Free United States Pet Policy Acknowledgment
Tenant acknowledgment of landlord’s pet policy. Different from a bilateral pet addendum – this confirms the tenant has read the rules. Federal FHA protects service animals and emotional support animals.
Free United States Pet Policy Acknowledgment — 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 United States Pet Policy Acknowledgment is a tenant’s signed acknowledgment that they have read and understand the landlord’s pet policy, including rules, fees, and consequences of violations. It differs from a bilateral pet addendum.
Complete the Pet Policy Acknowledgment
Complete the form below to generate a comprehensive United States Pet Policy Acknowledgment. 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. State law varies on permitted fees and deposits. This document acknowledges policy; the bilateral addendum sets specific terms.
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. Tenant Acknowledgment
This document is a tenant acknowledgment that you have read and understand the landlord\’s pet policy. By signing, you confirm awareness of the rules, fees (if any), and consequences of policy violations.
6. Signatures
About the United States Pet Policy Acknowledgment
A pet policy acknowledgment is commonly used by multi-unit landlords and property managers with a building-wide pet policy. Rather than negotiating a custom pet addendum for each tenant, the landlord publishes a standard pet policy (rules, fees, breed restrictions, etc.) and each tenant signs an acknowledgment at move-in confirming they have read and understand the policy. This document is unilateral (only tenant signs) – if specific pets are being authorized with specific fees, a bilateral pet addendum is the appropriate document. The acknowledgment includes the required FHA carve-out for service animals and emotional support animals.
United States Pet Addendum Framework
- Federal law: 42 U.S.C. §3604 (Fair Housing Act) – applies nationwide
- State law varies on permitted fees and deposits
- This is a tenant acknowledgment – different from bilateral pet addendum
- Common in multi-unit buildings with building-wide pet policies
- For authorization of specific pets with specific fees, use bilateral pet addendum instead
What This Document Covers
- Tenant confirms they have read the pet policy
- Tenant acknowledges understanding of rules, fees, and damage responsibility
- Tenant acknowledges FHA carve-out for service animals and ESAs
- Includes additional acknowledgment fields for specific policy points
- Unilateral – only tenant signs
- Companion to (not replacement for) bilateral pet addendum where specific pets are involved
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
Use this acknowledgment in combination with a published pet policy (rules, fees, breed restrictions) that you provide to all tenants. If a tenant is bringing specific pets, also use a bilateral pet addendum to identify the pets and any specific fees. The acknowledgment alone is sufficient where no pets are currently authorized but the tenant should understand the rules in case they later request pet permission. Always include the FHA carve-out so tenants understand assistance animals are not subject to the policy.
Screen pets and their owners properly
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Established 2004 · 20+ Years · All U.S. States & Territories · Statute-Based · Attorney-Reviewed
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⚖ Legal Disclaimer
This form is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For state-specific landlord-tenant law, visit HUD Tenant Rights. For assistance animal accommodations, see HUD Notice FHEO-2020-01. 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 United States attorney for advice specific to your situation.
