New York City loves pets, and pets love New York City. But for those with four-legged family members, finding a pet-friendly apartment here can be a challenge. Many buildings have strict rules about pets, including restrictions on weight and breed, as well as the number of animals allowed. Some buildings only allow cats, but not dogs. However, with the right approach and patience, finding the perfect home for you and your precious pet is possible.

Here are the best ways to find a pet-friendly apartment in NYC — including right here on StreetEasy® — as well as rules and fees you might encounter, pet-related amenities some buildings offer, and other important factors to keep in mind during your search.

How to find a pet-friendly apartment

Hooray! You either have a pet or decided to get one. Now you need a new place for you and your furry friend, aka a pet-friendly apartment. But how do you go about starting your search? StreetEasy is a great place to begin. Our filters allow you to narrow your search to buildings that accept pets. Just go to the Pets dropdown and select Pets allowed.

Agent and StreetEasy Expert David Harris of SERHANT. suggests pet owners confirm an apartment’s pet policy directly with the listing agent or management company, as sometimes online listing descriptions can be outdated. If the building is a co-op, an agent can contact someone on the board to get more information.

According to agent Kwesi Kwarteng of Coldwell Banker Warburg, pet parents should be sure to consider the needs of their pets when making decisions about a home, including price point and additional fees. Furthermore, rental buildings and small landlords are often more flexible and welcoming toward pets. Kwarteng also points out that Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan are great areas for pet-friendly apartments.

Pet-Friendly Brooklyn Apartments Under $3,000 Article continues below

Midwood

2045 Ocean Avenue

$2,900 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

2025 Regent Place

$2,495 base rent

2 |

1

Flatbush

1290 New York Avenue

$2,590 base rent

2 |

1

Flatbush

2510 Bedford Avenue

$2,500 base rent

1 |

1

Flatbush

2510 Bedford Avenue

$2,750 base rent

2 |

1

Flatbush

185 Veronica Place

$2,750 base rent

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

71 Stuyvesant Avenue

$2,799 base rent

1 |

1

Midwood

1615 Cedar Street

$2,888 base rent

1 |

1

East Flatbush

1183 New York Avenue

$2,300 base rent

Studio |

1

Bushwick

1150 De Kalb Avenue

$2,475 base rent

1 |

1

Greenpoint

125 Green Street

$1,995 base rent

Studio |

1

Sunset Park

602 44th Street

$2,399 base rent

1 |

1

Pet-friendly apartment rules

If you’re looking for a pet-friendly apartment in New York City, there are a few rules and fees to be aware of. According to Harris, size and breed restrictions are common. “Most buildings restrict residents from owning dogs they consider aggressive or weighing more than 25 pounds,” he tells StreetEasy. However, some buildings do make exceptions to the weight rule.

As for fees, they can vary widely. “Some buildings will charge a pet deposit which is a one-time fee, while others will charge pet rent, a monthly fee,” Harris says. Kwarteng adds that some buildings might restrict when pets can use the elevator. “Some buildings want tenants and occupants with pets to take the freight; others have times outside the busy morning and evening rush hours for elevator use,” he says. Pet fees can range from $500 to half a month’s rent depending on the pet’s size, weight, and breed, Kwarteng notes.

Broker and StreetEasy Expert Mihal Gartenberg of Christie’s International Real Estate Group points out that buildings can have various criteria for restricting pets. “Buildings can restrict pets on whatever criteria they deem fit, from weight to breed to the number of dogs allowed,” Gartenberg says. Therefore, being upfront with landlords and agents about your pet and their needs is vital to ensure you find a compatible living situation.

Pet-Friendly Manhattan Apartments Under $3,000 Article continues below

Fort George

64 Hillside Avenue

$1,925 base rent

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

735 West 172nd Street

$2,600 base rent

2 |

1

Washington Heights

555 Edgecombe Avenue

$2,925 base rent

2 |

1

Central Harlem

6 East 132nd Street

$2,600 base rent

1 |

1

Inwood

57 Cooper Street

$2,550 base rent

1 |

1

Upper West Side

2785 Broadway

$2,850 base rent

Studio |

1

South Harlem

217 West 123rd Street

$2,500 base rent

Studio |

1

Manhattanville

3333E Broadway

$2,650 base rent

Studio |

1

Washington Heights

514 West 169th Street

$2,900 base rent

2 |

1

Central Harlem

69 East 125th Street

$2,850 base rent

Studio |

1

Inwood

251 Seaman Avenue

$2,400 base rent

1 |

1

Murray Hill

320 East 42nd Street

$2,975 base rent

Studio |

1

Pet-related amenities available in NYC apartments

New York has long been known as a pet-friendly city, and as more and more people adopted animals during the pandemic, the demand for pet-related amenities in apartments rose. From luxury high-rises to smaller buildings, developers and landlords increasingly offer amenities that cater to pets and their owners.

According to Harris, pet-related amenities can be basic to extravagant. “Pet-related amenities can range from a room in the basement with a sink that residents can use to wash their pets to the more elaborate pet spas found in some of the more luxury buildings,” he says. For example, MiMa in Hell’s Kitchen offers a pet center called Dog City that includes a pool and provides grooming services, playdates, and training.

Kwarteng also notes that some buildings provide more basic pet amenities, such as an on-site dog park or doggy playroom, and work with dog walkers for residents’ convenience.

Pet-Friendly Queens Apartments Under $3,000 Article continues below

Rego Park

63-68 Austin Street

$2,885 base rent

1 |

1

Kew Gardens Hills

150-43 75th Avenue

$2,410 base rent

2 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-64 21st Street

$2,475 base rent

1 |

2

North Corona

34-02 106th Street

$2,050 base rent

1 |

1

Jamaica

92-29 Guy R Brewer Boulevard

$2,417 base rent

1 |

1

Ridgewood

1815 Putnam Avenue

$2,750 base rent

1 |

1

Ditmars-Steinway

22-31 47th Street

$2,550 base rent

1 |

1

Rego Park

98-01 67th Avenue

$2,575 base rent

Studio |

1

Ridgewood

365 Onderdonk Avenue

$2,600 base rent

2 |

1

Elmhurst

92-16 Whitney Avenue

$2,485 base rent

1 |

1

Jackson Heights

76-20 25th Avenue

$2,850 base rent

2 |

1

Astoria

25-67 36th Street

$2,850 base rent

1 |

1

Other things to consider when looking for a pet-friendly apartment

When searching for a pet-friendly apartment, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind beyond just the building’s pet policy. For example, Kwarteng suggests looking for a nearby park for walking your pet. “Going out for a walk in the park with your pet is something to look out for,” he advises.

Additionally, Harris notes that factors beyond the building’s policies can impact whether you can keep a pet in your unit. For example, in a small co-op building in Brooklyn Heights, the heating and cooling system precluded the new purchaser from owning a dog or cat due to a highly allergic shareholder in another unit. Harris recommends investigating the building’s heating and cooling system, and checking for neighbors on the same floor who may have allergies.

It’s also important to note that even if a building is advertised as “pet-friendly,” there may still be restrictions depending on the situation. For example, a building could be pet-friendly, but if you’re renting from a condo or co-op owner, they might not allow an animal in their unit. Therefore, before signing a lease or purchasing a unit in a pet-friendly building, it’s crucial to confirm with the individual owner or landlord that pets are allowed in your specific apartment.