Short answer
A refundable pet deposit and a nonrefundable pet fee have different accounting consequences. Assistance animal requests require individual fair housing treatment.
What to do next
Label the charge accurately, state refund terms clearly and review the accommodation policy before charging.
Save the current lease, dated messages, receipts and any property-specific evidence together. A useful record shows what happened, when it happened and which document or rule you relied on.
Check the source
Rules may change and the right answer can depend on the home, city, lease and timing. Review the current official material before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.
HUD — Fair Housing Act overview ↗
Put it into your workflow
A repeatable process turns a one-time answer into a reliable rental record. Capture the action in your property file, assign a follow-up date if needed and make sure any tenant communication matches the signed agreement.
Label the charge accurately, state refund terms clearly and review the accommodation policy before charging.
General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation.