old) | Official policy ↗ |
| Breed rules: Alaskan Malamute, Belgian Malinois, Boxer, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Doberman, German Shepherd, Husky breeds, Pit Bull breeds, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Terrier, Wolf Hybrid Conditions: Largest US apartment manager. Animals assisting people with disabilities are exempt from the pet policy. Policies vary community to community -- confirm with the leasing office. | ||||
| AvalonBay Communities | Fee/rent not published company-wide -- set per community | — | 2 (cats/dogs) | Official policy ↗ |
| Breed rules: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Argentine Dogo, Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, Doberman, Fila Brasileiro, German Shepherd, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, Wolf Hybrid Conditions: Runs a branded pet program ("WAG"). Other species (ferrets, snakes, livestock, reptiles) restricted; contact the community for exceptions. | ||||
| Camden Property Trust | Varies by community | None -- Camden removed its 60-lb cap company-wide | Up to 3 per apartment | Official policy ↗ |
| Breed rules: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixes, plus any breed a community deems aggressive Conditions: Confirmed weight-limit removal via 2 independent National Apartment Association reports. "Every community is a little different -- check with the leasing office" (Camden's own wording). | ||||
| Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA) | One-time non-refundable pet fee + monthly pet rent, amount set per community (examples seen: $325-$525 fee, $12-$30/mo rent) | None stated | 2 per household | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: None -- MAA advertises "No Breed Restrictions" company-wide Conditions: No breed restrictions and no weight limit stated as headline policy on MAA's own site; fee/rent dollar amounts differ by community. | ||||
| Cortland | ~$300-$350 first pet (non-refundable); no separate refundable deposit -- Cortland points residents to a third-party deposit-alternative product instead | 80 lbs | 2 cats or dogs | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: Rottweiler, Chow, Presa Canario, Doberman, Akita, Pit Bull (incl. American/Staffordshire Bull Terrier), Cane Corso, Mastiff breeds Conditions: Fee, rent ($30-$40/mo) and breed list confirmed identical across 3 independent Cortland community FAQ pages. Service animals welcome, exempt from the weight limit. | ||||
| Bell Partners | $0-$500 one-time fee and $0-$500 deposit; $20-$75/mo pet rent -- all set per community | ~75 lbs (varies by community) | 2 (some communities allow 3) | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Partial Breed rules: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Chow, Doberman, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Husky, Wolf Hybrid, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Beauceron, Belgian Malinois, St. Bernard Conditions: Breed list and weight limit confirmed across 6+ Bell-branded community pages. Restricted breeds are allowed as assistance animals; fees/limits explicitly stated to vary by location. | ||||
| UDR, Inc. | $0-$600 non-refundable fee, $30-$85/mo pet rent -- amounts confirmed across 6 UDR community FAQ pages, set per property | — | Set per property | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Chow-Chow, Doberman, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Pit Bull (Am. Staffordshire/Pit Bull Terrier), Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Shar-Pei, Siberian Husky Conditions: UDR states fees, rent and deposits "may vary among Company properties." Support animals for disabled residents are exempt from fees, rent and breed restrictions. | ||||
| Essex Property Trust | Deposit up to $500 (2 pets); $35-$75/mo pet rent, both vary by region | — | 2 per apartment | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Yes Breed rules: "Guardian dog breeds": Alaskan Malamute, Rottweiler, Doberman, Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Akita, Bullmastiff, Mastiff, Wolf Dog, or any breed deemed related Conditions: West Coast REIT (CA/WA/OR). Deposit and rent ranges confirmed across 3+ Essex community leasing pages. Breed restrictions and fees do not apply to disability-support animals. | ||||
| Invitation Homes | $325 initial fee/deposit per pet, $40/mo pet rent | — | Up to 3 cats/dogs | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Partial Breed rules: American Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Terrier and mixes; wolves, coyotes, dingoes, jackals and wolf hybrids Conditions: SFR (single-family rental homes, not apartment buildings) -- the largest US single-family landlord. Whether the $325 charge is a fee or deposit depends on local law. No fees, rent, breed limits or deposits apply to authorized service/assistance animals. | ||||
| Irvine Company Apartment Communities | Reported: ~$300 refundable deposit (cats), ~$750 refundable deposit (dogs); $50/mo (cats), $75/mo (dogs) pet rent | — | 2 | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Yes Breed rules: Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Wolf-Hybrid, Perro de Presa Canario, and mixes -- stated to apply at any Irvine Company community Conditions: Southern California operator. Breed ban confirmed on the company's own site; fee/deposit/rent figures found via cached search results, not independently re-verified live. | ||||
| Simpson Property Group | $250-$300 one-time fee, $200-$250 deposit, $20-$25/mo pet rent | Varies -- some communities up to 100 lbs, others cap combined pet weight at 35 lbs | 2 per apartment (most communities) | Official policy ↗ |
| Breed rules: Varies by community -- most exclude Pit Bulls/mixes; several also list Chow, Doberman, German Shepherd, Mastiff breeds, Rottweiler, St. Bernard, Staffordshire Terriers Conditions: Fee/rent/deposit figures cross-confirmed on 3 Simpson-owned community lease-info pages (Austin, Plano, Denver). | ||||
| BH Management Services | Fee, rent and deposit not published company-wide -- BH states amounts vary by property and pet count | — | — | Official policy ↗ |
| Breed rules: Exist, differ by community -- confirm the restricted-breed list with the on-site leasing team Conditions: BH's own resident FAQ states ESAs and service animals "are not considered pets" and skip the standard pet policy entirely; notify the leasing office to use this exemption. | ||||
| Progress Residential | Moved from an upfront pet fee to pet-rent-only for new leases (effective Apr 2024); $45/mo pet rent typical ($35/mo in Colorado, which also keeps a $300 refundable deposit) | — | 3 uncaged pets (dogs/cats) -- verified service dogs and ESAs don't count toward the cap and pay no pet charges | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Partial Breed rules: Breed restrictions apply; specific list not published Conditions: SFR (single-family rental homes, not apartment buildings) -- one of the largest US SFR landlords. Company's pet-policy page blocked automated verification; details sourced from its cached content, not a live re-fetch. | ||||
| Highmark Residential | Reported: $250-$350 non-refundable fee, $50-$75/mo pet rent | None stated (one community) | — | Reported ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: "No breed or weight restrictions" reported at one community -- not confirmed company-wide Conditions: Figures come from a single Highmark-managed community (Bozeman, MT); no corporate-wide fee page found. Treat as an example, not a national policy. | ||||
| Willow Bridge Property Company | Not published -- no fee/rent/deposit schedule found at company or property level | — | — | Reported ↗ |
| Breed rules: No consistent list -- one community states no breed restrictions, another states "no aggressive breeds" without naming any Conditions: Formerly Lincoln Property Company's residential arm. Company states over 85% of its communities are pet-friendly, but publishes no unified pet-policy page -- expect real variation property to property. | ||||
— means the company doesn’t publish that detail. Tap a column header to sort, or a company’s arrow for breed rules and conditions.
How to find a dog-friendly apartment near you
A national policy page only gets you halfway — the exact fee, breed list, and availability are set building by building. The fastest path from this list to a signed lease:
- Filter first, then check the operator. On any major listing site, turn on the dog-friendly filter, then look at which company manages each building — you’ll recognize the operators from the table above.
- Search the company’s own community locator. Every operator in the table lists its properties by city. If your dog is a restricted breed elsewhere, start with MAA; for a big dog, start with MAA or Camden.
- Call the leasing office before you tour. Ask for three things in writing: the full pet fee schedule (fee, deposit, and monthly pet rent), the restricted-breed list, and the weight limit.
- Service dog or ESA? Under the Fair Housing Act it isn’t a pet — no pet fee, no pet rent, no breed or weight limits, even at a no-pets property. Details in the FAQ below.
Renting a house instead? Invitation Homes and Progress Residential above are single-family landlords — the same call-ahead rules apply.
Frequently asked questions
What's the average pet fee for an apartment?
The average one-time pet fee runs $250-$500, and the average refundable deposit is around $300, per RentCafe’s 2025 housing data. Expect the higher end ($500-$750) at operators like UDR or Irvine Company, and $0 at MAA communities, which don’t charge one at all.
What is pet rent, and how much do apartments charge?
Pet rent is a recurring monthly charge on top of your regular rent, usually $20-$85 per pet depending on the property. RentCafe puts the 2025 national average at $35.65/month; Essex Property Trust and UDR communities in our list run near the higher end.
Is an apartment pet deposit refundable?
It depends on whether the property calls it a “deposit” or a “fee.” A deposit is typically refundable minus pet damage, while a fee is a one-time, non-refundable charge — Cortland and Invitation Homes, for example, both charge non-refundable fees rather than deposits. Ask the leasing office which term applies before you sign.
What breeds do apartments typically restrict?
Pit Bull-type breeds, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers are excluded most often; Greystar, AvalonBay, and Bell Partners also add German Shepherds, Chows, Huskies, and wolf hybrids to their lists. Get the exact restricted-breed list in writing from the specific property — it varies by community even within the same company.
Do any big apartment companies have no breed restrictions?
Yes — Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA) advertises no breed restrictions and no weight limit as a company-wide policy, one of the few operators here that does. Most others set breed rules per property, so a company allowing dogs doesn’t guarantee your specific building does.
Is there a weight limit for dogs in apartments?
Many operators don’t publish one at all — Greystar, AvalonBay, MAA, UDR, and Essex all restrict by breed rather than weight in their published policies. Where a limit exists, it’s usually 60-100 lbs and set per community, so confirm with the leasing office for your address.
Do service dogs or ESAs have to pay pet fees?
No. Under the Fair Housing Act, legitimate service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) aren’t “pets,” so landlords can’t charge a pet fee, pet rent, or deposit for them, even at a no-pets property (HUD guidance). Breed and weight restrictions don’t apply to them either.
How do I find apartments that accept dogs near me?
Availability is set property by property, so search by city on the company’s own site rather than assuming a national policy applies everywhere. Call the leasing office directly, ask for the restricted-breed list and fee schedule in writing, and confirm before you tour or apply.
Which apartment companies have on-site dog parks?
On-site dog parks and pet washing stations are now standard amenities at many large operators — Camden advertises dog parks and grooming stations at many of its communities, and MAA offers dog parks and pet washing stations at select locations. Availability is set per property, so filter for “dog park” in the amenity list on the company’s site, or ask the leasing office which pet amenities your specific building has.