Pet Addendum in Tennessee

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 Tennessee law says

Pet deposits and fees	No statute caps security deposits or limits pet deposits, pet fees or pet rent. Where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies, any security deposit (including a pet deposit) must be kept in a separate account used only for deposits at a regulated bank or lending institution. A tenant or applicant with a disability who needs a service animal or support animal may request an exception to a no-pet policy or to any required pet payment, and the landlord may ask for reliable documentation if the disability-related need is not readily apparent or known. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Source: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-301(a), 66-28-406, 66-7-111
Service & support animals (state law)	A tenant or applicant with a disability may request an exception to a no-pet policy or pet fees for a service animal (trained dog or miniature horse) or support animal (prescribed or recommended by a health care provider, including for emotional support). If the disability is not apparent, the landlord may request reliable documentation of the disability and the disability-related need; if the disability is apparent but the need is not, only of the need. 'Reliable documentation' must come from a health care provider, licensed disability service provider, caregiver or other reliable third party with actual knowledge — not from a website whose main function is selling animal certificates or registrations. The landlord may verify documentation (but not obtain protected medical records) and may deny the request if accurate documentation is not provided. Misrepresenting a disability or need, or providing documentation falsely stating an animal is a service or support animal, is a material default allowing termination and recovery of damages and attorney's fees. Landlords are not liable for injuries caused by an animal permitted as a reasonable accommodation. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Federal Fair Housing Act rules also apply. Source: T.C.A. § 66-7-111

Pet deposits and fees

No statute caps security deposits or limits pet deposits, pet fees or pet rent. Where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies, any security deposit (including a pet deposit) must be kept in a separate account used only for deposits at a regulated bank or lending institution. A tenant or applicant with a disability who needs a service animal or support animal may request an exception to a no-pet policy or to any required pet payment, and the landlord may ask for reliable documentation if the disability-related need is not readily apparent or known.

Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024).

Source: Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-301(a), 66-28-406, 66-7-111

Service & support animals (state law)

A tenant or applicant with a disability may request an exception to a no-pet policy or pet fees for a service animal (trained dog or miniature horse) or support animal (prescribed or recommended by a health care provider, including for emotional support). If the disability is not apparent, the landlord may request reliable documentation of the disability and the disability-related need; if the disability is apparent but the need is not, only of the need. 'Reliable documentation' must come from a health care provider, licensed disability service provider, caregiver or other reliable third party with actual knowledge — not from a website whose main function is selling animal certificates or registrations. The landlord may verify documentation (but not obtain protected medical records) and may deny the request if accurate documentation is not provided. Misrepresenting a disability or need, or providing documentation falsely stating an animal is a service or support animal, is a material default allowing termination and recovery of damages and attorney's fees. Landlords are not liable for injuries caused by an animal permitted as a reasonable accommodation.

Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2024). Federal Fair Housing Act rules also apply.

Source: T.C.A. § 66-7-111

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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 · Tennessee 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.