Pets are part of the family for a huge share of renters, and Santa Clarita is no exception. For landlords, a thoughtful pet policy can be one of the easiest ways to attract more applicants and keep good tenants longer. For renters, understanding the rules up front makes finding a pet-friendly home far less stressful. Either way, pets and rentals come with a specific set of California rules worth getting right.

At California Leasing Property Management, we help owners across the Santa Clarita Valley set fair, legal pet policies that protect their property without scaring off qualified applicants. Here’s what both sides should know in 2026.

Allowing Pets Can Be a Smart Business Decision

It’s natural for an owner to worry about damage, but a blanket “no pets” rule often costs more than it saves. Pet-friendly rentals draw from a much larger pool of applicants, tend to rent faster, and frequently keep tenants in place longer because pet-owning renters have fewer housing options to move to. In a competitive market like Santa Clarita, that stability has real value.

The goal isn’t to say yes to every animal — it’s to build a clear, consistent policy that lets you welcome responsible pet owners while managing your risk.

What Landlords Can Charge

California caps total security deposits at one month’s rent under Assembly Bill 12, and any pet deposit counts within that limit rather than on top of it. In other words, allowing a pet doesn’t let you collect extra deposit beyond the standard cap.

What landlords can do is charge monthly pet rent. As of 2026, California law does not prohibit pet rent, so a modest recurring charge is a common and legal way to offset the added wear a pet may cause. Just make sure the amount is spelled out clearly in the lease and applied consistently across tenants.

Assistance Animals Are Not Pets

This is the single most important distinction, and it trips up a lot of owners. Service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) are not considered pets under federal Fair Housing law. That means a landlord cannot charge a pet deposit, pet fee, or pet rent for them — even at a property that otherwise bans animals.

For an emotional support animal, a landlord may request a supporting letter from a licensed healthcare provider that meets California’s requirements. What you cannot do is demand special ID, require the animal to be a certain breed or size, or charge extra because of it. If an assistance animal causes actual damage, you can recover for that through the normal security deposit process at move-out — you just can’t collect money in advance against the possibility.

Reasonable Rules Landlords Can Still Set

A good pet policy sets expectations without being punitive. Landlords may reasonably require proof of vaccinations and spay or neuter status, cap the number of pets per unit, and ask for details like breed and weight for actual pets (not assistance animals). Written pet agreements that describe the tenant’s responsibilities — cleaning up after the animal, preventing noise complaints, and keeping the pet under control in common areas — help everyone stay on the same page.

Documentation Protects Everyone

Because a pet deposit can’t be front-loaded, careful move-in and move-out documentation is your best protection against disputes over damage. California now requires landlords to take photographs of the unit at the start of a tenancy for leases beginning on or after July 1, 2025, and to document its condition again at move-out. Dated photos and detailed condition reports make it far easier to fairly separate genuine pet damage from normal wear and tear — and to justify any deduction if one is needed.

For tenants, the same documentation works in your favor. Photograph the home when you move in, keep your pet’s vaccination records handy, and address small issues (a chewed baseboard, a stained carpet) before you hand back the keys.

Making Pets Work in Santa Clarita

Pet policies don’t have to be complicated. With clear terms, legal deposit and pet-rent handling, proper treatment of assistance animals, and solid documentation, welcoming pets can be a win for owners and renters alike.

That’s exactly the kind of process we manage every day for owners across Santa Clarita and the surrounding Santa Clarita Valley — drafting compliant pet agreements, screening responsible pet owners, and keeping your property protected. Whether you’re an owner deciding how to handle pets or a renter searching for a pet-friendly home, we can help.

Call California Leasing Property Management at (661) 294-8500 or visit californialeasing.com to get started.

California Leasing Property Management | 28372 Constellation Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355 | (661) 294-8500 | californialeasing.com | CA DRE #02029059. This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance on your specific situation.