Pet Addendum in Missouri

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 Missouri law says

Pet deposits and fees	Pet deposits do not count toward the security-deposit cap. The cap is two months' rent, but the statutory definition of security deposit excludes money or property labeled as a deposit for a pet on the premises. No statute limits pet rent or pet fees. Source: RSMo § 535.300
Service & support animals (state law)	It is a class C misdemeanor (class B for repeat offenses), with civil liability for actual damages, to knowingly misrepresent an animal as an assistance animal to get Fair Housing Act or Rehabilitation Act accommodations. This includes emotional support animals. Misrepresentation includes creating or providing false documents, fitting a vest or sign on an animal that isn't an assistance animal, or lying to a health care provider to get documentation. All assistance-animal documentation must come from a qualified professional as permitted under federal law. Separately, service dogs may not be subject to an extra charge in places like lodging, though the owner is liable for damage. State fair housing law bans disability discrimination. 209.150: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=209.150. 213.040: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=213.040. The misrepresentation provisions were added in 2020 (S.B. 644/656). Federal rules bar pet fees or deposits for assistance animals in housing. Source: RSMo 209.204.3; RSMo 209.150.3; RSMo 213.040

Pet deposits and fees

Pet deposits do not count toward the security-deposit cap. The cap is two months' rent, but the statutory definition of security deposit excludes money or property labeled as a deposit for a pet on the premises. No statute limits pet rent or pet fees.

Source: RSMo § 535.300

Service & support animals (state law)

It is a class C misdemeanor (class B for repeat offenses), with civil liability for actual damages, to knowingly misrepresent an animal as an assistance animal to get Fair Housing Act or Rehabilitation Act accommodations. This includes emotional support animals. Misrepresentation includes creating or providing false documents, fitting a vest or sign on an animal that isn't an assistance animal, or lying to a health care provider to get documentation. All assistance-animal documentation must come from a qualified professional as permitted under federal law. Separately, service dogs may not be subject to an extra charge in places like lodging, though the owner is liable for damage. State fair housing law bans disability discrimination.

209.150: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=209.150. 213.040: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=213.040. The misrepresentation provisions were added in 2020 (S.B. 644/656). Federal rules bar pet fees or deposits for assistance animals in housing.

Source: RSMo 209.204.3; RSMo 209.150.3; RSMo 213.040

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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 · Missouri 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.