By Winfred Quek · CEA R073319H · Published 26 October 2026
Facts verified: 26 October 2026 · Sources listed below
Whether you can bring a pet into a rental depends on three layers: the national and HDB rules on how many and which animals, the licensing rules for the animal itself, and then the private layers, which are the condo's by laws and the tenancy agreement. A tenant may meet every national rule and still be refused because of the contract. This page covers each layer using the official pages, then the clauses that tend to appear in tenancy agreements. It is general information, not legal advice. For condo rules in more depth, see condo pet policy rules.
HDB flats: dogs
HDB says you may keep pets at home as long as you meet its guidelines. For dogs, you can keep only one dog from the list of approved breeds in your flat. HDB says flat owners found to breach the regulation can be fined up to a maximum of $4,000. The approved list has 61 entries plus a cross of any two of them. It is a list of small breeds and includes, for example, the Maltese, Shih Tzu, Pug, Yorkshire Terrier and Toy or Miniature Poodle. Larger breeds are not on it.
HDB lists three routes outside the breed list. Assistance dogs are allowed for registered persons with disabilities, subject to HDB's conditions. Project ADORE allows a local mixed breed dog (a Singapore Special) up to 55cm in height, adopted through a partner welfare group. A separate ADORE scheme allows an adopted retired sniffer dog, from four listed breeds. Under both ADORE routes, only one dog is allowed in each residential unit.
Source: HDB, Keeping pets, checked 26 October 2026. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/managing-my-home/home-ownership/keeping-petsHDB flats: cats
HDB's page says that from 1 September 2024 you may keep up to 2 cats, as well as 1 dog of an approved breed, in your flat. A two year transition period ran from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026, and cat owners had to have their cat licensed by NParks Animal and Veterinary Service by 31 August 2026. HDB adds that you may keep more than 2 cats if you owned them before 1 September 2024 and applied for the licences on or before 31 August 2026. As that date has now passed, a cat in an HDB flat should be licensed. AVS gives the same limit for HDB flats and notes that the rule sits under the Housing and Development (Animals) Rules 2024, with a fine of up to $4,000.
Source: AVS, Limits of ownership, checked 26 October 2026. https://avs.nparks.gov.sg/pets/licensing-a-pet/information-on-dog-and-cat-licences/limits-of-ownership/Licensing: every cat and dog, anywhere
AVS says all cats and dogs must be licensed under the Animals and Birds (Licensing and Control of Cats and Dogs) Rules 2024. The steps are to microchip the animal, complete the free online Pet Ownership Course if you are a first time applicant (about 20 to 30 minutes), then apply on the Pet Animal Licensing System. AVS publishes the licence fees, last updated 1 September 2026, before any 10% rebate for GIRO, online or AXS payment.
| Licence (first three cats or dogs) | Sterilised | Not sterilised |
|---|---|---|
| One year | $15 each | $90 each |
| One time licence, valid for the life of the pet | $35 each | Sterilised pets only |
Two points matter for renters. First, AVS says the licence is not an approval to keep the cat or dog at the stated premises, and it is the licensee's responsibility to check they are allowed by HDB or their estate management. Second, the pet must be kept at the address on its licence, and AVS requires you to tell it within 28 days if the address changes, which is relevant if you move out at the end of a tenancy.
Source: AVS, Licensing requirements, checked 26 October 2026. https://avs.nparks.gov.sg/pets/licensing-a-pet/information-on-dog-and-cat-licences/licensing-requirements/ Source: AVS, Applying for and managing a dog or cat licence, checked 26 October 2026. https://avs.nparks.gov.sg/pets/licensing-a-pet/applying-for-and-managing-dog-and-cat-licences/applying-and-managing/Condos and private homes: the national limit, then the by laws
AVS sets a limit of 3 cats or dogs, or a combination of both, in any one private premises. Only one Specified dog can be licensed and kept in each private premises, and no Specified dog is allowed in an HDB flat. AVS names German Shepherds and Rottweilers as examples of Specified dogs, which carry additional licensing conditions. Owners wanting more than three licensed pets must seek AVS approval case by case.
On top of that, the development decides. BCA explains that a management corporation is empowered under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act to control and manage the common property, and that the Commissioner of Buildings monitors the lodgement of by laws. BCA also notes that tenants are not subsidiary proprietors. In practice, that means a condo can have its own pet rules, such as size limits, a cap on the number of pets or rules for lifts and lawns, and those rules can be stricter than the national limit. Ask the managing agent for the current by laws in writing before you sign.
Source: BCA, Condo living (Be Condo Savvy), checked 26 October 2026. https://www1.bca.gov.sg/home-and-building-owners/condo-strata/condo-living-be-condo-savvy/Pet clauses as commonly drafted in tenancy agreements
There is no standard government form for a pet clause, so the wording is the landlord's choice. These are patterns we see, not rules:
- No pets without written consent. The usual starting point. Get the consent in writing and name the animal, its breed and its licence number.
- Conditions of consent. Examples are that the pet stays licensed, causes no nuisance, and is kept within the flat or condo rules.
- Damage and cleaning. The tenant pays for pet damage and for cleaning or pest treatment at the end of the tenancy.
- Removal. The landlord may require the pet to be removed if a breach of the rules or a neighbour complaint continues.
- Deposit. Some landlords ask for a larger deposit when there is a pet. See the rental deposit cap guide before agreeing to a figure.
The tenancy contract itself is covered in tenancy agreement clauses.
A simple order of checks
- HDB or private: apply the HDB limit (2 cats and 1 approved breed dog) or the AVS limit of 3 for private homes.
- Licence and microchip your pet before the move, and plan the address update with AVS.
- For a condo, get the by laws in writing and check size, number and common area rules.
- Get the landlord's consent in the tenancy agreement or a signed addendum, not by message.
- At the end of the tenancy, update or cancel the licence address within the AVS time limit and hand back the unit in the agreed condition. Our handover and deposit guide covers that day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep a cat in a rented HDB flat?
HDB's page says you may keep up to 2 cats, as well as 1 dog of an approved breed, in your flat from 1 September 2024. Cats should be licensed with AVS, as the transition period ended on 31 August 2026. Your landlord's tenancy terms still apply, so get consent in writing.
Which dogs are allowed in an HDB flat?
Only 1 dog from HDB's list of approved breeds, which are small breeds such as the Maltese, Shih Tzu and Pug, or a cross of any two of them. Assistance dogs, Project ADORE local mixed breeds up to 55cm and retired sniffer dogs are separate routes. No Specified dog is allowed in an HDB flat.
Does a pet licence mean I am allowed to keep the pet at my rental?
No. AVS says the licence is not an approval to keep the cat or dog at the stated premises, and that it is your responsibility to check you are allowed by HDB or your estate management.
Can a condo stop me from keeping a pet?
The AVS limit for private premises is 3 cats or dogs, but a condo's management corporation can set by laws that control the use of common property, and a tenancy agreement can add its own terms. Ask for the by laws in writing and the landlord's consent in writing before you sign.
Looking for a rental that welcomes your pet?
Tell Winfred what pet you have and which areas you like, and he will help you shortlist homes and check the rules first. General information only.
Ask Winfred on WhatsApp Book a free 30 minute callWinfred Quek, CEA R073319H, Crestbrick Pte Ltd (L3010886H). General information as at 26 October 2026, not legal, financial, tax or property advice. Rules and fees are from HDB, AVS and BCA pages checked on that date and may change. Tenancy clauses described are common patterns, not rules. This page makes no rent or price forecast.