Pet Addendum in Vermont

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 Vermont law says

Pet deposits and fees	No statute specifically on pet deposits, pet fees or pet rent, and Vermont sets no cap on security deposits. Any refundable advance or deposit 'however named' (including a refundable pet deposit) is a security deposit and must be returned with an itemized statement of deductions within 14 days after the tenant vacates; a landlord who misses the deadline forfeits the right to withhold any of it, and a willful failure makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees and costs. Towns may adopt supplemental security deposit ordinances (§ 4461(g)). The deadline is 60 days for seasonal rentals that are not a primary residence. Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4461(a), (c), (e)
Service & support animals (state law)	Vermont fair housing law makes it unlawful to discriminate in renting a dwelling because a person relies on aids such as specially trained animals, or to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies or services needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules, pet-fee limits or a housing misrepresentation penalty; federal Fair Housing Act standards govern those questions. Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(9)-(10)

Pet deposits and fees

No statute specifically on pet deposits, pet fees or pet rent, and Vermont sets no cap on security deposits. Any refundable advance or deposit 'however named' (including a refundable pet deposit) is a security deposit and must be returned with an itemized statement of deductions within 14 days after the tenant vacates; a landlord who misses the deadline forfeits the right to withhold any of it, and a willful failure makes the landlord liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees and costs.

Towns may adopt supplemental security deposit ordinances (§ 4461(g)). The deadline is 60 days for seasonal rentals that are not a primary residence.

Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4461(a), (c), (e)

Service & support animals (state law)

Vermont fair housing law makes it unlawful to discriminate in renting a dwelling because a person relies on aids such as specially trained animals, or to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies or services needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules, pet-fee limits or a housing misrepresentation penalty; federal Fair Housing Act standards govern those questions.

Source: 9 V.S.A. § 4503(a)(9)-(10)

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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 · Vermont 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.