Pets and Assistance Animals in Washington Rentals

If you rent

Can I have an assistance animal in a home that doesn’t allow pets?

Yes, if you have a disability and the animal is needed because of it. Washington’s fair housing law requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations in their rules, and a no-pets rule is one of those rules (RCW 49.60.222). The Washington State Human Rights Commission says emotional support animals and comfort animals are included, and that fair housing law has no training requirement for them. Make the request to the landlord or property manager as a reasonable accommodation. For a home managed by RPM Eclipse, call (425) 209-0252.

What documentation can a landlord ask for?

If your disability or your need for the animal is not obvious, the landlord can ask for information that shows both, usually a note or recommendation from a medical provider, according to the Human Rights Commission. Washington also bars landlords from asking a disabled applicant about personal matters beyond what is necessary and appropriate to the landlord-tenant relationship (WAC 162-38-110).

Do online ESA certificates or registrations count?

A certificate or registry listing does not carry legal weight on its own. The Human Rights Commission notes there is no state or federal service animal registry or certification process, and that such documents can be bought online by anyone. What a landlord can weigh is information showing your disability-related need for the animal. Separately, Washington makes it a civil infraction to knowingly misrepresent an animal as a service animal to get the rights given to people with disabilities (RCW 49.60.214).

Can I be charged a pet deposit or pet rent for an assistance animal?

No pet deposit. Under Washington’s housing rules, a landlord cannot charge a tenant with a service animal a pet deposit in addition to the standard deposit (WAC 162-38-100(5)). The Human Rights Commission says there should be no charge or pet fee for an assistance animal. A landlord can still require the same cleaning or damage deposit that every tenant pays (WAC 162-38-100(4)). The usual deposit rules then apply, including the move-in condition checklist and the 30-day return (RCW 59.18.260; RCW 59.18.280).

Who pays if my assistance animal damages the home?

You do, the same as any other damage you cause. Washington’s rule says a person with a disability using a service animal is generally responsible for the animal and may be held liable for its actions (WAC 162-38-105(4)). At homes managed by RPM Eclipse, a tenant who causes damage is charged for it and the owner is reimbursed, and the security deposit can be applied to repairs at move-out.

How do I find a home that allows my pet?

Search available rentals, open Amenities, and select Pets Allowed. Add Fenced Yard if you need one. Whether a home takes pets depends on the owner’s preference and the owner’s insurance policy, so the type, number, and size of pets allowed are set home by home. Ask about the pet policy for a specific home before you apply. RPM Eclipse asks tenants with pets to carry their own liability insurance for them.

If you own. Related: Security deposits and Repairs and maintenance.

If you own

Should I allow pets in my rental?

It is your decision, and saying no to pets is allowed. RPM Eclipse’s owner guidance notes that over half of renters have pets, so accepting them widens the pool of applicants, and RPM Eclipse charges an additional monthly amount per pet. Owners who are open to pets can list the home as “pet considered,” which means the right pet may be approved without committing to every pet. Your insurance policy may limit what you can accept. For more on the trade-offs, see the benefits of pet-friendly rentals and pet screening.

Do I have to allow assistance animals if my rental is no-pets?

Yes, as a rule. State and federal law require reasonable accommodations in rules and policies for tenants with disabilities (RCW 49.60.222(2)(b); 42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(3)(B)), and Washington’s housing rule says a no-pet policy cannot be applied to a service animal (WAC 162-38-100(3)). Washington’s exemptions are narrow: a single-family house rented by an owner who holds three or fewer houses and rents without a real estate broker, and a building of up to four units where the owner lives in one of them (RCW 49.60.222(2)). Most homes RPM Eclipse manages fall under the rule, and requests are reviewed case by case.

Do my breed, size, or species limits apply to an assistance animal?

Not automatically. A breed, weight, or species limit is a rule, and the accommodation duty covers rules and policies (RCW 49.60.222(2)(b)). The Human Rights Commission says fair housing laws do not limit the species of these animals. For service animals, Washington’s rule requires that any risk used to justify removal be immediate or reasonably foreseeable, not remote or speculative, and says that a different dog having bitten someone is not that kind of risk (WAC 162-38-105(2)(a)). The review turns on the specific animal and its behavior.

How is an assistance animal request reviewed, and when can it be denied?

The Human Rights Commission describes three elements: a disability, a request for the animal as an accommodation, and a showing that the animal is needed because of the disability, usually a medical provider’s note. Federal law does not require renting to someone whose tenancy would be a direct threat to others’ health or safety or would cause substantial physical damage to others’ property (42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(9)). Washington allows removing a service animal only after an unreasonable risk is shown and a reasonable attempt to fix it fails (WAC 162-38-105(1)). RPM Eclipse handles emotional support animals “per Washington state law requirements.” HUD withdrew its 2020 assistance-animal guidance in 2025, but its reasonable accommodation regulation stands (24 CFR 100.204). See emotional support animal guidelines for owners.

Can I charge pet deposits or pet fees?

For ordinary pets, yes, within Washington’s general deposit and fee rules. On homes RPM Eclipse manages, an owner open to pets lists the home as “pet considered,” meaning the right pet may be approved rather than every pet, and we charge an additional amount per pet per month. A refundable pet deposit is a deposit, so the move-in checklist and 30-day return rules apply (RCW 59.18.260; RCW 59.18.280). A nonrefundable pet fee must be in a written rental agreement that clearly says it is nonrefundable (RCW 59.18.285). For an assistance animal, a pet deposit on top of the standard deposit is an unfair practice, while the standard deposit charged to all tenants is allowed (WAC 162-38-100(4) and (5)). Damage the animal causes is the tenant’s responsibility (WAC 162-38-105(4)).

If you rent. Related: Security deposits and Repairs and maintenance.

General information about Washington law, not legal advice. Your lease and your situation may add details.