Can you require tenant to remove shoes while renting?

[Vishal P.]

I am curious to know how various landlords deal with tenants wearing shoes inside the units. I am sure carpeting and hard flooring goes through "wear and tear" more quickly than tenants that don't wear shoes in the rental. Thoughts?

[Radley Estrada]

The units in my 4-plex have durable laminate in the main rooms, and carpet in the bedrooms.

I tell my tenants the % of their security deposit returned is directly related to how much damage and cleaning their unit needs upon move-out.  I show them the costs of steam cleaning carpets, replacements, etc.  

I mention that there isn't any law that forces them to take their shoes off in the bedroom, but as a courtesy and to maximize the amount of their deposit returned on move-out, I ask for no shoes in the bedroom carpets. 

All my tenants have no problem with this.  And upon inspection, the carpets in the bedrooms remain very clean.