Being a five-star Airbnb host means being willing to bend over backwards to accommodate guests’ every need. But are you willing to bend over forwards to pick up their company’s poop? To be clear, we’re talking about pets here. People bring them on vacation all the time, which makes it likely you’ll need to address animal stays at one point or another. Here’s a complete guide of rules, standards, and best practices when it comes to Airbnb pet policies.
Do You Have to Allow Pets In an Airbnb?
Airbnb hosts are not legally required to allow pets in their rental properties. In fact, hosts have complete discretion to set their own pet policies, which can range from a total ban on animals to welcoming all furry friends with open arms.
You can choose to allow pets without restrictions, permit only certain types or sizes of animals, or simply decline pet stays altogether. The platform gives you total flexibility to make this decision based on your comfort level, property type, and personal preferences.
Building-Specific Pet Restrictions
Even if you’re a dog person with no problem accommodating guests with their own four-legged friend, your property’s community might not be. Condos in particular can pose challenges to welcoming certain types of animals and breeds. For example, communities in cramped downtown areas tend to limit residents’ dog count to one or two, and sometimes impose size limits in an effort to maintain an enjoyable environment for everyone. There’s also the issue of neighbors, who have the power to file complaints about unruly pets.
Pets, Service Animals, and ESAs
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), hosts must accommodate service animals for guests with disabilities, regardless of their standard pet policy. Such working animals are not considered pets and cannot be denied entry, which means hosts need to be prepared to welcome them.
But terminology matters. Although often used interchangeably, ‘service dog’ and ‘Emotional Support Animal’ aren’t equal designations. This matters because it affects your legal obligations when setting rules.
Service animals, like guide dogs for the visually impaired or seizure alert dogs, are specifically trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. They are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and must be allowed in your rental, regardless of your standard pet policy. You cannot charge extra fees or impose breed restrictions on working animals.
Emotional support animals, or ESAs, occupy a more complex legal space. Unlike service animals, ESAs are not trained for specific tasks but provide therapeutic emotional support for their owners. For short-term rentals like Airbnb, ESAs do not have the same robust legal protections as service animals. You’ll generally have more discretion in deciding whether to accommodate them.
To Allow or Deny Pets
You can allow pets in an Airbnb. But does that mean you should? There are arguments for both sides.
Pros of Pet-Friendliness
Permitting pets in your short-term rental property may be one of the best decisions you make as a host. We’ve listed some reasons why below.
Expanded Guest Pool: Pet owners represent a substantial and often underserved market of travelers who actively seek pet-friendly accommodations.
Additional Revenue Stream: You can charge pet fees that offset potential wear and tear on your property.
Longer Stays: Pet-friendly properties tend to attract extended bookings, as these travelers have fewer accommodation options and are more likely to commit to longer stays.
Positive Reviews: Guests with pets are typically grateful for welcoming spaces and often leave glowing reviews, which can enhance your listing's reputation and attract more bookings.
Competitive Advantage: In a competitive short-term rental market, being pet-friendly can help your property stand out and potentially increase your overall booking rates and income.
Cons of Pet-Friendliness
Pet-friendliness comes with caveats. Consider the following.
Property Damage: Pets can cause scratches on hardwood floors, stains on carpets and furniture, and destructive behaviors like chewing baseboards or furniture.
Odors and Allergens: Even well-behaved pets can leave behind stubborn odors and allergens that may deter future guests with sensitivities.
Cleaning Requirements: The cleaning process becomes substantially more time-consuming, requiring deep sanitization and specialized treatments to remove pet hair, dander, and potential stains.
Noise Disturbances: Pets can create disruptions through barking or other behaviors, potentially leading to complaints from neighbors or other guests.
Liability Risks: There are potential injuries caused by pets or damage to neighboring properties to consider.
Limited Guest Appeal: Some guests without pets may actively avoid rentals that allow animals, potentially limiting your overall booking potential.
How to Make an Pet-Friendly Airbnb Policy Manageable
There is a realistic solution to the decision of whether or not to allow pets in an Airbnb. You’re free to reap the benefits as long as you’re willing to put in a bit of extra work. Permitting cats and dogs means sharing the owner’s interests and responsibilities along with your own as a short-term rental operator. The challenge lies in balancing both concerns like cleanliness and convenience with maintaining high standards for every guest who walks through that door.
Charge a Pet Fee
Airbnb gives operators the ability to impose a variety of policies and rules per the nuances of their property, including pet fees. You can use these to cover any additional costs that might come with cleaning up after an animal post-stay.
There are multiple ways to structure charges, specifically per booking, per night, per pet, or per pet per night. Airbnb’s only rule is that they can't exceed the regular nightly rate. Be careful to cover your bases while remaining mindful of the potentially negative impact of extra charges.
The final price shown to customers will factor in pet fees along with any other applicable add-ons and taxes.
Craft a Clear Airbnb Pet Policy
A clear, specific pet policy keeps your listing attractive to pet owners while protecting your time, property, and reviews. Use this section to spell out what you allow, what you don’t, and exactly what guests are responsible for with their animals.
Provide Pet Essentials and Boundaries
Supplying a few basic pet items reduces wear and tear on your space and makes it easier for guests to follow your rules. Consider offering washable pet blankets, a designated dog bed, food and water bowls, and a lint roller so fur stays off your furniture.
Pair those comforts with clear boundaries by labeling “pet zones,” such as a mat near the entry for wiping paws and a specific corner for crates or beds. This keeps traffic patterns predictable and makes post-checkout cleaning much more efficient.
Protect Furniture and Soft Surfaces
Don’t want to furnish your Airbnb every two months? A few preventative measures can save you from expensive replacements and time-consuming claims. Use mattress and pillow protectors, put washable covers on sofas and armchairs, and place runners or rugs over vulnerable flooring in high-traffic paths.
If you allow pets on furniture, make that conditional on using the provided covers; if you don’t, add a friendly reminder sign in living areas so guests remember the rules without you having to micromanage.
Manage Noise and Neighbor Relations
Pet noise can quickly turn a pet-friendly policy into a headache if neighbors are disturbed. Use your listing and house rules to encourage guests to keep windows closed during barking-prone times and to crate or occupy dogs if they step out briefly.
If your property is in a multi-unit building or close community, consider quiet hours and a note asking guests to notify you if their pet is anxious or reactive so you can troubleshoot before complaints escalate.
If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably realized there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the pet question – and that’s the point. You don’t have to love every dog hair on the duvet to run a successful, pet-friendly Airbnb; you just need a policy that fits your property, your building rules, and your own tolerance for risk and extra work. A solid mix of clear expectations, practical protections, and fair fees lets you say “yes” to more bookings without saying “goodbye” to your sanity.
