@Derek Caffe @Gino Barbaro Be patient and don't force yourself into something you will regret.

I know that the lender pays for the property taxes and I assume that it has forced place insurance that names itself and the original borrowers as beneficiaries.

I'm an air force vet, having served during the last five years before the Berlin Wall fell

As long as your number work (and don't force them to work, be very conservative), then this should more than pay for itself.I assume you don't have another way to fund your project?

Once they reach a certain size counties and cities have a DRI ( direction of regional impact ) review.

I have several hundred units in the Houston MSA and I've seen no impact to our occupancy, ability to lease, or ability to raise rents.

Well, I live where the forced air systems serve both heating and cooling.

The Force Realty was very attractive to me when I was shopping for the same thing a few years ago.

But the flip side of that is that without the ability to do this, the water utility will charge higher water rates to cover ITS risks.And the reality is that the water company will be less constrained by market forces than will the individual landlord (i.e., landlords are in competition with each other and may not be able to pass on this cost as a result; water company is not in competition with anyone and will be able to pass on the cost.)This is already the rule in most places and has been essentially forever.  

To your question:  Yes - the service animal is permitted regardless of the impact on any other tenant.