Everything you need to know about pet-friendly living in New York City

New Yorkers have always loved their pets - a recent study from the New York City Economic Development Council found that there are approximately 600,000 dogs and 500,000 cats in the city - and that was taken to a new level at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, when a pet adoption boom took hold. Dog-walking gave people a reason to venture out during lockdown, and cats spiced up remote work. The trend shows no sign of slowing down: According to statistics from lifestyle brand Bark Buildings, Millennials constitute 80 percent of pet-owning residences in the United States; additionally, 48 percent of Millennials and Generation Z intend to adopt a pet in the next year. Naturally, pet decisions have significant bearing on real estate decisions. A OnePoll survey found that a whopping 87 percent of pet owners say their pet’s needs are essential to their renting decisions. Additionally, the 2021 Pet-Inclusive Housing Report from the Michelson Found Animals Foundation and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute states that one in four pet owners would be willing to move somewhere better suited for their pet. Indeed, whether renting or buying, some New Yorkers would no sooner move without their furry friends than parents would move without their children.

"Guess what happens when property managers start prioritizing pet owners? They see higher rents, better retention and what we call the halo effect: the property becomes more appealing to other demographics." - Danit Zivan, Co-Founder, Bark Buildings

Elected officials have taken notice. In a rare instance of bipartisanship, H.R.5828, also known as the "Pets Belong with Families Act," was introduced in the House of Representatives in November 2021. It would ban breed restrictions on pets owned by residents living in public housing, and a number of New York's elected officials have signed on as co-sponsors. At the state level, Governor Hochul signed legislation that prohibits insurers from discriminating against policyholders based solely on the breed of dog that they own in October 2021.

Most recently, Governor Hochul signed legislation banning New York pet stores from selling dogs, cats, and rabbits in a move meant to stop the puppy mill pipeline. Pet store lobbyists argued that this would make it harder for New Yorkers to obtain a pet, but this is where adoption organizations like Animal Care Centers of NYC, the Humane Society of New York, the ASPCA Onyx and Breezy Shefts Adoption Center, and Bideawee come in.

Building owners and developers have also taken notice of New Yorkers’ love of their pets, especially as statistics emerged to show that pet-friendly policies would be in their best interests. A report from November 2020 found that when New York City landlords became more flexible with their pet policies and weight limits, it helped drum up new business in several cases. More recently, the Pet-Inclusive Housing Report found that 83 percent of building owners/operators said pet-friendly vacancies filled up faster, and that residents in pet-friendly housing stay 21 percent longer than those where pets are not welcome. Pet-friendly data

Data via 2021 Pet-Inclusive Housing Report ()

"Far Fetched New York flips the script on what you know about traditional dog daycare in the same way Waterline Square makes people rethink how to lead unique, inspirational, and connected lives" - Colleen Stafford, Founder & CEO, Far Fetched New York

In light of this, developers and property managers are working to accommodate this demographic. For some, this goes far beyond instituting a pet-friendly policy or including a pet-washing station in the amenity package. Waterline Square already offers an indoor pet playroom, dog washing salon, and three-acre public park, and celebrity dog trainer Colleen Stafford is bringing Far Fetched New York, a residents-only canine club, to the development. The 4,000-square-foot space will offer an enrichment studio, a training studio, a grooming salon, dog-walking service, and size-based play groups.

This article presents everything people need to know about finding a building that welcomes pets, how to prepare for the move, and what types of animals may and may not be kept in New York City. We also look at some of the pet-friendliest buildings in the five boroughs.

When a listing indicates that a New York building allows pets, this could refer to any number of attitudes. Some buildings tolerate animals’ presence in units but restrict them to the service elevator, while others have door staff who greet the dogs by name and have treats on hand. Either way, just because a building allows pets does not mean residents may own as many animals as they want. “Pet-friendly” usually refers to one dog or two cats; board approval may be required for more than that. If a formerly pet-friendly building decides to change its policy, it is likely that the pets already living there will be grandfathered in and allowed to stay. And all hope is not lost for people living in pet-free buildings: According to the New York City Pet Law, owners in a pet-free building may keep their pets without consequence if they have openly had the animal for three months or more without the landlord citing them or seeking eviction. 277-Fifth-Avenue-01

It's up to pet owners to decide whether to allow dogs on the bed, but they are obligated to follow buildings' rules. (277 Fifth Avenue via Kenneth Chen)But when a building welcomes pets, that does not mean the animals are allowed to wreak havoc. The majority of apartment buildings require pets to be on leashes or in carriers for walks through the lobby, and some ban animals from amenity space like lounges and roof decks altogether. If a pet has an accident on the way outside, the onus is on its owner to clean up after it.

In the apartments themselves, pet owners are responsible for keeping their animals well-groomed to avoid flea infestations and damage to floors for overly long nails. They are also responsible for addressing and responding to complaints about their pets’ excessive noise and/or aggressive behavior towards other residents and other pets.

It is important to mention that these rules apply both to resident pets and animals who come to visit the building, whether for an afternoon or a weekend. If residents do not abide by them, they run the risk of eviction, losing some or all of their security deposit, or being forced to get rid of their pet.

As animal lovers get ready to make a move, they should be prepared to submit their pets’ names, breeds, pictures, vaccination and spay/neuter records, and any complaints or behavioral issues to the building’s management or board. Some buildings are prepared to leave it at that, while certain co-ops have been known to require dogs, and even birds, to be part of the board interview to observe the animals’ behavior firsthand.

If everything goes well, pet owners should be expected to literally pay for the privilege. Many buildings charge monthly pet fees to counteract any damage the animal(s) might do to an apartment. Additionally, some pet owners have been asked to pay an extra deposit with that in mind.

Who could say no to this? (Far Fetched)Several buildings that allow dogs have weight limits in place. However, as anyone who’s seen a Great Dane at the dog run knows, it is possible to own a big dog in New York; their owners are simply advised to put more time and effort into their search. They are also advised to work with a broker who has experience in this area.

In 2010, NYCHA banned pit bulls, Doberman pinschers, and Rottweilers, both purebred and mixed, from their developments. Some buildings are prepared to expand on that list and take enforcement seriously - an Upper West Side co-op attracted some notoriety for requiring dog DNA tests.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, all housing providers, even those with a pet-free policy, must allow those with a disability to have their service animal with them. This term most commonly refers to guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs for the deaf, and dogs specially trained to work or perform tasks for people with other disabilities, including psychiatric.

Because of their extensive training, service dogs are considered working animals as opposed to pets, and buildings may not charge pet fees for them. However, their owners must still abide by rules about leashes, vaccinations, housebreaking, and pet behavior set by the building.

Service dog via Flickr - Scott 97006Service animals are permitted without question, but the road is a bit more slippery for emotional support animals, a term used to describe animals that have not received special training, but provide a therapeutic benefit through companionship for owners with mental illness. If a disability is not readily apparent, landlords and housing providers may require individuals to provide documentation on letterhead from a doctor or other healthcare professional explaining the need for an emotional support animal. When a New York City building is described as “pet-friendly,” the term refers to domestic dogs, domestic cats, small birds, small caged animals like hamsters and gerbils, and certain kinds of reptiles that include non-snapping turtles smaller than 4 inches. Recent converts to urban farming should be advised that hens are allowed, but roosters are not. Additionally, following the legalization of beekeeping in 2010, renters may establish a honeybee hive as long as they register with the city and maintain a safe distance from the neighbors. Now that we’ve covered what kind of pets are allowed, let’s take a look at the types of exotic pets that are not. Mayor Giuliani banned ferrets in 1999, despite the fact that this pet is legal in other parts of New York State, and the city failed to overturn the ban in 2015. Other members of the weasel family are unequivocally illegal to keep as pets, as are most farm and wild animals including, but not limited to, non-domestic dogs, non-domestic cats, venomous spiders, monkeys, many types of reptiles, predatory birds, and sea mammals. Most people would assume this goes without saying, but every now and then a clandestine cougar, tiger, or alligator emerges to prove otherwise. The right building for a pet depends very much on the animal’s temperament and activity level, but there are some constants. Dog owners would do well to look at buildings within walking distance of parks and/or dog runs. As such, data from the American Veterinary Medical Association found that New York City's highest concentration of pet owners can be found on either side of Central Park in Manhattan, near Astoria Park in Queens, and the East River waterfront section of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

Those with older pets would be well advised to stick to elevator buildings so they don’t have to worry about navigating the stairs. Larger pets would naturally do better in an apartment with more square footage. And the pet-friendliest buildings of all may be amenity-rich new construction with offerings like dog runs, pet-washing stations, and on-call vet and pet-sitting service.

It should be noted that most items on this wish list apply to dogs. Cats are generally easier to tend to in New York than dogs, and more welcome - a 2018 study found that while there are myriad dog restrictions, there are very few on cats. However, our feline friends would be happiest in a home with oversized windows - they enjoy the sunlight and views as much as we do!

Pet-Friendly Condos and Rentals