Pet Addendum in Minnesota

Adds pet terms to a lease. Assistance animals for people with disabilities are not pets: no pet fee or pet rent may be charged for them under federal fair housing rules.

What Minnesota law says

Pet deposits and fees	Minnesota has no cap on security deposits, so pet deposits and fees are not limited by a deposit cap. All non-optional fees must be disclosed in the lease and included in the 'Total Monthly Payment' on the first page. A landlord may not charge a fee, charge or deposit for a service or support animal granted as a reasonable accommodation, and a lease with a pet fee or deposit must disclose that prohibition. In subsidized disability-accessible units, tenants must be allowed two birds or one spayed/neutered dog or cat, and the landlord may require a reasonable, refundable additional damage deposit. Tenant is still liable for damage caused by a service or support animal. Source: Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.113, 504B.120, 504B.178, 504B.261
Service & support animals (state law)	A landlord may require documentation from a licensed professional (doctor, PA, nurse, psychologist, mental health professional, social worker or counselor, including out-of-state licensees with an existing treatment relationship) confirming the disability and the need for a service or support animal. This is not allowed when the need is obvious or already known. Online certification businesses don't qualify. Landlords can't demand medical records. No extra fee, charge or deposit may be charged for a service or support animal, though the tenant is liable for damage. A landlord with a pet fee policy must disclose this ban in the lease. Tenants may not knowingly misrepresent a disability or provide fraudulent documentation; if they do, the landlord may deny the application or animal request. Enacted 2021 and amended in 2024 (Laws 2024, c. 118). Tenants can recover pet fees if the landlord failed to include the disclosure and the tenant would likely have received an accommodation (subd. 3(c)). Source: Minn. Stat. § 504B.113

Pet deposits and fees

Minnesota has no cap on security deposits, so pet deposits and fees are not limited by a deposit cap. All non-optional fees must be disclosed in the lease and included in the 'Total Monthly Payment' on the first page. A landlord may not charge a fee, charge or deposit for a service or support animal granted as a reasonable accommodation, and a lease with a pet fee or deposit must disclose that prohibition. In subsidized disability-accessible units, tenants must be allowed two birds or one spayed/neutered dog or cat, and the landlord may require a reasonable, refundable additional damage deposit.

Tenant is still liable for damage caused by a service or support animal.

Source: Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.113, 504B.120, 504B.178, 504B.261

Service & support animals (state law)

A landlord may require documentation from a licensed professional (doctor, PA, nurse, psychologist, mental health professional, social worker or counselor, including out-of-state licensees with an existing treatment relationship) confirming the disability and the need for a service or support animal. This is not allowed when the need is obvious or already known. Online certification businesses don't qualify. Landlords can't demand medical records. No extra fee, charge or deposit may be charged for a service or support animal, though the tenant is liable for damage. A landlord with a pet fee policy must disclose this ban in the lease. Tenants may not knowingly misrepresent a disability or provide fraudulent documentation; if they do, the landlord may deny the application or animal request.

Enacted 2021 and amended in 2024 (Laws 2024, c. 118). Tenants can recover pet fees if the landlord failed to include the disclosure and the tenant would likely have received an accommodation (subd. 3(c)).

Source: Minn. Stat. § 504B.113

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PET ADDENDUM to the lease for [rental address] dated [lease date]

Tenant: [tenant name] Pet(s): [type, breed, name, weight]

Pet deposit: $[pet deposit] (counts toward any state deposit limit where the law says so). Monthly pet rent: $[pet rent]

The tenant keeps the pet under control, cleans up after it, and pays for damage it causes beyond normal wear and tear.

Signatures and dates: [signatures]

Pet Addendum for other states · Minnesota tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.