Dive Brief:
- Pet owners now make up the majority of renters, according to a new study from Zillow. In 2023, 59% of renters reported having at least one pet, and 40% at least one dog — up significantly from 2019, when only 46% of renters had pets and 31% had dogs.
- Twice as many renters filter their apartment searches for pet-friendly apartments than for any other amenity on Zillow’s website — a list that includes air conditioning, pools, in-unit laundry and on-site parking.
- Nationally, 55% of Zillow’s rental listings are advertised as pet-friendly. The top three U.S. cities with the largest share of pet-friendly rentals out of the total stock are all located in Texas, with Dallas at 79%, Austin at 77% and San Antonio at 75%.
Dive Insight:
While dogs are the most popular type of animal to keep as a pet in an apartment, preferred breeds vary between locations, according to data from pet subscription box provider Bark. Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers were the most popular choices in Dallas, Austin and Charlotte, North Carolina, while in New York City — where costs of living are high and space is at a premium — the French bulldog was the most popular breed.
Some states and municipalities are re-examining laws related to pet restrictions in rental apartments. In February, the Arizona Senate introduced a bill that would, if passed, forbid landlords from restricting breeds at their properties. Property owners would still be able to disallow pets altogether, but any apartment that allowed dogs would be required to allow any dog. The bill passed the Senate in February but no action has since been taken.
Another bill introduced in California takes it a step further, potentially requiring landlords to accept all common pets. The bill is presently in committee.
The cities with the highest share of pet-friendly rental units
| City | Percentage of rental stock that allows pets |
|---|---|
| 1. Dallas | 79% |
| 2. Austin, Texas | 77% |
| 3. San Antonio | 75% |
| 4. Charlotte, North Carolina | 75% |
| 5. Indianapolis | 74% |
| 6. Denver | 72% |
| 7. New York City | 72% |
| 8. Phoenix | 71% |
| 9. Seattle | 70% |
| 10. Jacksonville, Florida | 69% |
SOURCE: Zillow
The dog breeds most commonly restricted include pit bulls, bulldogs and Rottweilers. As it happens, American pit bull terriers are the most popular dog breed in many of the markets with the largest share of pet-friendly apartments, including Phoenix — potentially affected by the Arizona bill — Seattle, Indianapolis, and Jacksonville, Florida.
In a survey of renters by Marketwatch, 40% of commonly restricted dog breed owners reported having trouble finding affordable housing because of their dogs. Of all respondents with restricted dog breeds, 13% reported they had had to surrender their dogs in order to secure housing.
