Yes — pets are welcome in assisted living: all 14 major operators below, including Brookdale, Sunrise, and Atria, accept residents' dogs at many of their communities. None publishes a company-wide policy, though — the weight limit (typically 16–50 lbs where one exists), the pet fee, and the final yes/no are set by each community's own management. Compare the operators below, then call the specific community and ask for its pet policy in writing. Renting with a dog instead? See our apartment companies that accept dogs, and our pet policy statistics for how assisted living compares.
Quick picks by situation
- Dog over 50 lbs? Oakmont is the only operator we found with a company-wide figure: 80 lbs combined for up to two pets. Brookdale sets limits building by building; its Arvada community has none.
- No fixed weight limit? Atria, Holiday by Atria and Belmont Village size up each pet case by case instead of using a number. Ask how the assessment works before you tour.
- Small dog? Expect a cap around 16–40 lbs at Five Star communities and 21–50 lbs at Benchmark, set per community.
- Independent living instead? Many of these operators also run independent-living communities, and the pet rule there is set community by community too. Ask that community for its pet policy in writing.
Every pick comes from the sourced table below. No operator sets one pet policy for every building, so call the community and get its rules in writing.
✓ Policies verified August 1, 2026 Every row links to its source. Policies change — confirm with the operator before you commit.
| Operator | Deposit / fee | Weight limit | Max pets | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookdale Senior Living | Non-refundable pet fee, amount set per community (e.g. $50 at Brookdale West End Richmond) | Varies by community; e.g. under 15 lbs at Brookdale West End Richmond, no limit at Brookdale Arvada | Generally 1 pet per apartment | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: Not company-wide; check with specific community Conditions: Pet must be registered before move-in, current vaccinations required, resident solely responsible for feeding/walks/housebreaking/medication, collar with ID required, pets kept out of dining/food-prep areas (service animals excepted); allowed species include dogs, cats, birds, rodents, fish, turtles. Weight/breed limits vary by community. | ||||
| Sunrise Senior Living | — | — | — | Official policy ↗ |
| Conditions: Company confirms residents may bring their own pet, which they must care for themselves; many communities also keep a resident cat or dog. Specific weight limits, fees, and breed rules are not published company-wide — company directs prospects to the specific community for details. | ||||
| Atria Senior Living | Fees may apply, amount set per community | Not set company-wide; size/temperament assessed per community | — | Source ↗ |
| Breed rules: Not published company-wide Conditions: All Atria communities allow residents to keep a pet in their apartment; required vaccinations and licensing must be current. Size and temperament requirements vary by community. | ||||
| Holiday by Atria | Fees may apply, amount set per community | — | — | Source ↗ |
| Conditions: Residents may keep pets in their apartment; resident must be able to care for the pet since staff cannot, and size/temperament are assessed prior to move-in on a case-by-case basis rather than a fixed weight limit. | ||||
| Five Star Senior Living | — | 16-40 lbs depending on community (e.g. 16-20 lbs at Yonkers & Boca Raton, 21-30 lbs at Pompano Beach & Plantation, 31-40 lbs at Fort Wayne) | — | Source ↗ |
| Conditions: Weight limit set per community rather than company-wide; figures above recur across multiple Five Star Premier Residences listings on the Where You Live Matters directory. | ||||
| Erickson Senior Living | — | — | — | Reported ↗ |
| Conditions: Company states its communities welcome cats, dogs, and most birds; specific weight limits and fees are not published and referred to individual community FAQs. | ||||
| Discovery Senior Living | — | 25 lbs at Discovery Point-affiliated community; not confirmed as a company-wide figure | — | Source ↗ |
| Breed rules: Exotic pets excluded; pet must not be aggressive Conditions: Discovery Village / Discovery Commons communities market themselves as pet-friendly; pets must not be likely to upset other residents, must be well-behaved and non-aggressive, and if applicable must be licensed and current on vaccinations. Weight limit varies by community. | ||||
| Watermark Retirement Communities | — | — | — | Reported ↗ |
| Conditions: Pet policy set per community — some Watermark communities (e.g. The Watermark at Bellevue, The Watermark at Beverly Hills) are pet-friendly with dog parks/wash stations, while at least one (The Watermark at Continental Ranch) does not allow resident pets at all. No company-wide weight limit or fee published. | ||||
| Belmont Village Senior Living | — | Unspecified size restriction, decided per community | — | Source ↗ |
| Conditions: Each Belmont Village community accepts pets at the discretion of its executive director; size restrictions apply for resident comfort and safety but no fixed weight figure is published. | ||||
| Merrill Gardens | — | — | — | Reported ↗ |
| Conditions: Multiple Merrill Gardens communities (Rockridge, The University, West Chester, Ballard) confirm they accept resident dogs; prospects advised to confirm during a tour whether their specific pet will be allowed. No weight limit or fee published company-wide. | ||||
| Aegis Living | — | — | — | Reported ↗ |
| Conditions: Company lists pets as a standard community amenity on its own site; specific weight limits, fees, and breed rules were not accessible (page blocked live fetch) and are not stated in third-party coverage. | ||||
| Benchmark Senior Living | — | 21-50 lbs depending on community (e.g. 21-30 lbs at Clapboardtree, 41-50 lbs at Hamden and Woburn) | — | Source ↗ |
| Conditions: Weight limit set per community rather than company-wide; figures recur across multiple Benchmark community listings on the Where You Live Matters directory. | ||||
| Oakmont Senior Living | One-time pet fee (per pet, up to 2 pets); exact dollar amount not published | 80 lbs combined weight for up to 2 pets, per company description | 2 | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Conditions: Pets must be well-behaved and quiet, current on rabies vaccination and flea/tick preventative; most communities include a fenced, unleashed pet park. Levels of care and exact fee vary by community — confirm with specific location. | ||||
| Life Care Services (LCS) | — | — | — | Reported ↗ |
| Conditions: LCS (second-largest US senior living operator) markets multiple pet-friendly communities, including several in Florida near dog parks/beaches; each community sets its own rules on breed, size, and house-training requirements. No company-wide weight limit or fee published. | ||||
— means the company doesn’t publish that detail. Tap a column header to sort, or a operator’s arrow for breed rules and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Are pets allowed in assisted living facilities?
Yes. All 14 major operators we verified, including Brookdale, Sunrise, and Atria, allow residents to keep a dog or cat at many of their communities. The catch: the final decision sits with the individual community, not the corporate office, so always confirm the policy with the specific building before you tour.
Is there a dog weight limit in assisted living?
Usually, and it is set per community. Published examples run 16-40 lbs across Five Star communities and 21-50 lbs at Benchmark; Brookdale ranges from under-15-lb buildings to communities with no limit at all. Oakmont is the only operator we found with a stated company-wide figure: 80 lbs combined for up to two pets.
Do assisted living facilities charge a pet fee?
Most charge a one-time, non-refundable pet fee set by the community — Brookdale publishes a $50 example at one community, and Oakmont charges a per-pet fee without publishing the amount. No operator we checked posts a company-wide dollar figure, so ask the community for its pet agreement and fee schedule in writing.
Who takes care of my dog in assisted living?
You do. Every operator we verified requires the resident to be the pet’s sole caretaker — feeding, walking, vet care, and medication — because staff cannot take that on. Most communities assess a pet’s size and temperament before move-in, and it’s smart to name a backup caregiver (family member or dog walker) in case of a hospital stay.
What pet rules apply after move-in?
Expect the basics in writing: current vaccinations, pet registration before move-in, a collar with ID, and no pets in dining or food-prep areas — Brookdale’s published policy covers all four. Service animals are the exception; they are working animals, not pets, and dining-area bans and pet fees don’t apply to them.
Are service dogs treated differently from pets in assisted living?
Yes. A service dog isn’t a “pet” under the ADA, so pet fees, weight limits, and pet bans don’t apply to it, and communities generally must consider reasonable accommodation for assistance animals under the Fair Housing Act (HUD guidance). If a community’s pet policy is the obstacle, ask to speak with the executive director about an accommodation.