According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 71% of American households own at least one pet. Nearly half of U.S. households own a dog, around 35% own a cat, and roughly 20% own both. Most pet owners consider their animals to be fully vested members of the family, on a par with the humans. 

In light of this deep attachment, and especially in a post-pandemic world where pet ownership is at an all-time high, having a strict No Pets policy in your building or HOA can feel like a relic of a bygone era. Still, a significant number of associations across the region continue to forbid furry family members—and while it may seem stodgy, or even mean-spirited to residents, for boards and community managers the decision to remain pet-free is rarely about a lack of affection for animals. It’s usually more about balancing property preservation and maintenance, mitigating liability, and navigating a rapidly shifting legal landscape that has fundamentally changed how we define what a ‘pet’ even is. 

Why No Fido? 

A board’s justification for a total pet ban typically rests on three main pillars: maintenance, liability, and the preservation of quiet enjoyment. From a maintenance perspective, high-density living and animals often clash; common area carpets, paneling, and wall treatments, expensive landscaping elements, and lobby furniture suffer accelerated wear-and-tear from scratching, digging, scuffing, chewing, and toilet accidents that can drive up common charges for everybody in the association, regardless of their pet ownership status.  

Liability is an even greater concern, as boards fear the insurance premium hikes or even litigation that follows a dog bite incident on common property. Even a well-behaved pup can be a source of fear, even panic, to a dog-phobic resident forced to share cramped elevator space or pass them on a narrow staircase or hallway. Furthermore, in the tight quarters of a multifamily building or HOA, the sound of a barking dog or the pervasive scent of a neglected litter box isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a tangible infringement on neighbors’ right to enjoy the peaceful home environment they’re paying for.

When is a Pet Not a Pet? 

It’s important for community administrators to recognize that in 2026, a no-pets rule is never truly a no-animals rule—though boards and managers do have a legal leg to stand on when it comes to pushing back against the proliferation of sketchy online certificates designating everything from chihuahuas to chickens as ‘emotional support animals’ (ESAs). 

While the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), does create a mandatory carve-out for legitimate service and assistance animals that overrides association bylaws, as of June 2026, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a significant enforcement update that effectively tightens the leash on ESA claims. Historically, an ESA letter from a GP (or a website) stating that the letter holder has a disability-related need for an animal was enough to skirt most pet bans. Under the 2026 update, the standard for documentation has shifted from “needs comfort” to “demonstrates skill,” and clarifies that associations may request more robust documentation regarding the individual training or specific task-related necessity of an animal, making it harder for residents to simply buy a generic online certificate to bypass their building’s rules. 

The Cost of Pet Bans

Enforcing a pet ban typically begins with a formal notice of violation, then moves into graduated fines—but if an owner refuses to budge, the board is often forced into costly injunctive relief. The cost and hassle of this is a major reason why many boards are opting to lift their pet bans. Another is market pressure. By prohibiting pets, an association effectively disqualifies roughly 60% to 70% of their buyer pool. While being pet-free may appeal to a small niche of buyers with severe allergies or a desire for absolute silence, the broader reality is that a draconian pet policy can lead to dampened property values, and units languishing on the market longer.

Ultimately, there appears to be a cultural shift away from blanket pet prohibitions and toward ‘reasonable restrictions’ that balance the rights of pet owners with the peace of their pet-averse neighbors. Forward-thinking boards in New England and elsewhere are increasingly replacing outright bans with more nuanced rules such as weight limits, DNA swabbing for waste pickup enforcement, and mandatory obedience training for unruly pups. These parameters can help protect a building’s integrity without alienating the vast majority of the real estate market—or forcing the board or manager to play dog catcher.