Do Apartments Allow Snakes? Lawyers and Landlords Answer

If you have been searching for your new apartment, you may have come across a few “no pet” listings. Do these include snakes? If so, what are the exceptions to this rule? Do landlords allow snakes in apartments? Do apartments allow snakes?

Although not a landlord myself (hopefully one day, though), I do have a few landlords I’ve asked, and a few lawyers that I’ve also ran the problem across and I found the answers.

So, do apartments allow snakes? Snakes are usually allowed in apartments as long as they have been bred for captivity, are under a certain length, and pose no threat to other tenants or your neighbors, additionally, landlords have to accept pet snakes if they are support animals and you have the documentation to prove it.

However, some leases are going to have some clauses and sentences that make it tricky to know whether pet snakes are allowed or not, so let’s take a deeper dive into when are snakes okay in apartments, when they are not, and what you should while apartment-hunting.

Are Snakes Allowed in apartments?

The easiest solution to know whether the snake is allowed in the apartment you are looking for is to simply ask the landlord. But if you don’t even know what are the norms, you need to do some reading first to make sure you get what you want out of this conversation.

When you sign your lease, there will almost certainly be a clause about pets, but they don’t always make it clear which pets are permitted and which ones aren’t.

So, are snakes allowed in apartments?

Snakes are generally not allowed in apartments, and in most leases, you will find some vague phrasing about not allowing pets or certain animals. This phrasing may also specify that no “aquarium pets” are allowed, which is often used to refer to fish but also includes snakes.

If reptiles are mentioned in the contract, it’s reasonable to infer that they don’t allow snakes.

What Landlords say about snakes

This may be more prevalent among big apartment complexes, though I have never heard of it until I inquired about it with two local property managers.

They all talked about the same points, snakes being a source of complaints from other neighbors and the inherent dangers of snakes on the community.

What should you do?

woman with pet snake in her apartment to answer do apartments allow snakes

In any case, it’s always a good idea to talk about this with your landlord.

Keep in mind that as a renter, you must follow local and state regulations. In many jurisdictions, it is illegal to keep wild animals in captivity. Certain species may be banned in certain states, generally relating to wild animals or poisonous creatures.

If you break the law, your landlord may be able to take actions that would lead to your eviction.

Do you have the right to keep captive bred reptiles if you believe they are legal in your space?

The solution: Simply ask your landlord.

In general, most property owners allow caged reptiles up to a certain length and are cool with you keeping small pets if they don’t damage their property or cause harm to anyone.

The case of Pet Addendums

If you have a good relationship with your Landlord, they may agree to include a pet addendum in the lease. Dog and cat owners are quite familiar with the process and what this addendum will include.

The purpose of this addendum is to document, in writing, what pets you include and under what terms are they allowed in the apartment.

However, in my knowledge, landlords are less likely to agree to addendums when talking about pet reptiles.

It should be noted that a pet addendum is not the same as a lease agreement, though it’s often attached to one. Rather, it’s an agreement between the tenant and landlord that supplements the original document.

A pet addendum can include:

  • The type of animal you own
  • That the animal is housebroken
  • Vaccination and medical records
  • How many animals you have and their weight
  • If the tenant will be liable for any damages above normal wear and tear
  • If the landlord can enter the premises without notice for inspections or to provide care

It should be noted that a pet addendum is most effective if both you and your landlord sign it. Some conditions may include a one-time charge.

Tips for negotiating when the landlord about pets

Hiding your pet is not going to work. You need to be honest and clear about your pets from the very start. Remember that reptiles are not dogs or cats, and most people are afraid of them, so be patient and strategic when talking about your pet snake with your landlord.

Here are some tips that have greatly helped me.

  • Rather than asking if they allow pet snakes, inquire about their pet policy in general.
  • Mention that your pet is tiny. If you have a larger snake, mention your pet size.
  • Do Not lie about your pet. If they directly ask what type of pet it is, tell them.
  • Educate your potential landlord about your pet.To present your landlord with printouts from online resources or photocopies of pages from a book to explain the housing, feeding, and habits of your pet, and to show how you will be meeting these demands in your rental property, be prepared to demonstrate how you will do so. Exotic pets are unusual, and since most individuals have not had much, if any, experience with them, landlords may have concerns.
  • Landlords are more likely to be amenable to a policy change that allows for specific caged animals when they understand the animal and its needs.
  • Inquire about state or municipal regulations before acquiring your pet snake to ensure you are in compliance should this become an issue.
  • One last tip: Do not mention the snake around your neighbors. Even if you’re in compliance with all applicable laws, it’s best to keep them out of the loop until they need to know.

Before you go, make sure to check out if you can take your pet snake outside here.

I hope you found this article helpful, and if you did, I would really appreciate you sharing it.

Helpful Resources

Exotic Animal Laws

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