Allowing pets can make a rental home appealing to more applicants. It can also raise understandable concerns about damaged flooring, lingering odors, landscaping, and liability.
For owners, the decision comes down to whether the benefits justify the risks—and what protections can make those risks more manageable.
At Rentals America, we generally recommend allowing pets with reasonable restrictions. A well-defined pet policy gives owners access to a wider pool of prospective residents while setting clear limits on which animals are approved and how the property must be maintained.
Rather than automatically excluding pet owners, we recommend combining resident screening, refundable deposits, written requirements, and additional protection.
Why Pet-Friendly Rentals Deserve Consideration
More Renters Can Consider Your Home
A no-pets policy excludes some households before they ever schedule a showing. Those renters may meet every other qualification, but they need a home that accommodates their animals.
Zillow’s 2025 Consumer Housing Trends Report found that 59% of renter households have at least one pet. It also found that 73% of renters in single-family detached homes consider allowing pets essential when deciding whether to rent a property.
These are national findings, not estimates of pet ownership in Las Vegas. They nevertheless show why allowing pets can substantially expand a rental home’s potential audience.
Accepting pets does not mean relaxing resident qualifications. Income, credit, rental history, and other screening standards remain important.
Vacancy Costs Belong in the Calculation
The possible cost of damage deserves attention, but so does the cost of turning away qualified applicants.
In a July 2025 analysis of 2024 rental listings, Zillow reported that pet-friendly listings in the Las Vegas metro typically found a renter three days sooner than listings that did not allow pets.
For a home renting for $2,100 per month, three days of vacancy represent approximately $210 in lost rent, using a 30-day month.
That historical comparison does not guarantee faster leasing or establish that allowing pets alone caused the difference. Pricing, property condition, location, and marketing still influence results. It does, however, provide a reason to consider rental demand alongside potential repair expenses.
A Suitable Home Can Support Longer Tenancies
Residents with pets may face additional hurdles when looking for another rental. They need to find a property that accepts their animals, meets their household’s needs, and fits their budget.
When residents find a home that works, staying can be more attractive than starting that search again.
We consider longer tenancy a potential benefit of allowing pets. Fewer turnovers can help owners avoid repeated vacancy, make-ready work, and leasing expenses. No pet policy guarantees retention, but it can remove one reason a qualified resident might need to move.
Allowing Pets Does Not Mean Accepting Every Animal
A pet-friendly policy can still have clear boundaries. Owners do not have to choose between prohibiting all pets and approving every animal an applicant wants to bring.
At Rentals America, our ordinary pet policies generally include:
Breed restrictions to help manage liability and insurance concerns.
No puppies or kittens, which can present greater damage risks during training.
Limits on the number of pets approved for the property.
Size or weight limits, when appropriate for the home or required by the HOA or insurance provider.
Restrictions on other animal types, with approvals generally focused on commonly accepted household pets.
Review of applicable HOA and insurance requirements.
For a condo, townhome, or home within an association, review the governing animal rules before advertising the property. Confirm any relevant insurance requirements as well.
Approvals should be documented so residents understand which animals are permitted. Adding another animal should require approval rather than being treated as automatically acceptable.
These are ordinary pet requirements. Qualifying assistance animals require separate consideration under applicable fair housing laws.
Responsible Ownership Is Central to Property Care
Pets can scratch doors and flooring, stain carpets, damage landscaping, and create odors that require treatment. Those risks are real, particularly when problems go unaddressed.
In our experience, the resident’s responsibility for the home often matters more than the animal itself. Regular cleaning, supervision, training, and prompt attention to accidents can prevent minor issues from becoming expensive repairs.
This does not mean meeting or evaluating each pet before approval. It means keeping the resident accountable for property care through screening, clear lease requirements, and consistent management.
The lease should address damage, waste removal, nuisance behavior, and the requirement to obtain approval for animals. Residents should understand that permission to keep a pet comes with responsibilities.
Why We Prefer Refundable Pet Deposits
We recommend refundable pet deposits rather than nonrefundable pet fees.
A refundable deposit gives residents a financial incentive to protect the home. They have an opportunity to recover their money by meeting their obligations and leaving the property in good condition.
A nonrefundable fee is surrendered regardless of how carefully the resident maintains the home. We believe the refundable approach provides a stronger incentive for responsible care.
The amount still needs to be reasonable for the property and compliant with Nevada law. A larger deposit may provide more security, but it can also increase the upfront cost for otherwise qualified applicants.
Nevada Has a Combined Deposit Limit
Under Nevada’s security deposit statute, NRS 118A.242, the combined security deposit and any surety bond, including last month’s rent, cannot exceed three months’ periodic rent.
A refundable pet deposit is part of that combined security amount. It is not an additional deposit outside the limit.
For example, if monthly rent is $2,100, the statutory maximum is generally $6,300 for the combined amounts covered by the rule. That is a legal ceiling, not our recommendation for what every owner should collect.
Pet Damage Is Not Limited to the Pet Deposit
Another common misunderstanding is that an owner can only use the portion labeled a pet deposit to address animal damage.
Available refundable security deposits can generally be applied toward legitimate pet-related damage—not just the amount designated as the pet deposit, subject to Nevada law and the lease terms.
If repair costs exceed the pet deposit, that label does not necessarily limit the resident’s responsibility or prevent an appropriate deduction from the remaining security deposit.
Deductions must reflect permitted, reasonably necessary charges. Normal wear and tear is not damage, and owners must provide the required itemized accounting and return the remaining deposit within Nevada’s applicable deadline.
Additional Protection Through Rentals America
Rentals America’s Resident Benefits Package includes up to $1,000 in pet damage coverage.
This protection applies to leases enrolled in the RBP program while Rentals America actively provides property management services. Applicable terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply.
The coverage adds another layer of protection alongside refundable deposits, resident screening, lease requirements, and property inspections. It helps address an owner’s concerns without replacing the need for careful management.
Document Condition Before and After the Tenancy
Good records matter whether or not a resident has pets. For a home allowing animals, pay particular attention to flooring, doors, baseboards, landscaping, and any existing stains or odors.
Move-in photographs and written notes create a baseline. At move-out, compare the home with those records rather than assuming every imperfection resulted from the resident’s animals.
Where damage occurs, retain appropriate repair estimates, invoices, and other documentation supporting the deduction.
Clear records help protect the owner and make the accounting easier for the resident to understand.
What About Monthly Pet Rent?
Monthly pet rent can provide additional income, but owners should consider the home’s total cost and competing rental options before adding it.
A small monthly charge may be reasonable in some situations. However, additional revenue should be weighed against the possibility of reduced interest or longer vacancy.
Our priority is a qualified resident, competitive pricing, and a successful tenancy. Any pet charges should be clearly disclosed before an applicant commits to the property.
Assistance Animals Are Different From Pets
Qualifying service animals and emotional support animals are not ordinary pets under applicable fair housing requirements.
A person with a disability may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation even when the property has a no-pets policy. Ordinary pet deposits, fees, rent, and restrictions generally cannot be imposed on qualifying assistance animals, although residents remain responsible for damage their animals cause.
Requests should be evaluated individually under applicable requirements. Owners should not automatically apply ordinary breed, size, or number restrictions to an assistance animal request.
HUD’s assistance animal guidance explains the reasonable accommodation framework.
Our Recommendation
Some properties have association, insurance, or other constraints that warrant restricting ordinary pets. Those circumstances deserve a property-specific review.
For most rental homes, we recommend allowing pets with reasonable restrictions and safeguards.
A balanced policy can expand the applicant pool, support leasing, and give residents another reason to remain in the home. Refundable deposits, clear approvals, documented condition, and additional coverage help owners manage the associated risks.
Rentals America helps rental property owners throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Summerlin, and surrounding communities make practical leasing decisions and protect their investments. Explore our owner guarantees and protections to learn more.
