ESA Letter Questions, Answered by People Who Read the Law

A signed letter from a mental health professional licensed in your state. It confirms you have a disability-related need for your animal and supports a reasonable accommodation request under the Fair Housing Act. No agency issues or approves it.

It lets your animal live with you despite a no-pets policy, without pet rent, pet deposits or breed and weight limits. It gives no public-access rights, and airlines, hotels and short-term rentals are not covered.

No federal law sets an expiry date, but most landlords want a letter dated within the past twelve months. That is why we recommend renewing each year for $79.

In 45 states and Washington, DC your PDF typically arrives within 24 to 48 hours of your evaluation. Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana and Montana require a 30-day client–provider relationship, so the letter is issued after day 30.

Most are dogs and cats, but rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and other common household animals are approved too. Landlords have more room to question unusual animals or ones restricted by local law.

Yes, if your clinician supports the need for each one. Each additional animal on the same letter is $25, so add them all during your assessment.

No. An ESA helps through its presence, so no training is required, and vests and ID cards are merchandise, not documentation. You are still responsible for your animal's behavior.

Not at all. Most people want to keep an animal they already live with. There is no minimum ownership period; what matters is the clinician's assessment of your need today.

No. Under the ADA a service dog must be individually trained to perform a task related to your disability, and that training is your responsibility. The letter documents your disability-related need for a psychiatric service dog.

An ESA letter is a housing document under the Fair Housing Act. A PSD letter documents your need for a psychiatric service dog, which with a task-trained dog adds public access and in-cabin air travel. Both protect you at home.

Yes. U.S. airlines accept trained service dogs in the cabin and may ask for the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form, sometimes 48 hours before departure. Emotional support animals no longer have this right.

Interrupting panic episodes, deep pressure therapy, medication reminders, waking you from night terrors and creating space in crowds. The task must be trained and repeatable.

No. The ADA lets handlers train their own service dogs, and there is no federal certification or registry. We issue letters only; we do not sell training or certify dogs.

Yes. Since May 2026, HUD presumes a housing request is reasonable when the dog is trained to do disability-related tasks, which makes a trained psychiatric service dog the strongest case in housing. Ask for pet rent and deposits to be waived as part of the request. If your animal isn't task-trained, the $99 ESA letter is the right document.

The ESA housing letter is $99, the PSD letter $139, and both together $199. Renewal is $79 and extra animals are $25 each, with no subscriptions. See the pricing page.

Yes, a full refund. The clinician decides at their sole clinical discretion, and we never guarantee approval in advance. Refunds depend on the clinician's decision, not on whether a landlord accepts the letter.

Yes, $79 instead of $99 for returning customers. If more than a year has passed or things have changed, expect a fuller re-assessment. Start on the renewal page.

Whether you have a disability-related need for the animal, and reliable documentation of it, such as your letter. They may verify your clinician's license but may not ask for your diagnosis, medical records or a fee.

Only case by case: if the specific animal poses a direct threat, would cause substantial damage, or creates an undue burden. "No pets", breed bans and weight limits are not valid reasons. A few small owner-occupied buildings are exempt.

Yes. The Fair Housing Act covers HOAs, condo and co-op boards, and most university housing. Submit your request in writing and keep a copy.

If you can, yes. It keeps pet charges out of the lease from the start. You can still make a request at any point during a tenancy.

That is exactly what a reasonable accommodation is for. An approved assistance animal is not legally a pet, so the policy has to bend. Send your request in writing and ask for a written reply.

It depends. Ask for pet deposits, pet rent and pet fees to be waived in your accommodation request. The 2004 HUD and Justice Department joint statement says landlords shouldn't charge extra fees as a condition of an accommodation, but since May 2026 HUD rarely enforces this for untrained animals, so your state and your landlord matter. You are still liable for actual damage, and the normal security deposit applies.

Ask for the denial in writing. You can file a free complaint with HUD (1-800-669-9777), generally within one year, and with your state fair housing agency. Our rejected-letter guide walks you through it.

Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana and Montana. Your evaluation starts right away, usually with two consultations, and the letter is issued after day 30. Everywhere else, delivery is typically within 24 to 48 hours of your evaluation.

California Health & Safety Code § 122318 requires an ESA letter to come from a California-licensed clinician after a 30-day client–provider relationship and a clinical evaluation, with their license details on the letter.

Yes. The clinician must be licensed in the state where you live, and their license number and state are printed on your letter so a landlord can check it.

Your Fair Housing Act protection travels with you, but a new landlord may question a letter from a clinician not licensed in your new state. Get a new letter there before you apply, and start early if you are moving to a 30-day state.