Renting With Pets During a PCS Move: How to Get There and Settle In

• Start pet paperwork the moment you receive orders, since some requirements can take months to complete.
• Military families may qualify for up to $2,000 in pet transportation reimbursement for OCONUS moves and $550 for CONUS-to-CONUS PCS moves.
• Document the rental with timestamped photos on move-in day and ask about deposit terms before signing to protect yourself at move-out.

PCS moves are hard enough on their own. Add a pet to the equation, and you’re managing two challenges at once: getting your animal safely to your new duty station, and then finding rental housing that will actually take you both.

The good news is that with enough lead time and the right preparation, both are manageable. This guide walks you through the full journey, from pre-move paperwork and travel logistics to finding pet-friendly housing and protecting your security deposit upon arrival.

Start the process as soon as you receive your PCS orders. Check the rules at your destination, prepare your pet’s records, and know the rules before you sign a new lease. The following tips can help you find the right home, reduce PCS stress, and protect your security deposit.

Getting a pet from one duty station to the next involves more than booking a flight. Depending on your destination, you may be dealing with import paperwork, quarantine requirements, airline restrictions, and high out-of-pocket costs.

The tips below cover what to prepare before you leave, what to expect in transit, and how to arrive with everything in order.

Build your pet into your PCS military plan from the start. Familiar items like their bed, crate, or favorite toys can help ease the transition. Keeping those around gives your pet something recognizable in an unfamiliar space and helps them settle into your new home faster.

If you’re PCSing to Hawaii or another OCONUS station, pet import requirements can be strict.

Typical requirements include:

• Microchip: Must be implanted before any vaccinations or parasite treatments are administered. All documentation will reference your pet’s microchip number.
• Rabies vaccination: Must be current and properly documented.
• Titer test: A blood test that measures rabies antibody levels from prior vaccinations. This must be processed through a recognized lab, and results take time.
• Flea and tick treatment: Must be administered and documented by a licensed veterinarian.

Hawaii allows owners to waive or significantly reduce the standard 120-day quarantine for a fee, provided all of the above requirements are met with valid, current documentation upon arrival.

Make sure you check the product administered to your pet, as using the wrong one can invalidate your entire application.

Moving a pet adds real expense to a PCS. The good news is that for 2026, military families are eligible for pet transportation reimbursement of:

• Up to $550 for a CONUS-to-CONUS PCS move
• Up to $2,000 for moves to or from an OCONUS location, including Hawaii and Alaska

Keep every receipt for vet visits, titer tests, travel fees, and boarding costs, as you must have documentation to be eligible for reimbursement.

Note that pet deposits, monthly pet rent, and other housing-related pet fees are not eligible for reimbursement or covered by BAH. Those come out of pocket.

Airlines will not transport pets in cargo when temperatures are extreme. This range is typically above 85°F or below 45°F at the origin, destination, or any connection point. Aircraft cargo holds lack sufficient climate control when the plane is on the ground, posing a real risk to animals.

Before you book travel, confirm whether your airline has an active pet embargo. Embargos can change quickly, especially in summer and winter months.

Some airlines allow very small pets to travel in an approved carrier under the seat as a carry-on. Contact your airline directly for size and breed requirements.

Pets are eligible for Air Mobility Command transportation for service members traveling on PCS orders, though space is extremely limited. The same seasonal embargo restrictions apply, so have a backup plan ready.

A pet resume is exactly what it sounds like: a document that introduces your pet to landlords, property managers, and military housing officials in a professional, organized way. Think of it as your pet’s job application for tenancy.

Having this ready before you start your housing search gives you a significant advantage, especially in competitive rental markets near popular installations.

Your pet resume should include:

• Clear, recent photo
• Name, age, species, breed, and weight
• Microchip number
• Spay or neuter status
• Current vaccination and licensing records
• Titer test certificate (if applicable)
• Parasite treatment certificate with date
• Training certificates or obedience records
• Veterinarian contact information
• References from previous landlords
• Brief description of temperament
• Proof of renter’s insurance or liability coverage, if applicable
• Emergency contact information

The pet resume also serves as a travel document, since much of this information is required for OCONUS import paperwork anyway. Build it once and keep it updated.

Landing at your new installation is only half the battle. Now you need a place to live, one that will actually accept your pet. Between on-base breed restrictions, off-base deposit requirements, and landlords who are hesitant to rent to pet owners at all, the housing search adds a real layer of complexity.

The tips below cover how to find the right rental, negotiate with landlords, and protect your security deposit once you’re in.

Pet policies vary significantly between on-base family housing and private rentals. Understanding the rules at your destination before you start touring properties will save you from falling in love with a place that can’t take your dog.

On-base housing: Pets are generally prohibited in the barracks. Family housing facilities typically allow pets, but most cap the number at two and impose breed restrictions. Breeds commonly restricted include pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, and wolf hybrids. Some exceptions exist for certified military working dogs, but in most cases, if you own a restricted breed, you’ll need to find off-base housing.

Off-base rentals: Private landlords set their own rules. Size limits, breed restrictions, and species restrictions are all common. Read the pet addendum carefully before signing, since some restrictions aren’t in the main lease.

One firm rule across all U.S. rentals is that landlords cannot charge pet deposits or pet rent for service animals. This is protected under the Fair Housing Act.

Once you’ve identified a pet-friendly property, get the details in writing before you sign. Questions worth asking every landlord:

• Is the pet deposit refundable, and under what conditions?
• Is there a monthly pet rent fee in addition to the deposit?
• Are there any breed, size, or weight restrictions not listed in the listing?
• Are there pet-friendly outdoor areas or nearby parks?
• What is the process if my pet causes damage?
• Are all pets I currently own permitted, or only some?

A landlord who is evasive or inconsistent on these questions is worth paying attention to. Good landlords who welcome pets have usually thought through these policies and can answer clearly.

This applies to every rental, but it matters more when you have a pet. Any pre-existing damage, such as scratches on hardwood floors, stains on carpet, or marks on walls, needs to be documented with timestamped photos before you unpack to ensure it’s clear this damage was not caused during your stay.

Thoroughly check the unit, such as baseboards, door frames, and window sills. Email the photos to your landlord on move-in day so there’s a clear record of the unit’s condition that predates your tenancy.

This documentation is your primary protection against being charged for damage your pet didn’t cause or damage that was already there when you arrived.

How much wear a pet causes to a rental depends largely on how proactive you are. A reasonable maintenance routine goes a long way:

• Carpets: Shampoo every six months; vacuum one to two times per week
• Nails: Trim every two to three weeks to prevent scratching on floors and doors
• Shedding: Brush long-haired pets daily to reduce buildup in carpets and vents
• Odor: Address accidents immediately and use an enzyme-based cleaner designed for pet odors
• Scratching: Provide designated scratching posts for cats and redirect the behavior early
• Pest prevention: Keep flea and tick prevention up to date. A flea infestation is your problem to remediate, not your landlord’s

Conduct a room-by-room walkthrough every few months to catch any new damage early. A small repair addressed now is far less expensive than a security deposit dispute later.

The worst way for a landlord to find out about pet damage is by accident. Being upfront about your pet, about any incidents, about anything that might need repair builds the kind of trust that makes a landlord want to work with you rather than against you.

Military renters are generally seen as reliable, responsible tenants. That reputation is worth protecting. If your pet damages something, report it and offer to fix it. If your pet is causing noise issues, address it before a neighbor complains. Proactive communication is almost always received better than a landlord discovering a problem on their own.

Introduce your pet to neighbors early as well. A neighbor who has met your dog is far more likely to come to you with a concern than to go straight to your landlord.

PCSing with a pet takes extra planning, but it’s absolutely manageable with the right approach. The families who do it well are the ones who stay proactive, communicate openly with their landlord, and treat their rental with the same care they’d give their own home.

Follow these tips and your pet won’t just be a good companion through every move, they’ll be a good tenant too.

Search for pet-friendly military housing on AHRN to find landlords who welcome four-legged tenants near your next installation.