Pet Policy for Long Stays: What to Write Down

Why a month is different

A pet fee that is small for a weekend is real money over 30 nights, and guests do the math. A policy written for two-night stays also misses the things that only come up in a month: where the dog goes out at 6 in the morning, how housekeeping works around a crate, what happens to the room after four weeks of paws. A long-stay pet policy answers the monthly version of the questions, not just the nightly one.

The six things to write down

• The fee or deposit. The exact amount, whether it is per stay, per night or per month, and what part is refundable. Say what it covers: deep cleaning at checkout, damage, or both.
• Limits. Number of pets, weight or size limits if you have them, and any breeds or types you cannot take. If there are no breed limits, say so - owners of large dogs ask first.
• Where pets can go. Which floors or buildings, the relief area and where the waste bags are, and the rule for lobbies, breakfast areas and elevators.
• Housekeeping with a pet in the room. Whether the pet must be crated or out of the room for service, and how the guest schedules it. This is the question that prevents the most friction on month-long stays.
• Damage and disturbance. What happens if the pet damages the room or other guests complain: one warning, a charge, or the end of the stay. Plain words, no legal text.
• Documents. Whether you need vaccination records or anything signed at check-in.

A policy block you can copy

Pets: We welcome up to [number] pets per room, up to [weight] each. The fee is $[amount] per [stay/month], of which $[amount] is a refundable deposit. Pets stay on [floors/buildings]; the relief area is [location], with bags provided. For housekeeping, pets are crated or out of the room during service - the front desk will set a time that fits your schedule. If a pet damages the room or disturbs other guests, [what happens]. Service animals are not pets and stay free of fees, as the law requires.

The last line matters: service animals are not subject to pet fees or pet rules, and your team should treat that as settled, not negotiable.

Keep it where people find it

Put the policy on your website, in your monthly rate sheet, and in the reply template for inquiries. When a guest asks about pets, send the whole block, not a summary. Guests with pets choose the hotel whose rules they can read before they book.

What next

Monthly-Hotels.com sends you inquiries from long-stay guests, including guests with pets. List your hotel free until December 31, 2026: How to List Your Hotel for Monthly Stays on Monthly-Hotels.com (/blog/list-your-hotel-monthly-stays).