From 1 July 2024, a tenant may keep a pet at their rental premises with the landlord's approval [Residential Tenancies Act 1995 (SA) s 66C(1)]. A landlord may only refuse a request to keep a pet on prescribed grounds [s 66C(4)].

Prescribed grounds

A landlord may only refuse a tenant's request to keep a pet at their rental property on the basis that [s 66D]:

Reasonable conditions

A landlord may approve the tenant's request unconditionally or subject to reasonable conditions [s 66C(4)]. Reasonable conditions should be set out in writing and based on the type of pet and the nature of the premises [s 66C(8)] and may include [s 66C(9)]:

A landlord may not impose a condition that would require a tenant to [s 66C(10)]:

Applications and appeals

A tenant may seek approval to keep a pet when applying for a residential tenancy or at any time during a residential tenancy by giving the landlord a completed Application for approval to keep a pet on rental premises [s 66C(2)].

The landlord or their agent must, within 14 days after receiving the request, approve the request, approve the request with reasonable conditions, or refuse the request on prescribed grounds [s 66C(4)]. If the landlord refuses the application, they must set out in writing the prescribed grounds for refusal and why they believe they apply.

A tenant refused approval to keep a pet at their rental premises may apply to SACAT for a review [s 66E].

Exempt animals

The above rules only apply to pets. A tenant is entitled to keep an exempt animal at their rental premises with or without their landlord's approval [s 66C(1)]. An exempt animal means an assistance animal or a therapeutic animal as defined in the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA)].

For more information about renting with pets, read Consumer and Business Services' Renting with pets factsheet.

For other information about pet ownership, you may wish to read our section on Animals which includes information about dog and cat ownership, registration and microchipping.