Pet Damage Deposit Limit in BC: What Landlords Can Charge

If you have a pet and are renting in British Columbia, you may wonder what a landlord can lawfully ask for. The rules cover the deposit amount, whether pets can be refused, and which extra fees are off limits.

This article walks through each of these so you can check a tenancy agreement before you sign. It also explains what happens to the deposit when you move out, since that is where many disagreements start.

This article covers the law of British Columbia.

The pet damage deposit cap

The pet damage deposit is capped at half of one month's rent, regardless of the number of pets. Only one pet deposit may be required. This is separate from the security deposit, which has the same cap, so the two together can total a full month's rent.

The pet damage deposit is due at the start of the tenancy or when you get a pet during the tenancy. It covers pet-caused damage unless the parties agree in writing or an arbitrator orders otherwise.

Security deposits are collected at the start of the tenancy, and the tenant must pay within 30 days of signing the tenancy agreement.

Can a landlord say no to pets?

Yes. Landlords decide whether pets are allowed and may set limits on size, type and number. A no-pets clause is allowed, and the landlord need not remove it if you ask.

Because the landlord can set these limits, it is worth reading the pet clause closely before you sign. If you are thinking about getting a pet later, ask what the agreement says about it first.

Certified guide and service dogs are not pets. A landlord cannot charge a pet damage deposit for them, and certification is voluntary in B.C..

Fees that are not allowed

A pet damage deposit is the only pet-related charge a landlord can ask for. These charges are not allowed:

• A fee for pets beyond a pet damage deposit, such as a monthly pet fee
• A fee for accepting, reviewing or processing a rental application
• A fee for returning the deposit
• Guest fees, which the Regulation bars (s. 5(1))

If a rental listing or agreement asks for one of these, you can raise it with the landlord in writing. How to handle it depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer if the landlord insists.

If you are charged too much or there is damage

If you have overpaid a deposit, you can withhold the difference from your next month's rent, but you must tell the landlord in writing. Otherwise you can seek dispute resolution to recover the overpaid amount.

If the pet damage deposit does not cover the damage, the landlord can request an order for you to pay additional costs.

At the end of the tenancy, the landlord must repay the deposit with interest or apply for dispute resolution to claim against it. This must happen within 15 days after the later of the tenancy's end date or the date the landlord receives your forwarding address in writing. If the landlord fails to do so, the landlord may not claim against the deposit and must pay you double the deposit.

If the landlord takes no action in 15 days, you can make a direct request application, and the landlord may be ordered to pay double the deposit.

There are some limits on your side too. If you do not give a forwarding address within one year after the tenancy ends, the landlord may keep the deposit and your right to it ends. If you do not take part in the move-out condition inspection when the landlord asks, you may lose the right to have the deposit returned. A landlord who skips inspection duties can lose the right to claim against the deposit.

Interest may be owed on the deposit. The Province lists the rates as 0% for 2026, 0.95% for 2025, 2.7% for 2024 and 1.95% for 2023, and the landlord must calculate interest before returning the deposit or applying for deductions. Tenancies in manufactured home parks follow separate rules, so how this applies to you depends on your situation and is worth confirming with a lawyer.

What to do next

• Read the pet clause in your tenancy agreement before signing
• Calculate half of one month's rent to check the deposit amount
• Ask for any pet agreement and deposit receipt in writing
• Document your unit's condition at move-in with photos
• Attend the move-out inspection when the landlord asks
• Give your forwarding address in writing when you move out
• Get legal advice if a landlord refuses to return the deposit or insists on a prohibited fee

Keep copies of every message and receipt about the deposit. If a disagreement cannot be settled with the landlord, a lawyer can help you understand your options.

Frequently asked questions