Georgia Pet Rent Laws in 2025: A Guide for Landlords

After managing thousands of rental properties across Georgia through our platform at Hemlane, we have seen firsthand how pet policies can make or break a landlord's success. The reality is straightforward: roughly 67% of American households own pets meaning landlords who outright ban animals are limiting their tenant pool significantly. But allowing pets without proper safeguards? That is equally risky.

This guide walks you through everything we have learned about navigating Georgia's pet rent laws. From the recent Safe At Home Act changes to handling service animal requests which keep you compliant with federal regulations.

What Changed in July 2024: The Safe At Home Act

Georgia made a major shift this summer. The Safe At Home Act, which took effect July 1, 2024, caps security deposits at two times the monthly rent—and that includes your pet deposit. This is a hard ceiling, not a suggestion.

Here's what this means practically: If you're renting a property for $1,500 per month, you can collect a maximum of $3,000 in total deposits. That $3,000 needs to cover your standard security deposit, any pet deposit, and even advance rent if you're collecting it upfront.

Many landlords we work with had been collecting significantly more than this, especially on properties that allowed multiple large dogs. Those days are over. You'll need to adjust your pet policies to work within this cap while still protecting your investment.

Can You Actually Charge Pet Rent in Georgia?

Absolutely. Pet rent is completely legal in Georgia, and it's separate from your deposit calculations.

Think of it this way: the deposit cap limits what you can hold as security, but pet rent is an ongoing monthly charge that goes directly into your operating income. Most landlords across our network charge between $25 and $50 per pet per month. Though we have seen it range from $15 to $75 depending on the market and property type.

Transparency is key. Your lease agreement must spell out exactly what you're charging and why. Don't bury it in the fine print—tenants need to know upfront that their $1,200 monthly rent becomes $1,250 with their dog.

Breaking Down Pet Deposits vs. Pet Rent vs. Non-Refundable Fees

This confuses a lot of landlords, so let us clear it up with real examples:

Pet Deposits are refundable security against damage. Let us say you collect a $500 pet deposit. When your tenant moves out, you inspect the property. If their dog scratched the hardwood floors and the repair costs $300 you deduct that amount and return $200. If there is no damage beyond normal wear and tear then they get the full $500 back within 30 days.

Pet Rent is different. It is a recurring monthly fee that you keep regardless of whether the pet causes damage. You are charging $40 per month in pet rent for a tenant who stays two years? That is $960 in your pocket and it does not factor into their deposit refund calculation at all.

Non-Refundable Pet Fees are one-time charges typically collected at move-in to cover things like deep cleaning or deodorization. Georgia law does not specifically address these but we generally recommend keeping them reasonable (think $200-$400) and documenting exactly what they cover in your lease.

The biggest mistake landlords make is not clearly separating these in their lease agreements. When a tenant moves out and you are calculating their deposit return, confusion about what was refundable versus non-refundable leads to disputes, bad reviews and sometimes even small claims court.

Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals: What You Can and Cannot Do

This is where many landlords trip up and honestly, it is where Fair Housing complaints most often originate. Federal law is extremely clear about this and Georgia follows suit.

Service Animals: No Fees, No Deposits and No Questions About Disability

Service animals are dogs and occasionally miniature horses trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. A guide dog for someone who is blind, a seizure alert dog, or a dog trained to retrieve medication during a medical episode. These are service animals.

You cannot:

• Charge any pet deposit or pet rent
• Impose breed, size or weight restrictions
• Ask about the nature or extent of the person's disability
• Require documentation or certification
• Ask the dog to demonstrate its training

You can only ask two questions:

1. Is this dog required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

That is it. If someone answers these questions appropriately then you are done. You allow the service animal, you charge nothing and you move on. The only exception is if the specific animal poses a direct threat to the safety f others or would cause substantial property damage that cannot be mitigated.

Can you hold the tenant responsible if their service animal destroys your property? Yes. Tenants with service animals are not exempt from paying for damage their animals cause. You just can't require an upfront deposit.

Emotional Support Animals: Reasonable Accommodations Required

ESAs provide comfort and therapeutic benefit to people with mental or emotional disabilities but they are not trained to perform specific tasks. Under the Fair Housing Act you must make reasonable accommodations for legitimate ESAs.

What this looks like in practice - Your tenant has a "no-pet" lease but requests to keep an emotional support cat because of their anxiety disorder. They provide documentation from their licensed therapist explaining the need. You cannot charge pet rent or a pet deposit for this ESA, even though you charge other tenants $35 per month for cats.

You can request documentation but you need to be careful about what you are asking for. Appropriate documentation includes a letter from a licensed healthcare provider (therapist, psychiatrist and physician) that:

• Confirms the tenant has a disability but does not detail what it is
• States that the ESA provides disability-related assistance or emotional support
• Establishes a therapeutic relationship between the provider and tenant

What you cannot do:

• Demand detailed medical records
• Require the tenant to use a specific provider
• Insist on in-person examinations if the provider is treating remotely
• Accept questionable "ESA certificates" from online registration sites at face value

Red flags we've seen: Someone presents an ESA letter purchased online for $49 from a provider they've never actually spoken with. That is not legitimate documentation and you are within your rights to request verification that a real therapeutic relationship exists.

The Grey Area: What About "Pet-Friendly" Buildings?

Here is something many landlords do not realize - even if you market your property as "pet-friendly" and allow pets generally, you still cannot charge pet-related fees for service animals or legitimate ESAs. The fact that you are already accommodating pets does not change federal requirements.

Building a Pet Policy That Actually Works

After reviewing thousands of lease agreements through our platform, here's what separates effective pet policies from ones that cause problems:

Be Specific About What's Allowed

"Pets allowed" is a useless policy. You need details:

• Types of animals (dogs, cats, caged birds and fish under 20 gallons etc.)
• Size limits if applicable (dogs under 50 pounds)
• Number limits (maximum two pets)
• Breed restrictions (though be aware these are controversial and may limit your tenant pool)

Document Everything

Your tenant wants to bring their dog? Have them complete a pet application that includes:

• Detailed pet description (breed, age, weight and color)
• Current vaccination records
• Veterinarian contact information
• Previous landlord reference specifically about the pet
• Photos of the pet
• Pet liability insurance information if you require it

We have built pet screening directly into Hemlane's tenant placement process because catching problems before move-in is infinitely easier than dealing with unauthorized pets later.

Create Clear Rules and Consequences

Your lease should specify:

• Where pets are allowed (not in common areas, for example)
• Waste disposal requirements
• Noise expectations (no excessive barking)
• Leash requirements in common areas
• What happens if rules are violated

We recommend a graduated enforcement approach. First violation gets a written warning, second violation incurs a fee and third violation starts eviction proceedings. Document everything.

Consider Regular Pet Inspections

Georgia law allows landlords to conduct reasonable property inspections with proper notice which is typically 24 hours. If you allow pets, consider scheduling inspections every 6 months specifically to check for pet-related damage.

This is not about catching tenants doing something wrong but about identifying problems early. Maybe you notice carpet stains developing that can be cleaned now before they become permanent. Maybe there is urine smell emerging that needs professional treatment. Early intervention saves everyone money.

When Pet Problems Lead to Eviction

You can evict for pet-related issues in Georgia but you must follow proper legal procedures. Common grounds include:

Unauthorized pets: Tenant brings a dog despite a "no-pet" lease or adds a second dog when the lease allows only one.

Property damage: The pet has caused substantial damage beyond normal wear and tear. Note that "substantial" matters here like a few scratches on a door may not qualify but urine-soaked subflooring that needs replacement does.

Nuisance behavior: Continuous barking complaints from neighbors, aggressive behavior toward other residents and repeated violations of pet waste rules.

The process requires written notice allowing the tenant to cure the violation which is typically 7 to 10 days to remove the pet or fix the problem. If they do not comply, you can proceed with formal eviction proceedings.

We have helped landlords navigate this through Hemlane's Eviction Shield service, and honestly, most cases resolve without ever reaching court. Once tenants receive formal notice explaining their lease violation and the consequences they usually address the issue.

Practical Advice from Managing Real Georgia Rentals

Here's what we have learned from actually doing this work:

Market your pet-friendly properties strategically. In our experience pet-friendly listings in Georgia cities rent about 15 to 20% faster than comparable no-pet properties. The pet owner market is huge and underserved. If you are competing for quality tenants allowing pets (with appropriate safeguards) is often smart business.

Price your pet fees competitively. Check what other comparable rentals in your area charge. If you are at $75 per month when everyone else is at $35, you are pricing yourself out of the market for no good reason.

Do not try to disguise ESA denials. We have seen landlords try clever workarounds suddenly the unit is not available or they come up with non-disability reasons to reject the applicant. This is illegal and opens you up to Fair Housing complaints. If you have a legitimate reason to deny (the specific animal is dangerous, the accommodation would create undue financial burden) get legal advice first.

Use move-in and move-out documentation. Photograph everything. When a tenant with pets moves in, document the condition of floors, walls, doors and yards extensively. Do the same at move-out. This documentation is essential if you are making deposit deductions for pet damage.

Consider pet liability insurance requirements. Some landlords require tenants to carry renter's insurance with pet liability coverage (typically $100,000 to $300,000). This shifts some risk away from you if the pet injures someone.

Questions Landlords Actually Ask Us

"Can I charge different pet rent for different types or sizes of pets?"

Yes. Charging $25 per month for a cat but $50 for a large dog is reasonable given the different wear patterns. Just ensure you document it clearly in your lease.

"What if a tenant gets a pet after moving in?"

Your lease should require written permission before adding any pet. If they get one without permission, that's a lease violation. Send a written notice requiring them to remove the pet or request formal approval (which you can deny based on your pet policy). If they refuse, you have grounds for eviction.

"How do I verify if an ESA letter is legitimate?"

You can contact the healthcare provider listed to confirm they have a therapeutic relationship with the tenant and that they issued the letter. You cannot ask about the specific disability or details of treatment. If the letter came from an online ESA mill with no real provider relationship, that's grounds for denial.

"Can I charge more rent on pet-friendly units, not as 'pet rent' but just higher base rent?"

Legally, yes, but practically, this can backfire. If you're charging $1,300 for a pet-friendly unit when comparable non-pet units rent for $1,200, you're limiting your market. Most landlords find separate pet rent more transparent and easier to adjust.

"What about exotic pets like snakes or ferrets?"

Your lease can be as specific or restrictive as you want. Many landlords allow only dogs and cats. Others are more flexible. Just be clear upfront about what is acceptable.

Moving Forward: Making Smart Decisions About Pets

The landscape has shifted. Between the new deposit caps under the Safe At Home Act and the expanding definitions of assistance animals, landlords need to be more strategic about pet policies than ever before.

Our recommendation after managing properties across Georgia is do not default to no-pet policies out of fear. The risk of pet damage is real, but it is manageable with proper screening, clear lease terms and regular oversight. The cost of limiting your tenant pool by excluding responsible pet owners is usually higher than the cost of occasional pet-related repairs.

That said, going the other direction and allowing anything without proper protections is equally problematic. You need the middle path: well-documented policies, thorough pet screening, appropriate fees and deposits (within legal limits), and consistent enforcement.

At Hemlane, we've built tools specifically to help landlords navigate this. Our platform automates pet screening, tracks pet-related fees, coordinates maintenance when pet damage occurs, and provides lease templates that incorporate Georgia's current legal requirements. Whether you are managing two properties or twenty having systems in place makes the difference between pet policies that work and ones that cause constant headaches.

About Hemlane: We are a property management platform that helps landlords across Georgia and nationwide manage their rentals more effectively. From tenant placement to rent collection to maintenance coordination, we combine technology with real human support to give landlords full visibility and control over their properties. Our team has helped thousands of landlords navigate complex situations like pet policies, service animal accommodations, and changing state regulations.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about Georgia pet rent laws based on current regulations as of 2024. Laws change, and every situation is unique. For specific legal advice about your particular circumstances, consult with a qualified real estate attorney in Georgia. Nothing in this article creates an attorney-client relationship.