Free Colorado Pet Agreement Addendum
Colorado bilateral pet addendum to your existing lease. Federal FHA protects service animals and emotional support animals from pet fees and breed/size restrictions. Customize rules and fees for true pets.
Free Colorado Pet Agreement Addendum — overview
🛡 Federal Fair Housing Act — Service Animals & Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are NOT Pets
Under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3604) and HUD guidance, service animals and properly documented emotional support animals are reasonable accommodations — not pets. They are EXEMPT from pet fees, pet deposits, pet rent, breed restrictions, and weight limits. This addendum applies only to true pets. Landlords who charge fees on assistance animals violate federal law and face significant liability.
A Colorado Pet Agreement Addendum is a bilateral lease addendum authorizing specific named pets to reside in the rental property under agreed rules. Both landlord and tenant sign. The addendum modifies (does not replace) the original lease.
Complete the Pet Agreement Addendum
Complete the form below to generate a comprehensive Colorado Pet Agreement Addendum. The form produces a multi-page PDF including pet identification, rules, fee structure, and signature blocks. Both parties must sign for the addendum to take effect.
1. Parties and Property
2. Authorized Pet(s)
List each pet authorized under this addendum. ONLY pets listed below are permitted. Additional pets require a new addendum.
3. Pet Fees and Deposits
State laws vary on what fees are permitted. Some states cap pet deposits within the overall security deposit limit; others allow separate pet deposits, pet fees (non-refundable), or pet rent (monthly). Verify your state’s rules. Colorado has no statutory cap on pet deposits separate from the security deposit.
4. Pet Rules and Tenant Responsibilities
- Pet must be leashed/contained at all times in common areas
- Tenant must clean up after pet immediately
- Pet must not disturb other tenants or neighbors
- Tenant responsible for any damage caused by pet
- Vaccinations and licensing must be current at all times
5. Signatures
About the Colorado Pet Agreement Addendum
A Colorado pet agreement addendum is the standard way to authorize pets in a rental property where the original lease does not address pets, or to modify existing pet terms. Colorado law (CRS Title 38, Article 12) does not specifically regulate pet addendums but does govern the broader landlord-tenant relationship including security deposits (CRS §38-12-103). Pet fees, deposits, and pet rent are generally permitted but must not be unreasonable. Importantly, Colorado courts have been notably tenant-protective on Fair Housing Act claims involving service animals and emotional support animals – landlords should be cautious about requiring excessive documentation or denying reasonable accommodations.
Colorado Pet Addendum Framework
- State law: CRS Title 38, Article 12 (landlord-tenant)
- Federal law: 42 U.S.C. §3604 (Fair Housing Act) protects service animals + ESAs
- Pet deposits: no statutory cap (separate from security deposit, generally permitted)
- Pet fees and pet rent: generally permitted if reasonable
- Reasonable accommodation: required under FHA for assistance animals (no fees, no breed/size limits)
What This Document Covers
- Identifies specific authorized pets with details (breed, weight, vaccinations)
- Sets pet deposit, pet fee, and/or pet rent amounts
- Establishes pet rules (areas permitted, leashing, cleanup, noise)
- Allocates responsibility for pet-related damage
- Carves out FHA-protected service animals and ESAs
- Both parties sign – addendum becomes part of lease
Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals — Federal Protections
Under the Federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §3604(f)), service animals trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, and emotional support animals prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider, are reasonable accommodations — not pets. They are exempt from pet fees, pet deposits, pet rent, breed restrictions, weight limits, and species restrictions. Landlords may request documentation (limited scope under HUD guidance) but may NOT require special training certificates for ESAs or charge fees. The Department of Justice administers ADA protections for service animals in public accommodations; HUD administers FHA protections for housing.
Best Practices
Document pet identification thoroughly (photo, microchip ID, vaccination records) at lease signing. This protects both parties if disputes arise. Avoid breed-based restrictions where possible – they expose landlords to fair-housing claims and many insurance carriers are willing to cover most breeds. For accommodations involving assistance animals, document the interactive process: tenant’s request, what documentation was reviewed, and the decision. Colorado courts have been especially tenant-protective on assistance animal cases.
Screen pets and their owners properly
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⚖ Legal Disclaimer
This form is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For Colorado landlord-tenant guidance, visit Colorado Division of Housing and review CRS Title 38, Article 12. Federal law (Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §3604) protects service animals and emotional support animals from pet fees and breed/size restrictions. Consult a qualified Colorado attorney for advice specific to your situation.
