Vermont Pet Friendly Rentals

Vermont is a state that actually has some very distinct areas when it comes to rental properties that are friendly towards pets and their owners. The state is mostly rural, although there are also a handful of larger urban centers that are often very different when it comes to the type of people that live there, the local regulations concerning pets, and the size of the properties that are available. In general, Vermont is very friendly towards cats and dogs. This is because in many locations, there is a good amount of space between buildings. The large amount of outdoor activities like hiking, sports, swimming, and fishing also encourage visitors and normal residents to bring along their pets, so there is a much more lax attitude towards owning pets in an apartment or other rental property than there might be in a more populated state.

Even though Vermont is mostly rural, much of the population is concentrated in a few urban areas. The city of Burlington, which is the largest city in the state, tends to be less pet friendly than some other areas. This is largely because of the limited space inside of the city. There is also a large proportion of college students each year attending the many colleges in the area, so apartment turnover is high from season to season discouraging some landlords from allowing pets even in the short term. The city is also somewhat cramped and has some regulations about pets, making it a less appropriate location for large dogs and outdoor cats.

Some of the other larger cities in Vermont like Bennington, Rutland, Montpelier, and White River Junction share some of the same problems as Burlington in regards to pets. Apartments tend to be small in these cities and traffic can be a real hazard when walking a dog. A better location for apartments for those who need to be near a city is just outside the city. South Burlington, Waterbury, and Richmond are all small towns that have large parks and ample space for pets. Unlike the larger cities that maintain strict leash laws, these smaller towns are usually accepting of dogs walked off of a leash and cats that are allowed to roam outside during the day.

There are very few problems with pets in rental properties that are on a lakefront or that are in the woods like a hunting cabin in the Northeast Kingdom. These areas are usually isolated and it would be rare to run into another person more than once. During the winter, however, there are many condo rentals available in and near the ski slopes. These condos are intended to let people visiting Stowe, Mount Mansfield, or Killington the chance to live near where they will be skiing. Since pets are not usually allowed on the ski slopes, these rentals can have strict regulations about cats and dogs.