Did you know that 62% of Americans own a pet? Nearly all of these pet owners consider their fur babies part of their family—which means they’re part of your community, too. Because of their ever-growing popularity, many homeowners’ associations (HOAs) are making changes with four-legged friends in mind to attract new owners and keep existing ones happy. Read on to discover five things board members can do to create a pet-friendly HOA.

1. Draft an HOA pet policy.

Most HOAs have rules and regulations concerning various aspects of community living, from landscaping and social media guidelines to homeowner rights and architectural limitations. These rules are in place to preserve property values and maintain community harmony, and all members must abide by them. With the increasing prevalence and presence of pets in managed communities, it’s a good idea for your HOA to have a pet policy, too.

A pet policy is a living document that states rules and expectations for pet conduct and ownership. It should detail restrictions regarding:

• Types of animals allowed
• Permitted breeds
• Number of pets per household
• Height, weight, and size of pets
• Leashes
• Waste disposal
  

Your HOA pet policy should be reviewed by an attorney, evaluated, and updated regularly. Board members should communicate the pet policy well and often to ensure residents understand their rights and the outcomes of violations.  

2. Host pet activities and events.

Many people choose HOA-living for the sense of belonging and camaraderie it brings, so it’s important to hold regular events to promote community engagement and involvement. Consider hosting pet-centered events so everyone can gather and join in on the fun. Popular pet-friendly events include:

• “Yappy” hours
• Pet parades
• Dog socials
• Treat bake sale
• Adoption events

3. Offer pet amenities.

Exclusive, well-maintained amenities are among the most coveted parts of the HOA experience—and many residents believe pets should enjoy their own amenities, too. Think about expanding your current offerings and installing amenities like:

• Waste stations
• Dog runs
• Dog-friendly green spaces
• Dog-washing areas
• Water fountains  

4. Understand service animal guidelines.

While HOAs can make their own pet policies and pet rules, they may not apply to service animals. Because service animals are federally protected, boards must understand them and know what their HOA can and can’t do to prevent conflict and legal trouble.  

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as a “dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.” Service animals aren’t pets, and per state and federal laws, like the Fair Housing Act, HOAs are required to accommodate service animals, regardless of any limitations or restrictions outlined in governing documents.

Every HOA is different, so if you have questions about service animals and your HOA, contact an attorney for guidance.

5. Use pet management software.

Tens of thousands of HOAs leverage dedicated software and technology to make life easier for board members, residents, and vendors. Some HOA platforms, like TownSq, now have features that simplify tasks and responsibilities for pet owners.

Pet Registry is a new TownSq feature that captures thorough information about animals residing in community units. Details, like names, types, breeds, colors, owners, pictures, birthdays, weight, and contact information, can be entered and stored in one centralized place within the app. This tool empowers community members to maintain accurate and up-to-date pet records and can be helpful in scenarios including:

• Lost Pet: If a lost dog or cat is identified in the community, the manager can search the registered pets list to find its owner.  
• Permitted Pets: Leaders can access information about resident pets to analyze whether their characteristics, such as breed and vaccination status, comply with HOA rules.
  

Implementing this technology adds an extra layer of protection for residents and their furry companions while benefiting all community members.

Make Your Community Pet-Friendly with TownSq

TownSq, the all-in-one leading app designed for HOA management companies, managers, board members, and residents, makes creating a pet-friendly community easy. Using our comprehensive functions and features, you can store and access pet policies, manage animal amenity reservations, communicate about pet events, register pets, and more. Please click here to learn more about TownSq and get a FREE 30-day trial of our groundbreaking app.  

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