Pet deposit and pet fee law in Arizona: one cap for everything, and every fee needs a stated purpose
Arizona does not have a separate pet deposit statute. Instead A.R.S. 33-1321 caps security "however denominated," including prepaid rent, at one and a half months' rent, and it says the purpose of every nonrefundable fee or deposit must be stated in writing. Anything not designated nonrefundable is refundable. After move-out the landlord has fourteen days, excluding weekends and holidays, to send an itemized list.
Does a pet deposit count toward the Arizona cap?
Section 33-1321(A) says a landlord shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, including prepaid rent, in an amount or value of more than one and one-half month's rent. A tenant may voluntarily pay more than one and one-half months' rent in advance. The words "however denominated" are the key. A charge called a pet deposit that works as security for the tenant's performance is security, so it belongs inside the one and a half month limit together with the ordinary deposit and any prepaid rent.
That means a landlord who takes a full one and a half months as a deposit has no room left for a separate pet deposit. If you want a pet charge, plan the numbers together: a smaller base deposit plus the pet deposit that stays within the cap, or a fee that is truly nonrefundable and described as such.
How do you charge a nonrefundable pet fee?
Subsection (B) says the purpose of all nonrefundable fees or deposits shall be stated in writing by the landlord, and that any fee or deposit not designated as nonrefundable is refundable. So a "pet fee" with no written label is refundable, and a fee marked nonrefundable needs a written purpose, such as cleaning or the added wear a pet brings. Put both in the lease or a pet addendum, and have the tenant sign it.
Subsection (C) adds a move-in step that matters for pets: on move-in the landlord furnishes a signed copy of the lease and a move-in form for specifying any existing damages, with written notice that the tenant may be present at the move-out inspection. Photos of floors, doors and screens on day one are the best proof of pet damage later.
What can you deduct, and when?
Under subsection (D), at the end of the tenancy the money held as prepaid rent and security may be applied to rent and, subject to the duty to mitigate, to all charges specified in the signed lease or provided in the chapter, including damages from noncompliance with section 33-1341. Within fourteen days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after the tenancy ends and the tenant delivers possession and demands the deposit, the landlord must give an itemized list of all deductions with the amount due to the tenant, mailed first class to the last known residence unless the tenant arranges otherwise.
If the tenant does not dispute the deductions or the amount within sixty days after the list is mailed, it is deemed valid and final, and further claims are waived. If the landlord does not comply, subsection (E) lets the tenant recover the money due plus damages of twice the amount wrongfully withheld.
Example a made-up tenant returns the keys and demands the deposit on Friday, December 4, 2026. Fourteen days excluding weekends and holidays end on Thursday, December 24, 2026, so the itemized list goes in the mail by then. If it is mailed that day, the tenant has until Monday, February 22, 2027 to dispute it. A landlord with rent of $1,600 may hold up to $2,400 in total security, so a $1,200 base deposit leaves room for a pet deposit of up to $1,200, if the lease says what it is for.
What about assistance animals?
Federal fair housing rules treat an assistance animal as a reasonable accommodation, not a pet. The regulation at 24 CFR 100.204 makes it unlawful to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services needed for equal use of a dwelling, and its first example is a blind applicant with a seeing eye dog in a building with a no-pets policy. In practice that means no pet deposit and no pet fee for the animal. Damage the animal causes beyond ordinary wear is still part of the regular deposit accounting. The Arizona statute I read has no assistance animal section, so follow the federal rule.
- Describe each charge in writing at signing, with the word nonrefundable where it applies.
- Count pet deposits together with the base deposit against the one and a half month cap.
- Do not apply pet charges to a tenant with an assistance animal.
- Mail the itemized list on time; a missed deadline costs double.
Where does DoorKeeping fit?
DoorKeeping keeps the lease, the pet addendum, the move-in photos and the rent ledger together, so the purpose of each charge and the condition of the unit on the first day are on file when you itemize a deduction. You decide what to charge and what to keep. This is general information, not legal advice: check the current statute, and ask a local attorney if a charge is disputed.
Sources
- A.R.S. 33-1321, Security deposits (Arizona Legislature), read Oct 30, 2026
- 24 CFR 100.204, Reasonable accommodations (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations), read Oct 30, 2026
Questions
- Is there a separate Arizona pet deposit limit?
- No. A.R.S. 33-1321(A) caps all security, however denominated, at one and a half months of rent.
- Is an Arizona pet fee refundable?
- Any fee or deposit not designated nonrefundable is refundable, and a nonrefundable one needs a written purpose (33-1321(B)).
- How long does an Arizona landlord have to return a deposit?
- Fourteen days, excluding weekends and holidays, to provide the itemized list and amount due (33-1321(D)).