The short version
Most LA management companies make pet rules complicated on purpose. Per-pet fees that stack. Breed restrictions that are basically a denial pretext. Weight limits that exclude any dog you'd actually want.
We don't do any of that. Flat $35/month pet rent. No per-pet stacking. No breed restrictions. No weight limits. If your pet doesn't damage the unit beyond ordinary wear, you don't pay anything more at move-out.
Where pets aren't allowed
Nine of our 47 units don't accept pets. The reasons are specific and we'll tell you which ones if you ask:
- Two of our Koreatown buildings have HOAs that prohibit pets across the property
- Three Highland Park duplex shares — the other side has a renter with severe allergies
- Two Echo Park units owned by the same landlord whose lease form predates our management; we honor it
- Two studios where the building doesn't have outdoor space and we think it would be unfair to a dog
That last category — units we self-restrict — sometimes surprises people. We'd rather say no than rent a 480 sq ft studio with no balcony to someone with a 60lb husky and have everyone unhappy six months in.
ESAs and service animals
Emotional support animals and service animals are not pets under federal Fair Housing law. We don't charge pet rent for them and we don't restrict them by building. We do ask for documentation that meets HUD's standards — that's also the law. If you have questions about what counts, message us before applying.
The case for the flat fee
We've run the numbers a few different ways over the years. The vast majority of pets cause no incremental damage. The ones that do are usually caught at the move-in or move-out walkthrough and addressed with the security deposit, which is what it's there for.
Charging $500 per pet on move-in plus $75 per pet per month, the way some PMCs do, is a profit center disguised as a damage hedge. We'd rather charge a flat amount that covers the actual marginal cost of pet-friendly buildings (slightly higher carpet replacement frequency, mostly) and make the rules simple.