Request for Animal-in-Residence

Stetson University provides a unique experience allowing students to live with their animals on campus. There are four different categories of Animals approved by Residential Living and Learning; Pets, Emotional Support Animals, Service Animals and Service Dogs-In-Training. All animals living on campus must be approved through a request process. Students wishing to bring an animal to campus must submit the Request for Animal-in-Residence found on their Housing Central Home Page.  Before submitting a Request for Animal-in-Residence please read the Guide to Animal-Friendly Housing for all animal-related policies, responsibilities, and restrictions.

Animal-Friendly Housing

Stetson University offers Animal-Friendly housing to students who desire to bring their animals with them to campus. The three Animal-Friendly Housing locations:

  • University Hall (for incoming and continuing residents),
  • Stetson Cove (for continuing residents), 
  • 300 Building of University Village Apartments (for continuing residents)

Types of Animals

Pets are only permitted to live in Animal-Friendly Housing locations.  All other pets are not permitted within the residence halls. Stetson University allows one animal per room (with the exception of approved small, caged animals listed below).

Residential Living & Learning defines approved campus animals to include:

  • Fish and hermit crabs (permitted in all halls - no larger than a 10-gallon size tank)
  • Up to two small, caged animals (rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rats, mice, hedgehogs, and sugar glider pairs)
  • Dry aquarium animal(s) (bearded dragons and geckos) (no larger than a 10-gallon size tank)
  • Cats; and
  • Dogs (certain dog breeds and sizes only).

The following animals will not be eligible for approval

Emotional Support Animals or ESAs, also known as Companion/Comfort Animals, are permitted to live in all residential buildings on campus. However, we encourage students with ESAs to live in Animal-Friendly Housing as these spaces are typically larger, house an animal-friendly community of students and animal friends, and provide outdoor areas for walking dogs. In order to request an ESA, students must provide Health Care Provider Form from their physician recommending the student be allowed to live with their ESA.

Residential Living and Learning suggests that any student who wishes to live with their service animal in the residential buildings submit a Request for Animal-in-Residence. By submitting an official request to live with a Service Animal, the student provides notice to our staff and other university department staff members (such as Facilities Maintenance) that an animal is living within the assigned space. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. 

Stetson University has partnered with local non-profit companies that train Service Dogs and partner them with individuals in need of assistance due to a disability.  Students must first be assigned to an Animal-Friendly Housing location before a request for a Service Dog-in-Training will be considered.  Once the student is approved by the service dog company, they must receive approval for a Service Dog-in-Training through Residential Living & Learning's Request for Animal-in-Residence.  For students interested in becoming an Animal Trainer with one of the service dog companies partnering with Stetson, please review the Request to House a Service Dog-in-Training Form, which outlines the Animal Trainer Expectations, the different companies that have partnered with Stetson, and the roommate agreement required for the request.

Request for Animal-in-Residence Process

Application At-A-Glance: Students requesting to bring an animal to campus to live with them in the residential buildings must submit a Request for Animal-in-Residence. Animal types include Pets, Emotional Support Animals, Service Animals, or Service Dogs-In-Training and must be approved before the animal arrives on campus. Depending on the type of animal requested, the student will be required to provide specific information and documentation related to their specific type of animal. Follow the instructions in the request for specific documentation requirements.

Application Available: The Request for Animal-in-Residence will be available on Housing Central beginning November1st for both incoming students enrolling at Stetson for the first time and continuing students.

Keep in Mind

  • Submitting a Request for Animal-in-Residence is not a guarantee that your animal will be approved to live with you in the residential buildings. Proper documentation must be submitted for all animals, there are specific animal age and ownership requirements for Pets, only certain Pets are permitted to live in the residential buildings, and there are restrictions for Dogs as Pets. These policies are outlined in the Guide to Animal-Friendly Housing. In addition, Pets and Service Dogs-in-Training will only be approved to live in Animal-Friendly Housing locations.
  • There is limited availability of space in the Animal-Friendly Housing locations. Therefore, it is possible that your request for a Pet or Service Dog-in-Training will be denied if space is unavailable in these buildings. Please have an alternate housing plan for your Pet off-campus in the event that your request is denied.
  • If a student is living with an unapproved animal in the residential buildings, that student will be subject to a $500.00 unapproved animal fee and required to participate in a conduct hearing, which could result in additional sanctions.
  • Students are not allowed to "animal/pet-sit" or have animals visit within the residential buildings, even if the animal is approved to live on campus with their owner.  If a student is found to have an animal visiting their residential building or are "pet-sitting" an animal in their assigned room, they will be subject to a $100 unauthorized animal fine and required to participate in a conduct hearing, which could result in additional sanctions.

Additional Questions?

If you have additional questions or would like to learn more about our animal-in-residence policies and guidelines, check out the Guide to Animal-Friendly Housing or reach out to Residential Living and Learning!