If you own a vacation rental, you may have found yourself asking, “Should I allow pets in my vacation rental?” It’s a valid question, especially when you consider the extra cleaning, wear and tear, and other details that come with welcoming four-legged guests. But a pet-friendly vacation rental can also open your property to more travelers and create additional revenue potential.
Whether you’re already a part of the Scenic Stays vacation rental program or considering vacation rental property management in Northwest Florida, this guide highlights the benefits of welcoming pets in your rental property and what going pet-friendly could mean for your bookings, occupancy, and bottom line.
Should You Allow Pets in Your Vacation Rental?
Ultimately, whether you allow pets in your vacation rental is up to you. But before you make that decision, it’s worth looking at what the data says about the potential benefits of going pet-friendly. Industry research from Key Data, a short-term rental analytics platform, offers some compelling benchmarks as of 2022 for how pet-friendly properties compare with those that don’t allow pets:
- Pet-friendly rentals average 54% occupancy nationally, compared to 48% for non-pet-friendly properties, a gap that translates into more booked nights over the course of a year.
- Pet-friendly properties also command a higher average daily rate: $379 versus $346 for non-pet-friendly rentals, suggesting travelers are willing to pay a premium for the flexibility to bring their pets.
- The advantage is even clearer in RevPAR (revenue per available rental, which combines rate and occupancy into a single number): pet-friendly properties generated $204 per night on average, compared to $165 for non-pet-friendly properties, a 24% difference.
For property owners, those numbers raise an important question: could a pet policy help your property compete for more bookings and generate more income? Let’s take a closer look at three potential benefits when making your home a pet-friendly vacation rental.
Pet-Friendly Rentals Have an Advantage in a Crowded Market
When vacation rental owners are competing for attention in such a crowded market, finding a way to stand out can make a meaningful and profitable difference. A pet-friendly policy can give your property an edge by opening it to a segment of travelers that many competing rentals still exclude, and by making it easier for those travelers to find you.
According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the trade association behind the industry's longest-running annual survey of U.S. pet ownership, 95 million U.S. households own a pet. Many of them don't leave their pets behind when they travel, either. Yet Key Data notes that nationally, only 22% of vacation rentals allow pets, with slightly higher rates on major platforms, meaning pet-friendly owners are still competing in a relatively small pool of eligible properties.
That supply gap can work in favor of pet-friendly property owners. When potential guests narrow their search with pet-friendly filters, properties that don’t allow pets are immediately eliminated. This gives your home a chance to appear in front of guests who might not have otherwise found it. And when a well-managed stay delivers an exceptional experience, guests are more likely to leave positive reviews that help keep your listing competitive.
Going Pet-Friendly Can Increase Bookings and Occupancy
A pet-friendly policy can help turn a broader pool of potential guests into more opportunities to fill your calendar. Travelers who bring their pets have fewer eligible properties to choose from, which can make a vacation home that welcomes them especially appealing when they’re ready to book. It’s also worth noting that booking potential often extends beyond peak travel periods, as pet-friendly rentals can capture demand during shoulder and off-season travel windows, too, giving owners another way to appeal to guests as seasonal demand wanes.
Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals Can Generate More Revenue
More booked nights are valuable, but what they contribute to your bottom line matters just as much. Going pet-friendly can create several opportunities to increase the revenue generated by your vacation rental, including:
- Higher nightly rates: Pet-friendly properties can command a premium from travelers who value the flexibility of bringing their pets along.
- Higher RevPAR: Because RevPAR combines occupancy and nightly rate, it provides a broader view of a property's earning potential. Pet-friendly rentals have demonstrated an advantage in this metric.
Of course, the revenue upside is only part of the picture. It's worth weighing the potential downsides of going pet-friendly before deciding if it's the right move for your property.
What About the Risk of Allowing Pets?
The potential for additional revenue doesn’t mean homeowners should overlook the practical concerns that come with welcoming pets. Extra cleaning, accidents, odors, furniture damage, and general wear and tear are all valid concerns. The good news is that going pet-friendly doesn’t mean leaving your property unprotected. A thoughtful pet policy can establish clear expectations for guests while giving owners and their property manager a framework for handling pet stays.
- Pet-related cleaning: Although pet stays may require a little more attention to floors, upholstery, and outdoor areas between reservations, we’ve found that a dedicated pet-cleaning protocol between stays helps ensure nothing gets missed before the next guest arrives.
- Property damage: Pet-related wear and tear is a legitimate risk, but a refundable damage deposit gives owners an added layer of protection and reassures responsible pet owners that they have nothing to worry about. Pairing that with durable, easy-to-clean furnishings and durable flooring in high-traffic areas further reduces costs if damage occurs.
With the right pet policies, communication, and property management practices clearly in place, many of these concerns can be addressed before they become problems.
How to Make Your Vacation Rental Pet Friendly
Welcoming pets into your home doesn’t require a complete property overhaul. A few small, intentional changes will help create a pet-friendly experience while keeping your property protected and your expectations clear. Here are a few practical suggestions:
Define Your Pet Policy
Set expectations upfront with clear guidelines to protect your property while giving guests an easy-to-follow guide when bringing their pets along. Your pet policy should clearly outline the following at a minimum:
- Number of pets
- Size/breed restrictions, where legally and operationally appropriate
- Additional pet fees
- Accessible pet areas
- Leash requirements
- Cleanup protocols
- Any rules regarding unattended pets
Add Practical Pet-Friendly Amenities
Thoughtful touches sprinkled around the home show guests that you don't simply allow pets but truly welcome their beloved furry companions. Simple additions, like those listed below, can make their stay more comfortable and help create memorable experiences for both pets and their owners.
- Food and water bowls
- Waste bags
- Pet towels
- Washable throws
- Outdoor space
- Guide with local dog parks, pet stores, and veterinary clinics
The Bottom Line: A Pet-Friendly Policy Can Be a Smart Revenue Strategy
Going pet-friendly can be more than just a guest amenity. For the right property, it can be a strategic decision that expands your audience, supports stronger occupancy, and creates additional revenue potential. Homes with private outdoor space, easy beach/park access, and convenient drive-to destinations can be especially well-suited to a pet-friendly vacation rental, making this a strategy worth considering with your vacation rental property management team.
Talk to Scenic Stays About Your Vacation Rental
If you’re exploring making your vacation rental pet-friendly, the right property management partner can make the most of the opportunity while protecting your investment. Scenic Stays combines local Northwest Florida expertise with full-service vacation rental property management, strategic marketing, revenue management, and hands-on property care. With more than 200 years of combined leadership experience and a team of 50+ local professionals, we’re fully equipped to help position your home for stronger visibility, occupancy, and revenue while delivering the exceptional guest experiences that lead to five-star reviews. Whether you’re already a Scenic Stays owner or considering joining our vacation rental program, we’d love to talk to you about your property and its potential. Contact Scenic Stays today to learn more about pet-friendly vacation rental management in Northwest Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a pet-friendly policy required for all Scenic Stays–managed properties, or is it optional?
Going pet-friendly is entirely optional and always up to you as the property owner. Scenic Stays can help you weigh the pros and cons for your specific property, but the decision — and the ability to opt in or out — stays in your hands.
Who's responsible for cleaning after a pet stay?
Scenic Stays manages all pet-specific cleaning protocols between stays, including any additional attention pet stays may require. If a pet fee applies, it's factored in to help offset that added service — you don't have to coordinate or pay for it separately.
Do I have to decide what size or breed of pet is allowed?
No. Scenic Stays sets and manages pet policy details like size, breed, and number of pets allowed based on what makes sense for your specific property. You simply decide whether to go pet-friendly — we handle the rest.
How much more revenue can a pet-friendly policy generate?
Industry data shows pet-friendly rentals can see meaningfully higher revenue per available night — as much as 24% more, according to Key Data's 2022 benchmarks — driven by both higher nightly rates and stronger occupancy.
What do I need to do as an owner if I decide to go pet-friendly?
Very little. Once you make the decision, Scenic Stays manages the pet policy, deposits, fees, and cleaning protocols for you — your role is simply choosing to open your property to pet-traveling guests.
