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Pet Addendum to Lease template

A pet addendum is added to an existing lease to permit a tenant to keep a specific pet, and sets out any pet deposit or fee, rules for the pet, and responsibility for damage.

A pet addendum is an add-on to an existing lease that allows a tenant to keep a specific pet and sets the rules, any pet deposit or fee, and responsibility for damage. You need one when a tenant gets a pet mid-lease or when the original lease is silent or prohibits pets.

Use this template — sign onlineOpens as a ready-to-send document with signature fields placed.
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1. Parties and Lease

This Pet Addendum (the "Addendum") is made on [DATE] between [LANDLORD NAME] (the "Landlord") and [TENANT NAME(S)] (the "Tenant") and forms part of the lease dated [LEASE DATE] for the property at [PROPERTY ADDRESS] (the "Lease").

2. Approved Pet(s)

The Landlord permits the Tenant to keep only the following pet(s) at the property: Type / breed: [TYPE AND BREED] Name: [PET NAME] Age: [AGE] Weight: [WEIGHT] Color / description: [DESCRIPTION] No other animals may be kept, even temporarily, without the Landlord's written consent.

3. Pet Deposit, Fee, and Rent

The Tenant will pay: [PET DEPOSIT AMOUNT] as a refundable pet deposit; [NON-REFUNDABLE PET FEE, if any]; and [MONTHLY PET RENT, if any], payable with the monthly rent. [NOTE: Local law may limit or prohibit certain pet deposits or fees.] The pet deposit will be handled in accordance with the Lease and applicable law and does not limit the Tenant's liability for damage.

4. Vaccinations, Licensing, and Identification

The Tenant will keep the pet vaccinated, licensed, and registered as required by law, and will provide proof to the Landlord on request.

5. Pet Rules

The Tenant will: (a) keep the pet under control and on a leash in common areas; (b) promptly clean up pet waste inside and outside the property; (c) not leave the pet unattended for unreasonable periods; (d) prevent excessive noise, such as persistent barking; (e) keep the pet from damaging the property or disturbing neighbors; and (f) comply with [ANY BUILDING RULES OR HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION RULES].

6. Damage and Cleaning

The Tenant is responsible for all damage caused by the pet, including damage to floors, carpets, doors, and landscaping, and for flea treatment and professional cleaning if needed at the end of the tenancy, beyond normal wear and tear.

7. Liability and Insurance

The Tenant is solely responsible for injury or damage caused by the pet to any person or property, and will indemnify the Landlord against related claims to the extent permitted by law. [OPTIONAL: The Tenant will maintain renter's liability insurance of at least AMOUNT that covers the pet.]

8. Revocation

If the Tenant breaches this Addendum and does not cure the breach within [NUMBER] days after written notice, or if the pet poses a threat to people or property, the Landlord may revoke permission to keep the pet, and the Tenant will remove the pet within [NUMBER] days, in addition to any other remedies under the Lease and applicable law.

9. Assistance Animals

This Addendum does not apply to assistance or service animals where applicable law requires them to be treated differently from pets, including with respect to deposits and fees.

10. Effect on Lease and Governing Law

Except as stated in this Addendum, all terms of the Lease remain in effect. If there is a conflict between this Addendum and the Lease regarding pets, this Addendum controls. This Addendum is governed by the laws of [GOVERNING LAW JURISDICTION].

11. Signatures

The parties agree that this Addendum may be signed electronically, and that electronic signatures have the same effect as handwritten signatures. LANDLORD: [LANDLORD NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] TENANT: [TENANT NAME] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE] TENANT: [SECOND TENANT NAME, if any] Signature: ____________________ Date: [DATE]

Our take: Our take: name the specific animal, with type, breed, and size, rather than "a dog". That prevents a second pet from arriving under the same addendum. The clause people forget is noise and waste rules for shared areas. Check local law before charging a pet deposit or pet rent: some places cap deposits or ban separate pet fees, and assistance animals usually can't be charged at all. Every tenant on the lease should sign, not just the pet owner. It attaches to your lease agreement or lease renewal.

When should you use a pet addendum to lease?

  • When a tenant wants to get a pet during an existing tenancy
  • When signing a new lease with a tenant who already has a pet
  • When a landlord allows pets only under specific conditions
  • When replacing or adding a pet under an existing pet addendum

How do you fill in this template?

  1. Reference the existing lease by date and property address, and enter the landlord and tenant names.
  2. Describe each approved pet by type, breed, name, age, and weight.
  3. Set any pet deposit, fee, or monthly pet rent, checking local limits first.
  4. Review the pet rules, damage, and revocation terms, and add the governing law.
  5. Upload the addendum to eSignSimple and send it to the landlord and every tenant on the lease for e-signature.

How do you get it signed online?

  1. Save it as Word or PDF. Paste the filled-in text into Word or Google Docs and keep it as a .docx file, or export it as a PDF. eSignSimple accepts both, plus DOC, ODT and RTF, up to 25 MB; Word files are converted to PDF on upload.
  2. Upload and place the fields. Sign up with Google, upload the file and drag signature, initials, date and text fields onto the page for each signer. Set a signing order if one party must sign first.
  3. Send it for signature. Each signer gets a private link and signs in the browser without creating an account. Automatic email reminders go out every three days (up to three) until everyone has signed.
  4. Keep the signed copy. When the last person signs, everyone can download the final PDF with a certificate of completion, an audit trail and a SHA-256 fingerprint you can verify later.

Signing on your own device only? The guide to signing a PDF covers the free built-in options, and the security page explains how signed files are stored and verified.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state; have a lawyer review contracts with high stakes.

Written by Buğra Sözeri, founder and editor, eSignSimple · Last reviewed

Buğra builds eSignSimple and writes and maintains its guides. He researches each legal page against the official texts linked on it and updates pages when the law or the product changes. He is not a lawyer, and nothing here is legal advice. About eSignSimple

Frequently asked questions

What is a pet addendum?

It is a short document added to a lease that gives a tenant permission to keep a specific pet and sets the rules, fees, and responsibilities for that pet.

Can a landlord charge a pet deposit and pet rent?

In many places, yes, but some jurisdictions cap total deposits or restrict pet fees. Check local law before setting amounts.

Do service animals need a pet addendum?

In many jurisdictions, assistance and service animals are not treated as pets, and landlords may not charge pet fees for them. This template excludes them.

Does every tenant need to sign the pet addendum?

It is best practice for all tenants on the lease to sign. eSignSimple lets you add each tenant as a signer, and none of them need an account.

Can a pet addendum be signed electronically?

Yes. Upload your Word or PDF version, place signature and date fields, and send it; signers open a link and sign on any device without creating an account. eSignSimple adds an audit trail and certificate of completion. Send it to every tenant on the lease so each signs in turn.

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