55+ buyer reference
55+ pet, rental and age rules: compare the right questions.
A practical South Florida guide to the association details that can change how a home works for you. Reviewed 2026.
There is no single 55+ rulebook.
Age, pets, rentals, guests and buyer approval can change from one association to another, including within the same master community. Before a showing becomes an offer, identify the exact home and association, request the current documents, and confirm the rules that affect your plans.
A listing may tell you a community is 55+ or pet-friendly, but it cannot replace the current written answer for the residence you want. This guide helps you ask the right questions early, when you still have choices.
Community comparison
What to verify before you fall in love with a home.
| Community | Age and occupancy | Pets | Rentals and approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Century Village Boca Raton | Confirm the current village and condominium occupancy policy. | Pet policies vary by condominium association. Buyers should verify the current written rules for the specific building or association. | Confirm the current lease and approval rules with the exact condominium association. |
| Kings Point Delray Beach | The precise requirement belongs to the condominium association for the residence. | Rules can differ by association. Request the current written rule before offering. | Lease timing, approval and occupancy rules are association-specific. |
| Palm Greens Delray Beach | Start by confirming whether the home is in Condo I or Condo II. | Request the current policy for the exact condominium association. | Ask for the exact association lease policy and buyer-approval steps. |
| Palm Beach Leisureville | The master community and local section both matter. | Confirm the rule with the exact section, not the community name alone. | Ask for current master and local association documents before contracting. |
| Whisper Walk Boca Raton | Each of the five sections should be checked separately. | Pet rules can vary by section. | Rental and approval requirements belong to the exact section. |
Reviewed 2026. This table is a comparison aid, not a substitute for the declaration, rules, application package or written association response for a specific residence.
Ask for these items
Turn broad questions into clear answers.
- Age and occupants.Ask who must meet the age threshold, what documentation is required, and whether a spouse, adult child, long-term guest, or live-in caregiver may occupy the home.
- Pets and assistance animals.Request the current number, size, breed, registration, common-area, guest-pet, and lease rules. HUD explains that an assistance animal is not a pet and may be requested as a reasonable accommodation under applicable law.
- Rentals and resale approval.Confirm whether leasing is permitted, any ownership period, minimum lease length, tenant screening, application fees, tenant age rules, and the buyer approval timeline.
- Moving and everyday use.Ask about parking, vehicle restrictions, contractor access, moving hours, elevator reservations, deposits, and any rules that could affect the way you use the home after closing.
55+ community rule questions
Can someone under 55 live in a 55+ community?
It depends on the community and the exact association. Ask who must meet the age requirement, whether a spouse, partner, adult child, caregiver, or long-term guest may live in the home, and what documents are required. Get the current answer in writing before you rely on it for a move or closing plan.
Are pets allowed in 55+ communities?
Many 55+ communities allow pets, but the number, size, breed, registration, common-area, guest-pet, and lease rules can differ by association. A pet-friendly answer for one building or section does not automatically apply elsewhere in the same community.
Can I rent out a home in a 55+ community?
Rental rules are set by the exact association and can include an ownership period before leasing, minimum lease length, application fees, tenant screening, age verification, approval timing, and limits on how often the home may be leased. Confirm the current package before buying with rental flexibility in mind.
What should I request before buying in a 55+ community?
Request the declaration, bylaws, rules and regulations, current budget, recent meeting minutes, insurance information, application package, and any current notices about assessments or projects. Then ask the association to confirm the age, occupancy, pet, rental, guest, parking, and move-in rules that apply to the specific residence.
Paul Saperstein, Broker Associate, SRES®
eXp Realty LLC
Need help comparing two communities?
Paul can help you identify the association questions that matter before you spend time touring, negotiating or arranging a move.
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