Charlotte, North Carolina, has emerged as the nation's most welcoming rental market for pets, with 91.6% of its listings allowing animal companions. This figure narrowly surpasses Austin, Texas, which follows closely at 91.5% pet approval.
Denver, Dallas, and Nashville complete the top five, reflecting a trend where cities in the Sun Belt and Mountain West regions are leading in pet-friendly rental accommodations. This trend is often attributed to newer apartment complexes designed with integrated pet policies.
Nationally, the rental market has seen a significant shift toward accommodating pets. According to Zillow data, 77% of all rental listings now permit pets, a substantial increase from just over half of listings three years ago. Zillow Home Trends Expert Amanda Pendleton noted this as a "dramatic shift for pet owners."
The demand for pet-friendly housing is driven by a growing pet ownership rate among renters. Currently, 59% of renter households have a pet, a figure that now exceeds the percentage of renters with children. Furthermore, 65% of renters consider pet-friendliness an essential factor when searching for a new apartment, up from 60% in the previous year.
However, not all major cities have kept pace with this trend. New York City ranks near the bottom, with only 61% of its rental listings allowing pets. Providence, Rhode Island, fares even lower, at 54%.
This reluctance to adopt pet-friendly policies may be financially disadvantageous for landlords in some markets. In New York City, pet-friendly units rent, on average, 26 days faster than those that prohibit pets, representing the largest gap among major metropolitan areas. Listings that welcome pets also attract more views, saves, and shares compared to those that do not, suggesting that landlords who ban pets may be missing opportunities.
Several other cities have shown notable increases in pet-friendly rentals over the past year. Salt Lake City recorded the most significant gain, climbing nearly eight percentage points. Louisville, Cleveland, Miami, and Indianapolis also experienced meaningful improvements in their pet-friendly rental statistics.