Quick Answer: Dakota's Pet Policy welcomes up to two pets per apartment home, with a 30 pound full-grown weight limit on dogs and cats. Expect a $350 non-refundable pet fee, a $150 refundable deposit and $30 in monthly pet rent per animal. Some aggressive breeds are restricted, so call the leasing office before you apply.
Moving is stressful for a dog. It's worse for a cat. Dakota's Pet Policy is written to keep that transition simple, and it's one of the first things renters ask about when they tour. Dakota Apartments sits at 6218 Finbro Drive in south Fort Worth, serving the Wedgwood and Hulen area, and you can check current pricing on our one and two bedroom floor plans before you commit.
What to Look For in an Apartment Pet Policy Before You Apply
A solid apartment pet policy answers five questions in writing: which animals are allowed, how many, how big they can get, what it costs upfront, and what you pay every month. If a listing says pet friendly but skips those details, you're looking at a marketing line rather than a policy.
Weight caps cause the most surprises. A 25 pound puppy that matures at 45 pounds fails a 30 pound limit, and that usually surfaces at renewal instead of move-in. Ask about mature weight, not current weight. Searching for apartments for rent that are pet friendly in Fort Worth turns up plenty of listings, but the fine print differs enormously between them.
Renting With Pets Means Reading Past the "Pets Welcome" Line
Renting with pets costs more than most people budget for. Between a one-time fee, a refundable deposit and monthly pet rent, a single dog can add several hundred dollars to your first year in a new home. Get all three numbers before you sign. Most of the friction in renting with pet approvals happens at application, not at move-in, so ask early and ask specifically.
What Does Dakota's Pet Policy Cost?
Dakota's Pet Policy carries three separate charges per animal: a $350 non-refundable pet fee, a $150 refundable pet deposit returned after a clean move-out inspection, and $30 in monthly pet rent. Two pets doubles all three. Here's how that math works out across a standard twelve month lease.
| Pet Cost at Dakota | One Pet | Two Pets |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable pet fee (one time) | $350 | $700 |
| Refundable pet deposit | $150 | $300 |
| Monthly pet rent | $30 | $60 |
| Pet rent over a 12 month lease | $360 | $720 |
| Due upfront at move-in | $500 | $1,000 |
The $150 deposit comes back after a clean inspection, so treat it as recoverable rather than spent. As of August 2026, published rents at the community start at $815 for a 550 square foot one bedroom, which puts pet rent at under four percent of your housing cost. Fees do change. Confirm the current amounts with the leasing office at (817) 294-7555 before you build a budget around them.
How Do Breed Restrictions for Apartments Work at Dakota?
Dakota's Pet Policy allows domestic dogs and cats only. Exotic animals, reptiles and rodents are not permitted, and certain aggressive breeds are restricted. No breed list is published on the website, which is intentional: those lists get revised by insurance carriers, so the leasing office holds the current version.
Breed restrictions for apartments almost always trace back to the property's liability insurance rather than a decision by the on-site team. That's why "my dog is friendly" rarely moves the needle, and why mixed breeds sometimes get evaluated case by case. Bring vet records and a clear photo when you ask.
There is one important exception. Under HUD's fair housing guidance, breed, size and weight limits may not be applied to an assistance animal, and a housing provider cannot charge a pet deposit or pet fee for one. The Department of Justice separately defines a service animal under the ADA as a dog trained to perform a task for a person with a disability, of any breed and any size. Those are legal categories, not an apartment pet in the leasing sense.
How to Register Your Pet Before Move-In
All pets must be registered with the leasing office before move-in, not after. Dakota's Pet Policy requires current vaccinations, compliance with local licensing, and identification tags on the animal. Handle this while your application is still in process and move-in day stays boring, which is exactly what you want it to be.
- Confirm your dog's breed and projected mature weight against Dakota's Pet Policy with the leasing office.
- Get your pet microchipped. Fort Worth has required registered microchips for all dogs and cats since June 26, 2018, and a microchipped pet does not need a separate city license.
- Update rabies records. City ordinance requires rabies vaccination and licensing by four months of age.
- Submit vet records, a photo and the signed pet addendum when you start your application.
- Pay the pet fee and deposit, and set up monthly pet rent, before keys change hands.
What Pet Friendly Apartments for Rent in Fort Worth Expect Day to Day
Leash rules here are enforced. Every dog must be leashed and supervised outside your apartment, waste gets cleaned up immediately in the designated relief areas, and the community is smoke-free throughout. Fort Worth code backs the leash and waste rules with Class C misdemeanor penalties, so these aren't just lease clauses. Walk through the community photo gallery to see the grounds your dog will be using twice a day.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there apartments near me that accept dogs in south Fort Worth?
Yes. Dakota accepts dogs and cats up to 30 pounds at 6218 Finbro Drive, minutes from Hulen and Wedgwood. If you're searching for apartments near me that accept dogs, check the weight cap first, since that single filter rules out more communities than breed lists do. Our map and directions page shows the exact location.
2. How is a service or support animal different from an apartment pet?
Four practical differences under federal fair housing rules:
- Assistance animals are not pets, so no pet fee, deposit or monthly pet rent applies.
- Breed, size and weight limits cannot be used to deny an assistance animal.
- Approval runs through a reasonable accommodation request rather than standard pet registration.
- You can still be charged for actual damage the animal causes.
3. Do pet friendly rentals by owner follow the same rules?
Not always. Pet friendly rentals by owner often set limits informally, skip a published breed list, and treat fees as negotiable. A managed community applies one written standard to every resident, which is more predictable at renewal time. Federal fair housing protections for assistance animals apply to both types of housing.
4. Can I have two pets at Dakota?
Yes, two pets per apartment is the maximum. Each animal carries its own $350 fee, $150 deposit and $30 monthly rent, so a pair costs $1,000 before you get keys. Both pets must meet the 30 pound mature weight limit individually, and both need to be registered before move-in.
5. What happens if my puppy grows past the weight limit?
The 30 pound cap applies at full maturity, not at move-in, so a puppy projected to outgrow it doesn't qualify. Ask your vet for an estimated adult weight and share it with the leasing office during the application. Guessing here risks a lease violation later, which nobody wants.
Finding a Pet Friendly Place for Rent in Fort Worth
Dakota's Pet Policy is simple once the numbers are in front of you: two pets, 30 pounds each at maturity, $350 plus $150 plus $30 a month per animal, dogs and cats only, restricted breeds handled directly by the leasing office. A pet friendly place for rent that puts all of that in writing is worth more than a listing that just says pets welcome and leaves you guessing. Call (817) 294-7555, schedule a tour, and bring every question you have about Dakota's Pet Policy with you.
