Renting With a Dog or Cat in a South Florida Condo

By Zach Curtis, licensed agent, Realty Hub, SL3664129. Updated October 18, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

In a condo, two sets of rules decide whether your pet can move in: the unit owner's (your landlord's) and the building's. A landlord saying "pets OK" does not override an association that limits pets. Here is how to get a clear yes before you pay to apply. Our older post on pet-friendly apartments in Hallandale Beach has more on local options.

Pet-friendly listings today

1153 live listings from $1,500 to $6,000 a month (median $2,600) in our feed say pets are allowed or considered, or mention pets without saying no. Building rules still apply to each one.

Asking rents (not signed leases) from the long-term $1,500 to $6,000 listings in RentedFirst's BeachesMLS feed, calculated when this page loaded. Seasonal and short-term listings are excluded. Pet status is read from the MLS flag and listing text; it is a starting point, not a promise. Updated October 18, 2026.

The rules you will run into

Number of pets per unit.
Weight or size limits, especially for dogs.
Breed rules set by some associations or insurers. (Florida law has changed in recent years on local breed bans; private building rules are a separate question. Ask the association.)
Leash and elevator rules, such as service elevator only or carry small pets in common areas.
Owner-only pets. Some buildings allow pets for owners but not renters.
Registration with the association, with photos and vaccination records.

Fees and deposits

Landlords may ask for a pet deposit, a one-time pet fee, or monthly pet rent. Ask whether a pet deposit is refundable and get the amount in the lease. Refundable deposits follow Florida's deposit rules in section 83.49, Florida Statutes.

Assistance animals are not pets

Under the federal Fair Housing Act, a person with a disability can ask for a reasonable accommodation to live with a service or support animal, even in a no-pets building. Pet fees, pet deposits and weight limits generally do not apply to assistance animals. A housing provider may ask for reliable information about the disability-related need when it is not obvious. HUD publishes guidance on assistance animals. We handle these requests separately from pet questions and never treat them as pets.

How to get a clear yes

Before applying, ask for the building's pet rules in writing, not just the landlord's.
Share your pet's type, breed, weight and age up front.
Prepare a pet resume: vaccination records, spay/neuter proof, a photo, and a reference from a past landlord.
Get the pet approval and any fees written into the lease.

Where to look

Houses and townhomes outside an association are often simpler for big dogs: see West Park and 3-bedroom listings. The live pet-friendly apartments page always shows the current list.

Fair housing: every listing is open to everyone. We describe buildings, prices and processes, never who lives where.

Living with a pet in a high-rise

Ask where pets may be walked, whether pets may use the main elevator or lobby, and whether there is a pet relief area. Check the unit for balcony railings and gaps if you have a small dog or a cat, and ask whether the building has rules on balcony use. Keep your pet's registration with the association current to avoid fines charged to the owner.

Pet rent vs pet deposit

A refundable pet deposit is held like a security deposit and returned if there is no damage claim. A non-refundable pet fee or monthly pet rent is not returned. Ask which one the listing uses and get it in the lease.

Pet approval is one more reason to apply early: some associations review pets as a separate step with its own form.