Pet Addendum in Washington

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 Washington law says

Pet deposits and fees	No statute specifically on pet deposits or pet rent, and state law sets no cap on security deposits. Rules that apply to any pet deposit or fee: refundable deposits must be held in a trust account with a written agreement and receipt, and returned with an itemized statement under the deposit rules; nonrefundable money (such as a non-refundable pet fee) may not be called a deposit, must be clearly stated as nonrefundable in a written rental agreement, and is treated as a refundable deposit if the agreement does not say so (or refundable to the tenant if there is no written agreement). On the tenant's written request, deposits, nonrefundable fees and last month's rent must be allowed in installments (3 monthly installments for terms of 3 months or more, otherwise 2), unless the total deposits and fees are no more than 25 percent of the first month's rent and last month's rent is not required up front. Local ordinances may add limits on deposits and fees; check the city's rules. Source: RCW 59.18.260, 59.18.270, 59.18.280, 59.18.285, 59.18.610
Service & support animals (state law)	The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits housing discrimination based on disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, and requires reasonable accommodation in rules and policies. Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal or service-animal trainee (knowing or having reason to know it does not qualify) to secure disability rights is a civil infraction. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules or pet-fee limits. RCW 49.60.214 was amended in 2024 (2024 c 161). Housing provision text: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.60.222. Emotional support animals may be a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act. Source: RCW 49.60.222; 49.60.214

Pet deposits and fees

No statute specifically on pet deposits or pet rent, and state law sets no cap on security deposits. Rules that apply to any pet deposit or fee: refundable deposits must be held in a trust account with a written agreement and receipt, and returned with an itemized statement under the deposit rules; nonrefundable money (such as a non-refundable pet fee) may not be called a deposit, must be clearly stated as nonrefundable in a written rental agreement, and is treated as a refundable deposit if the agreement does not say so (or refundable to the tenant if there is no written agreement). On the tenant's written request, deposits, nonrefundable fees and last month's rent must be allowed in installments (3 monthly installments for terms of 3 months or more, otherwise 2), unless the total deposits and fees are no more than 25 percent of the first month's rent and last month's rent is not required up front.

Local ordinances may add limits on deposits and fees; check the city's rules.

Source: RCW 59.18.260, 59.18.270, 59.18.280, 59.18.285, 59.18.610

Service & support animals (state law)

The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits housing discrimination based on disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal, and requires reasonable accommodation in rules and policies. Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal or service-animal trainee (knowing or having reason to know it does not qualify) to secure disability rights is a civil infraction. No state statute sets emotional-support-animal documentation rules or pet-fee limits.

RCW 49.60.214 was amended in 2024 (2024 c 161). Housing provision text: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.60.222. Emotional support animals may be a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act.

Source: RCW 49.60.222; 49.60.214

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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 · Washington 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.