s the height of luxury in a multifamily building having a dog spa? In 2026, it might be.

With the rise of pet ownership in urban areas, when developers are looking to add amenities to their luxury condos or apartment buildings, perks for four-legged friends are at the top of the list.

“In recent years, there’s been a higher focus on amenitized buildings, and people want those amenitized buildings where they have everything they might need at their fingertips … and that transfers over to the dog and pet area as well,” said Joshua D’Ambrosio, a new development administrator for JVP Development in New York City.

JVP Development builds luxury buildings across the city, including a new condominium, 250 West 96th Street, in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. When laying out the plans for this building, Pamela D’Arc, the director of sales for 250 West 96th Street, said pet amenities, like a dog spa, were a top priority because it’s a top-of-the-list item for buyers.

“Pet amenities are very high on the list because we have so many people where both parties are working, and they need life to be simple,” D’Arc said. “If they can go downstairs and wash their dog or come in from the park on a muddy day and put their dog in not their bathtub, it makes a big difference.”

Many buildings used to restrict pet ownership in apartments and condos, but that has been pulled back more and more in recent years.

“It’s very much shifted where those strict buildings now do permit dogs, or one dog per apartment,” D’Arc said. “You limit your audience when you don’t permit a dog in either a co-op, a condo or a rental.”

There is a demand for apartments and condos not only to allow, but also to accommodate, dogs. Renters and buyers in multifamily housing are seeking spaces that make their lives as dog owners easier.

“In my experience, dog parks or dog runs are what renters are looking for most,” said Kelli Stuart, general manager and assistant vice president with Draper and Kramer in Chicago, Illinois. “Having a place close by where your dog can be off-leash and burn energy seems to be the top pet-related perk a property can offer. Dog wash stations are also great and get a lot of use by our residents.”

From families to singles, dog ownership in multifamily is on the rise. The National Association of Realtors reports that, for the first time, there are more households with pets than children. Homes.com’s multifamily affiliate, Apartments.com, reports that 38% of renters consider pet-friendliness a deal breaker when looking for apartments.

“We are seeing an increase in renters with dogs and pets, and their pets are a big deal to them,” said Diana Pittro, executive vice president of RMK Management, based in Chicago, Illinois. “We are also seeing more single residents renting with a dog. Around 50 to 55% of our renters have a dog or other pet.”

Having a dog amenity can set a building apart and help close the deal.

“At 250 West 96th Street specifically, I know we’ve had people who purchased in the building because we offered the pet spa, and it kind of just drew them in from the moment they see it,” D’Ambrosio said.

The shift in demand for amenities like dog parks began during the COVID pandemic and the 2020 shutdown, when people found themselves spending more time at home than ever before.

“Compared to even five years ago, there’s been a noticeable increase. Buildings that weren’t pet-friendly before are rethinking it because they know they’re missing out on a large group of renters,” said Eunice Weckesser, lead designer and owner of Crown The Cool Studios in Boston, Massachusetts.

For renters or multifamily buyers, dog amenities can be a nonnegotiable, and developers in some of the biggest multifamily markets are responding to that demand.

“Over the past decade, dog amenities have shifted from a unique selling point to a baseline expectation, especially at the luxury level,” said David Hovey Jr., president, chief operations officer and principal architect at Optima, a real estate development company in Glencoe, Illinois. “Renters now judge communities on their support for pet ownership, directly shaping how we design and program our buildings. We plan our dog parks, pet spas and services like grooming, dog walking and pet-sitting with the same precision as fitness and wellness areas for residents.”

Dogs in apartments have also driven an amenity that cannot be manufactured: community.

“It’s incredible how many doormen have dog treats, and when you come in at night, the dog waits for the treat,” said D’Arc, who lives on the Upper West Side.

As naturally social creatures, dogs drive bonding between residents. When pets and owners are happy, leases tend to be renewed.

“I know our dog park specifically has increased renewals and retention,” Stuart said. “And it’s not just the convenience of having this amenity at the property that makes our residents want to continue living in the building; they also love the social connections our pet amenities like the dog park inspire.”

Looking ahead, developers and apartment managers say dog amenities are here to stay.

“I don’t think the pet-centric amenities are going to go anywhere. If anything, I think they’ll grow in popularity,” D’Ambrosio said.

Read the full feature at Homes.com