Pet Deposit Laws in Vermont: What Landlords Can Charge and What You Get Back
November 13, 2026
Pet deposit laws in Vermont are shorter than you might expect, because the state has no statute written specifically for pet deposits. What you get instead is a general security deposit law, a few town ordinances that set their own caps, and federal fair housing rules that protect tenants with assistance animals.
That mix matters when a landlord hands you a lease with a pet addendum and a number you didn’t see in the listing. Whether that number is legal depends on the town, how the charge is labeled, and what kind of animal you have.
This article walks through each question renters in Vermont ask, from maximum amounts to refunds to negotiation. Where sources disagree or the law is silent, the article says so plainly, so you know what is settled and what depends on your lease.
Important Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. Local ordinances and statutes can change, so confirm current rules with your town clerk, Vermont Legal Aid, or an attorney before acting on a dispute.
What Is a Pet Deposit in Vermont?
A pet deposit is a refundable sum a landlord holds to cover damage your animal might cause during your tenancy. It is separate from a one-time pet fee or monthly pet rent, though many leases blur the labels.
Vermont does not define a pet deposit anywhere in its statutes. Instead, Crushing REI explains that money collected to cover potential damage, including pet damage, generally falls under the umbrella of a security deposit.
The statute itself defines a security deposit as any advance, deposit, or prepaid rent, however named, which is refundable to the tenant at the termination or expiration of the tenancy. That broad wording is why a pet deposit is treated as part of the overall deposit.
Does Vermont Allow Landlords to Charge a Pet Deposit?
Yes, in most of the state. Pet deposits are generally allowed in Vermont but may be restricted by local ordinances.
Landlords also decide whether to allow pets at all. A “no pets” listing is generally legal in Vermont, and, according to our breakdown of pet-friendly housing rules, a landlord can reject an application simply because you have a dog or cat. The big exception is assistance animals, covered below.
Because the state is silent, the lease controls most of the details. Your pet addendum should say what is charged, whether it is refundable, and when it applies.
Maximum Pet Deposit in Vermont
At the state level, there is no maximum. There is no maximum security deposit limit specified under Vermont Statute 9 V.S.A § 4461, and the statute does not impose a cap on the amount a landlord can charge. Pet-specific trackers such as iProperty Management likewise list Vermont as having no limit.
Local rules are where caps appear. The table below shows the two towns that sources identify.
| Location | Total Deposit Cap | Pet Deposit Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide Vermont | No statutory cap | No separate pet deposit rule |
| Burlington | One month’s rent | Additional payment up to one-half of one month’s rent for a pet |
| Brattleboro | One month’s rent | Limited to one-half of one month’s rent |
Both towns bar the extra pet payment for animals that mitigate a disability. The Burlington details come from reporting on our guide to landlords banning pets, and the Brattleboro language matches the tenant resource published by CVOEO.
Pro Tip: Before assuming a half-month cap protects you, check whether your town has its own ordinance. Many Vermont towns have none, and a landlord there can legally ask for more.
Does a Pet Deposit Count Toward Vermont’s Security Deposit Limit?
Since Vermont has no statewide limit, there is nothing for a pet deposit to count toward at the state level. The question only matters in towns with their own caps.
In those towns, the answer is generally yes. Under Burlington’s ordinance, as described in our pet ban explainer, the total a landlord can ask for is limited to one month’s rent regardless of whether it is called a security deposit, damage deposit, or pet deposit. The ordinance then allows an additional payment of half a month’s rent for a pet.
You may also see websites claiming Vermont caps all deposits at one month’s rent statewide. As our apartment pet guide notes, that figure comes from local ordinances, not the state statute.
Pet Deposit vs. Pet Fee vs. Pet Rent in Vermont
Three charges often get lumped together, but they work differently. Knowing which one your landlord is asking for tells you whether you can expect money back.
| Charge | How It Works | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Deposit | One-time sum held against pet damage | Yes, minus lawful deductions |
| Pet Fee | One-time payment for permission to keep a pet | Usually no |
| Pet Rent | Recurring monthly charge | No |
Our pet-friendly housing resource describes pet fees as usually a one-time, nonrefundable payment, while pet rent is a recurring monthly charge that often varies by the size and number of pets. Because Vermont has no pet-specific statute, the lease is the document that defines each charge. If your lease uses the word “deposit,” treat it as refundable under the security deposit statute.
Are Pet Deposits Refundable in Vermont?
Yes. A pet deposit is a security deposit under Vermont’s broad definition, which means it must be returned at the end of the tenancy minus lawful deductions.
The deadline is tight. Landlords must return the deposit with a written, itemized statement of deductions within 14 days of discovering the tenant vacated or abandoned the property. For seasonal rentals that are not a primary residence, the window is 60 days.
Some summaries tie the 14 days to a tenant supplying a forwarding address, so give your landlord one in writing before you leave. It removes any argument about where to send the money.
Are Non-Refundable Pet Fees Legal in Vermont?
Generally yes. Vermont has no statute banning non-refundable pet fees, and Pet Deposits by State reports that they are permitted.
The catch is labeling. The security deposit statute defines a deposit by its function, so a charge that is really held against damage but is called a “fee” can be challenged. A true fee is a one-time cost for permission to have the animal, and it should be described that way in writing.
Local caps may also limit how much a landlord can combine. In Burlington and Brattleboro, a non-refundable charge that is really a disguised deposit could run into the half-month limit.
Can Landlords Charge a Pet Deposit for Service Animals and ESAs in Vermont?
No. Service animals and emotional support animals are treated as assistance animals, not pets, for housing purposes.
Vermont’s unfair housing practices statute, 9 V.S.A. § 4503, prohibits landlords from discriminating in renting based on a renter’s use of specially trained animals. On top of that, the federal Fair Housing Act bars housing providers from charging extra for having an assistance animal.
Burlington and Brattleboro both repeat the rule locally. If your animal mitigates a disability, a landlord cannot add the pet payment. For more on documentation and rights, see our service dog laws in Vermont guide.
Important Note: You are still responsible for actual damage an assistance animal causes. A landlord can deduct that from your regular security deposit, just not charge an upfront pet payment.
How Much Is a Typical Pet Deposit in Vermont?
No Vermont-specific average appears in the sources reviewed, so any figure here is a general guide. In states without a statutory limit, pet deposits typically range from $200 to $500 per pet, according to Pet Deposits by State.
Vermont’s regular deposits tend to run higher. It is common to see a deposit of one to two months’ rent, so a pet addendum on top of that can add up quickly.
If you rent in Burlington or Brattleboro, the ceiling is simple math: half of one month’s rent for the pet portion. A $1,600 apartment would mean a pet payment of no more than $800 in those towns.
Can a Landlord Charge a Pet Deposit and Pet Rent Together in Vermont?
Outside of local caps, yes. Nothing in state law stops a landlord from combining a refundable deposit, a one-time fee, and monthly pet rent, and some sources say landlords can charge any amount for each.
The practical risk is stacking. A rent-plus-pet-deposit request, as our pet-friendly housing laws guide points out, can grow fast if you don’t negotiate before signing.
In capped towns, the combination is narrower. A landlord can collect the deposit within the one-month total plus the half-month pet payment, but cannot pile on additional deposit-style charges to get around the ordinance.
Pet Deposits for Multiple Pets, Fish and Caged Pets in Vermont
Vermont law does not address per-pet charges, so your lease sets the terms. Landlords commonly charge per animal, or set a flat amount with a limit on the number of pets.
In Burlington and Brattleboro, the local cap is expressed as a half month’s rent for a pet, and the sources reviewed do not explain how it applies to multiple animals. If you have more than one pet there, ask the landlord to show in writing how the amount was calculated.
Fish, small caged animals, and similar pets are a lease question too. Many landlords exempt a standard aquarium or a hamster cage from deposits, but that is policy, not law. Get any exemption written into the addendum, and check separately if your pet falls under state rules like those in our hedgehog ownership laws guide.
What Can a Landlord Deduct From a Pet Deposit in Vermont?
Deductions are limited to what the security deposit statute allows. Landlords can deduct repairs beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, removal of abandoned property, and utilities.
For pets, that usually means documented damage such as scratched floors, chewed trim, stained carpet beyond ordinary wear, or professional deodorizing needed after a pet-related odor problem. Routine carpet aging and minor scuffs are normal wear and tear.
Ask for a move-in checklist so existing damage is on record. Burlington’s ordinance, per CVOEO, requires tenants and landlords to complete an inspection checklist at the start of a tenancy listing damage that already exists.
How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Pet Deposit in Vermont?
The same 14-day rule applies. According to Landlord Studio, the deposit and a written itemized statement are due within 14 days of the landlord discovering that the tenant vacated or abandoned the unit.
Seasonal rentals not used as a primary residence get 60 days. The statute also requires delivery by hand or mail to the tenant’s last known address, so a forwarding address in writing helps.
The consequence for missing the deadline is steep. A landlord who fails to return the deposit with a statement within 14 days forfeits the right to withhold any portion of it.
Can a Landlord Keep Your Pet Deposit Without Proof of Damage in Vermont?
No. A landlord can only withhold amounts tied to the permitted categories, and an itemized written statement is required. A blanket “pet deposit is non-refundable” line in a lease does not override the statute if the money was really collected as a deposit.
If the landlord misses the 14-day deadline, the right to withhold is forfeited. If the failure is willful, the landlord is liable for double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.
Disputes can go to small claims court. Small claims in Vermont handles cases up to $5,000, per Deposit Forensics. Keep photos, your move-in checklist, emails, and your forwarding address notice.
- Send your forwarding address in writing before or at move-out.
- Photograph the unit on your last day.
- Wait for the 14-day deadline, then request the itemized statement in writing if you have not received it.
- Dispute any unsupported deduction in writing and cite 9 V.S.A. § 4461.
- File in small claims if the landlord does not respond.
Can a Landlord Raise the Pet Deposit or Change the Pet Policy Mid-Lease in Vermont?
Not unilaterally during a fixed-term lease. The terms you signed, including the pet addendum, generally stay in force until the lease ends, and a landlord cannot demand a new deposit midterm without your agreement.
Month-to-month tenancies are different. A landlord can propose new terms with proper notice, and you can accept them or move out. No source reviewed gives a Vermont-specific notice period for pet policy changes, so check your lease and consult Vermont Legal Aid if you receive a change notice.
If you add a pet partway through a tenancy, expect a new addendum. Local caps still apply in capped towns, and assistance animals remain exempt from pet charges.
Can You Negotiate a Pet Deposit in Vermont?
Yes, and since the state sets no cap, negotiation is often your best tool. Landlords in towns without ordinances have wide latitude, which also means they have room to adjust.
Try these approaches before you sign:
- Offer a reference letter from a previous landlord and your pet’s vaccination records, which you can learn more about in our pet vaccination laws in Vermont article.
- Ask for a lower deposit in exchange for a one-time cleaning commitment at move-out.
- Request that the pet charge be labeled a refundable deposit rather than a fee.
- Propose a flat amount for multiple small pets instead of a per-animal charge.
- Confirm breed and weight limits early, since restrictions are set by the landlord, as covered in our pit bull laws in Vermont guide.
Pro Tip: Get every agreed term in the signed lease or addendum. Verbal promises about refundability or a reduced amount are hard to enforce later.
Your overall position is simple: no statewide cap, strong rules on how fast and why a deposit can be withheld, and local limits in a few towns. If you also keep animals outside the home, our guides on leash laws in Vermont and barking dog laws in Vermont cover rules that can affect your tenancy.