# Renting a New Austin Apartment With Pets: Fees and Rules > Pet deposit vs. pet fee vs. monthly pet rent, breed and weight rules, and how pet rent changes true monthly at new Austin buildings. URL: https://newapartmentsaustin.com/guides/renting-new-apartment-with-pets/ Last-Modified: 2026-10-25 Guide · Guides # Renting a New Apartment With Pets: Fees, Rent, and Rules Pet deposit vs. pet fee vs. monthly pet rent, breed and weight rules, and how pet rent changes true monthly at new Austin buildings. Written by New Austin Apartment Team [/about/#new-austin-apartment-team →](/about/#new-austin-apartment-team) · Reviewed by the team, Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC · Updated October 25, 2026 · 5 min read - Free to you, and your rent is the same either way - 144 new communities tracked (as of Oct 25, 2026) - Prices pulled every morning ![Dog resting on a new oak floor near floor-to-ceiling windows](/images/featured/dog-resting-on-a-new-oak-floor-near-floor-to-ceili.webp) - Licensed Texas brokerage Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC, TREC #562021 - Free to renters Communities pay the brokerage. Your rent is the same either way. - Prices pulled every morning Every card shows the date and time it was pulled - Score can't be bought Commission rates never affect score, sort, placement, or picks ## What does it cost to rent a new apartment with a pet? Pets add three kinds of charges at most new Austin buildings: a one-time pet fee, a pet deposit, and monthly pet rent, usually per pet. Monthly pet rent goes straight into your true monthly, just like a required fee, and over a 12-month lease it often costs more than the one-time charges combined. Tell us about your pets [/ →](/) on the form, and we’ll filter and price buildings around them. ## Pet deposit vs. pet fee vs. pet rent | Charge | When you pay | Refundable? | Where it shows up | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pet deposit | At move-in | Yes, less damage | Move-in cash | | Pet fee | At move-in | No | Move-in cash | | Pet rent | Every month | No | True monthly | Some communities charge a deposit and a fee, some only one. Pet rent is almost always monthly and per pet. Read the pet addendum: it lists each charge, the number of pets allowed, and the rules. > **Example math** > > At $25 a month per pet, two pets add $50 a month, or $600 over 12 months. Add that to true monthly before you compare buildings. ## Breed, weight, and number rules New buildings set their own rules, and they differ: - **Number of pets**, often two per unit - **Weight limits**, sometimes per pet or combined - **Breed restrictions**, which some communities have and others don’t - **Species**: dogs and cats are common; others vary - **Vaccination and registration** records at move-in If your dog is large or a breed some communities restrict, say so on the form. We check the written pet policy before you tour so you don’t spend an afternoon on buildings that won’t accept your pet. ## Finished vs. not yet open ![Pet wash station in a new apartment amenity room](/images/content/pet-wash-station-in-a-new-apartment-amenity-room-w.webp) Dog parks, pet wash stations, and walking paths are common amenities at new buildings, but they’re often among the last things finished in a lease-up. If they matter to you, ask for open dates in writing. Our guide to moving into a building that’s still finishing [/guides/moving-into-building-still-finishing/ →](/guides/moving-into-building-still-finishing/) lists the questions to ask. Unit location matters too. A ground-floor unit or one near an exit door makes early walks easier. Ground floor is one of the must-haves on our form. ## Assistance animals Assistance animals, including service animals and support animals, are not pets under fair housing rules. Communities can’t charge pet rent, pet fees, or pet deposits for them, though they can ask for appropriate documentation in some cases. You’re still responsible for any damage. If you have an assistance animal, tell us and we’ll confirm the community’s process in writing. ## Would a build-to-rent home fit better? If you have a large dog or more than one pet, a yard can matter more than a dog park. Build-to-rent homes with yards [/build-to-rent-homes/ →](/build-to-rent-homes/) are new detached homes or townhomes leased like apartments. They charge pet rent too, but the private yard changes daily life. Compare them on true monthly, including any yard maintenance fee. ## Add pets to your budget Pet rent belongs in your all-in number. Our all-in budget [/guides/all-in-apartment-budget/ →](/guides/all-in-apartment-budget/) guide shows where it fits: net effective, required fees, electric, water, parking, and pet rent. Send us your pets’ details on the form, and we’ll return buildings that accept them with every pet charge confirmed in writing. See it on the board Every new building priced on net effective, required fees, and year two, pulled every morning. Open the New Build Board [/new-construction-apartments/ →](/new-construction-apartments/) Why it goes wrong ## Why the advertised price isn't what you'll pay Problem 1 ### Specials don't compare 10.8 weeks free was the board median on Oct 25, 2026. On 12 months that is about 21% off base, spread across the year. Problem 2 ### Fees sit outside the rent Required fees ran $78-$228 a month at 12 board buildings (median $120.50), about $1,446 a year outside headline rent. Problem 3 ### Year two jumps Renewals price from base rent. At the median special, year two is about 26% higher at the same base. So we show net effective, true monthly, and year two on every building before you tour. Straight answers ## Questions about this topic Direct answer first, then the source and date. If your question isn't here, ask us on the form or by text. ### Is pet rent charged per pet? Usually yes. Most new buildings charge monthly pet rent for each pet, plus a one-time fee or deposit per pet. We confirm the per-pet amounts in writing. ### Is a pet deposit refundable? A pet deposit can be refunded after move-out, less any damage. A pet fee is not refundable. Check the pet addendum to see which you're paying. ### Do assistance animals pay pet rent? No. Under fair housing rules, assistance animals aren't pets, and communities can't charge pet rent or pet fees for them. Documentation rules apply. ### Can you guarantee a price or approval? No. The community sets pet rules, pet charges, and approval. Keep reading ## More guides on this topic ![Hands with a calculator and notebook at a sunlit desk in a new apartment](/images/featured/hands-with-a-calculator-and-notebook-at-a-sunlit-d.webp) ### How to Set an All-In Budget for a New Apartment Turn a monthly budget into net effective plus fees plus utilities, then check move-in cash, 24-month totals, and year two before you tour. [How to Set an All-In Budget for a New Apartment →](/guides/all-in-apartment-budget/) ![Electric meter bank on the limestone wall of a new Central Texas apartment building](/images/featured/electric-meter-bank-on-the-limestone-exterior-wall.webp) ### Austin Energy vs. PEC vs. Bluebonnet: Electric at New Apartments Electric depends on the address. Across 144 new Austin-area buildings: Austin Energy 83, PEC 28, Bluebonnet 13, Georgetown 3, Oncor 16 (Oct 25, 2026). [Austin Energy vs. PEC vs. Bluebonnet: Electric at New Apartments →](/guides/austin-energy-vs-pec-vs-bluebonnet/) The 60-second form ## Tell us what you need. We make the calls. You don't have time to call 20 leasing offices. We do, and confirm the unit, the special, and the written fee sheet the same day during hours. 1. 1 Same day We call or text during hours with a shortlist plan. 2. 2 In writing Unit, special, end date, and fee sheet confirmed before you tour. 3. 3 Year two shown Every pick shows year two at 0% and +3%, plus a 24-month total. Prefer to talk? Call or text 512-000-000 [tel:+1512000000 →](tel:+1512000000) , Mon-Fri 8 AM-8 PM · Sat 9 AM-6 PM · Sun 12-5 PM. Free, same day during hours ## Get my shortlist Step 1 of 3 ### Thanks, we have your details. We'll call or text the same day during hours with your shortlist plan. Related pages ## Related board views Board view ### New Build Board Every in-scope community on one map, with base rent, the special, net effective, true monthly, and year two pulled every morning. Open New Build Board→ [/new-construction-apartments/ →](/new-construction-apartments/) Board view ### Specials Specials confirmed within the last 7 days, each decoded to net effective and year two, with base rent shown beside every discount. Open Specials→ [/apartment-specials/ →](/apartment-specials/) Board view ### Lease-Ups Buildings already open and filling, sorted by stage and fill estimate, with what's finished and what the special does to your monthly cost. Open Lease-Ups→ [/lease-up-apartments/ →](/lease-up-apartments/) ![](/images/misc/dusk-view-of-new-limestone-and-glass-apartment-tow.webp) Free to you, and your rent is the same either way ## You don't have time to call 20 leasing offices. We do. Send us your move date and all-in budget. We confirm the unit, the special, and the written fee sheet the same day during hours, then show you year two before you tour. Get my shortlist → [/contact/ →](/contact/) See the New Build Board [/new-construction-apartments/ →](/new-construction-apartments/) Call or text 512-000-000 [tel:+1512000000 →](tel:+1512000000) We don't guarantee pricing or approval. The community sets both, and we confirm them before you sign.