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Charlotte Leads Pet-Friendly Rentals; Boston Trails

Renters with dogs or cats will find pet-friendly listings far more common in Sun Belt and Mountain West metros than in large coastal cities.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Apartments

Screen-print poster illustration of a worn dog leash hanging from an open doorway into a bright empty room, a quiet image for renters searching for pet-friendly homes.
Zillow data shows Charlotte, North Carolina leads the nation with 91.6% of listings allowing pets, while Boston ranks 47th of 50 metros at 62.5%. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Zillow released a study ranking 50 large U.S. metros by the share of pet-friendly rental listings, finding 77% of all Zillow listings allow pets. Boston ranked 47th of 50 with 62.5% pet-friendly listings, while Charlotte, North Carolina led the study at 91.6%.

Why it matters

For renters with dogs, cats, or other pets, the metro you choose can narrow your apartment search considerably, since a large share of listings in some big cities exclude animals. Newer large-scale apartment communities tend to make pet-friendly policies standard, which is part of why Sun Belt and Mountain West markets stand out.

Zillow's study covered 50 of the largest U.S. metros, with 77% of all its listings allowing pets. Boston's 62.5% pet-friendly share placed it 47th, while Providence at 54% posted the lowest figure and Charlotte at 91.6% the highest.

The players

Zillow

A major U.S. real estate listings platform whose rental data underpins this study of pet-friendly apartments across large metros.

The details

Zillow measured the share of pet-friendly rental listings in each metro, calculating the figures from listings on its own platform. The results show a clear regional pattern: the most pet-welcoming cities cluster in the Sun Belt and Mountain West, while large coastal markets such as New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles sit near the bottom of the list. Renters searching in lower-ranked markets should expect to filter more listings out before finding a pet-friendly unit.

Timeline

  1. Zillow published the pet-friendly rental study on November 2, 2026.

The Home Front

Migration into Sun Belt and Mountain West markets has fueled a construction boom, and the newer large-scale apartment communities built there tend to make pet-friendly policies standard. The pattern places the Zillow ranking within a broader shift in how rental housing is being built and marketed across the country.

If you rent with a pet, filter apartment searches by pet policy early and confirm any pet fees, deposits, or breed restrictions in writing before signing a lease. Renters in lower-ranked metros may need to widen their search radius or budget for longer hunts to find a pet-friendly unit.

The takeaway

Where you rent can matter as much as what you rent when you have a pet, so check local pet-friendly listing shares early in your search. Keep a written copy of your building's pet policy, fees, and any breed or weight limits on file before you sign.

Further reading

For more on how rental markets are changing, browse our Apartments coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Masslive.

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Do you think it is hard to find rentals that accept pets where you live?