Quick answer: To make a vacation rental pet-friendly, decide which pets you accept and write clear rules. Set a pet fee and show it in the total price. Pet-proof the home, add washable covers and a few pet supplies, and adjust your cleaning routine. Then say "pet-friendly" in your title, photos and description so pet owners find you.
Key Takeaways
Write the rules first: which animals, how many, size limits, where pets may go, and whether they can be left alone.
A pet fee charged on every pet booking belongs in the total price guests see up front.
A pet fee covers extra cleaning. A refundable pet deposit covers damage. You can use one or both.
Service animals aren't pets under US federal law. Don't charge a pet fee for them.
Durable floors, washable covers and a fenced outdoor area prevent most damage.
Use the same pet policy on every site where you list.
Decide which pets you accept
Vague policies cause most pet disputes. "Pets allowed" doesn't tell a guest whether they can bring three large dogs. Before you list as pet-friendly, write down:
Species. Most hosts accept dogs only, or dogs and cats.
Number and size. For example, "up to 2 dogs, 50 lb each".
Where pets can go. Off the furniture? Out of carpeted bedrooms? Set aside a spot for food bowls and a pet bed so guests know where things go.
Being left alone. Many hosts allow it only in a crate, or not at all.
Behavior and health. For example: house-trained, up to date on vaccines, flea treatment before arrival.
Outdoors. Leash rules on the property, and where waste goes.
Breed limits and insurance. Some short-term rental insurers restrict certain breeds. Check your policy, and your HOA or building rules, before you list as pet-friendly.
Put the policy in three places: your listing's house rules, your rental agreement and your welcome book. For wording you can adapt, see the vacation rental house rules template.
Set a pet fee guests can see
A pet fee covers the extra cleaning a pet stay needs: vacuuming fur, washing pet bedding, spot-cleaning floors. Common setups:
Setup | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
Flat fee per stay | One charge per booking | Short stays; easy to explain |
Fee per pet per stay | Grows with the number of pets | Hosts who allow 2+ pets |
Fee per pet per night | Grows with the length of the stay | Long stays |
To set your amount, add up what a pet stay really costs you: the cleaner's extra time, laundry, and supplies like lint rollers and enzyme cleaner. Then check what similar pet-friendly homes nearby charge.
On Houfy, add the pet fee as a custom fee in your listing settings, so it's part of the booking total. Keep it as a separate fee rather than raising your nightly rate. Guests without pets then see your normal price.
In the US, the FTC's rule on unfair or deceptive fees (in effect since May 12, 2025) requires short-term rentals to show the total price up front. That price has to include mandatory fees. The FTC's own example says a cleaning fee must be included. A pet fee charged on every booking with a pet works the same way: show it before payment, not after.
Add a pet deposit for damage
A pet fee is for routine cleaning. A refundable pet damage deposit is held against actual damage and returned after checkout if there's none. Many hosts use both. For example: a non-refundable pet fee at booking, plus a deposit collected at or before check-in and returned within a few days of checkout.
Write the amount, the refund timeline and what counts as damage in your rental agreement. For how holds and refunds work on direct bookings, see damage deposits for direct vacation rental bookings.
Know the rules for service animals
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a dog trained to do a specific task for a person with a disability. Emotional support animals don't count as service animals under the ADA. According to the US Department of Justice:
When it isn't obvious, you may ask only two questions: is the dog required because of a disability, and what task has it been trained to perform?
Hotels may not charge for cleaning hair or dander shed by a service animal.
You may charge for actual damage, at the same rate you'd charge any other guest.
Whether the ADA applies to a private home rental depends on how the property is run. State and local laws differ too. If you're unsure, treat service animals as you would at a hotel, or ask a local attorney.
Pet-proof the home
Walk through the rental at a dog's eye level. Then:
Secure the outdoors. Check the fence for gaps and weak spots, make sure gates latch, and check pool access.
Remove hazards. Put away toxic houseplants. The ASPCA keeps a searchable list of plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. Store cleaning products, medications and pest baits up high or behind latches.
Tidy cords and small items. Chargers, blind cords, and anything small enough to swallow.
Use lidded trash cans in the kitchen and bathroom.
Protect floors and furniture
Hard floors (tile, luxury vinyl, laminate, sealed concrete) hold up better than carpet. If bedrooms are carpeted, keep pets out of them and say so in the policy.
Use washable slipcovers on sofas and chairs, and keep a spare set.
If pets are allowed on beds, put a washable throw at the foot of each one. If they aren't, say so clearly.
Use dark or patterned rugs that can go in the washer.
Put a scratch-resistant mat by the door and a towel hook for wet paws. At beach and lake homes, an outdoor rinse spot helps.
Stock a few pet supplies
A small kit makes the listing stand out without much cost:
Food and water bowls
A dog bed (ask in advance if the guest needs a crate)
Waste bags and a bin outside
An old towel for muddy paws
A lint roller
Optional: a small pet welcome basket with treats, a chew toy and spare waste bags
For more ideas on what guests expect to find, see the amenities guests look for.
Add pet information to your house manual
The nearest 24-hour emergency vet, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number, (888) 426-4435
Nearby dog parks, trails and pet-friendly restaurants
Local leash laws and beach rules for dogs
A groomer and a pet supply store
Adjust your cleaning routine
The next guest may be allergic, so pet stays need a deeper clean:
Vacuum with a HEPA filter, including soft furniture, under furniture and along baseboards.
Wash all slipcovers, throws, linens and pet bedding.
Run an air purifier before the next check-in.
Wipe door bottoms, windows and glass at nose height.
Check the yard for waste and the fence for new damage.
Take dated photos at check-in and checkout, in case you need to file a damage claim.
Tell your cleaner which stays had pets so they can plan the extra time. Say in your listing that the home hosts pets. Guests with severe allergies can then choose another home.
Help pet owners find your listing
Put "pet-friendly" or "dog-friendly" in the listing title.
Include one or two photos of the fenced yard, the dog bed or a nearby trail.
Write your pet rules and pet fee in a short section of the description, not just in the house rules. Guests who read them choose your home knowing the rules.
Name nearby dog-friendly places in the area section.
After a good pet stay, ask the guest to mention their pet in the review.
On Houfy you can add your listing. Pet-friendly homes appear on Houfy's pet-friendly rentals page. Houfy takes no commission on bookings and charges guests no platform service fee.
Use one pet policy everywhere
If you list on several sites, use the same pet policy and pet fee on each one. If a guest sees "pets allowed" on one site and "no pets" on another, you'll get disputes and cancellations. Update the policy text everywhere at the same time you sync your calendars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I charge a pet fee or a pet deposit?
A pet fee covers the extra cleaning. A refundable deposit protects against damage, but you have to inspect the home and refund it after every stay. Many hosts use both. Either way, show mandatory charges in the total price before the guest pays.
Can I charge a pet fee for a service animal?
Under ADA guidance, businesses the ADA covers may not charge extra for service animals. They may charge for actual damage at the same rate as any other guest. Emotional support animals aren't service animals under the ADA, but state law can differ, so check yours.
Should I allow pets if my property has carpet?
You can, with limits. Many hosts keep pets to the hard-floored areas, for example: "Pets are welcome in all common areas. Carpeted bedrooms are off-limits to pets." Put the rule in your rental agreement.
What if a pet causes damage that exceeds the deposit?
Take dated photos right after checkout. Contact the guest with the photos and the clause from your rental agreement. If that doesn't settle it, file a claim with your short-term rental insurer. A signed agreement and dated photos are your best evidence.
What if a guest brings a pet without telling me?
Your house rules should say what happens, for example an unannounced-pet fee plus cleaning costs. Ask about pets before booking and repeat the rule in the check-in message. If it happens, document it with photos.
How do I handle allergies for guests who book after a pet stay?
Do a deeper clean after every pet stay: HEPA-vacuum all soft surfaces, wash all linens hot, and run an air purifier before the next check-in. Say in your listing that the home hosts pets.
Sources
US Department of Justice, Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA
Federal Trade Commission, Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: FAQs
ASPCA, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants
Houfy has 100,000+ live listings in over 100 countries.
Last Updated: October 27, 2026
