Short answer
Federal law doesn't set an expiration date for an ESA letter. The Fair Housing Act and the 2004 HUD and Justice Department joint statement don't say how old a letter can be. The practical limit is that a landlord may ask for information showing your need is current, and a letter that is years old may draw questions. Many people renew once a year to avoid that conversation.
This question usually comes up in one of two situations. A lease is coming up for renewal, or a move is coming and the letter you have needs to still work. The short version is that federal law doesn't put a date on the letter. The longer version is that the practical answer depends on what your landlord asks for and why. This guide explains the rules, what to keep on file and when a new letter makes sense.
Does federal law set an expiration date?
No. The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to refuse a reasonable accommodation in rules, policies, practices or services when the accommodation may be necessary for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling (42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B)). The duty doesn't come with a time limit tied to the date on a letter.
HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 100.204 says the same thing in shorter form. A housing provider can't refuse a reasonable accommodation that is necessary for equal use and enjoyment of a home, and the regulation doesn't set a shelf life for supporting documents.
The 2004 HUD and Justice Department joint statement is the closest official guidance on paperwork. It explains that when a disability or the need for an accommodation isn't obvious, a provider may request reliable disability-related information. It doesn't say how old that information can be before it stops counting.
You may see older guidance quoted online as if it still applies. HUD withdrew its 2020 assistance animal guidance in September 2025, and its withdrawal was published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2026. Don't rely on the 2020 document. Our HUD 2026 explainer covers what changed.
Why do landlords still ask how recent a letter is?
A letter records what a clinician found on the day it was written. A landlord who sees a letter from several years ago may reasonably wonder whether the need is still there. Some landlords also have their own internal policy on how recent a letter should be, and those policies vary.
The joint statement sets a limit that matters here. A provider's request for documentation should seek only the information needed to evaluate whether an accommodation is necessary because of a disability. So a request for a newer letter should have a reason behind it. If your landlord asks for one, ask in writing what they need to evaluate and why the current letter doesn't answer it.
When should you get a new letter?
No law requires a new letter on a schedule. These are the situations where people most often renew:
- A lease renewal or a new lease. The landlord asks for a current letter, and an older one raises questions.
- A move to another state. ESA rules differ by state. Our state table lists the statutes and complaint agencies we track.
- A change in your situation. You have a different animal, or your treatment or disability-related need has changed.
- A request from an HOA or condo board. A board may ask for documentation of its own, so check its rules before you assume your landlord's requirements apply.
If you were approved by us, renewal is $79. A renewal includes a follow-up evaluation with a clinician licensed in your state and a newly dated letter, usually within 24 to 48 hours of that follow-up. A letter from another provider needs a new evaluation, priced as a new ESA letter at $99.
What to keep on file so renewing is simple
Good records make a renewal or a new lease much easier to handle. Keep these in one folder, paper or digital:
- Your approved letter and the date it was written.
- The name and type of your animal, as stated in the letter.
- Your written accommodation request and the landlord's reply, including any approval of the animal.
- Any notice about the animal and your written response, with delivery confirmations.
If a landlord later asks about the animal, you can show exactly what was requested, what was approved and when.
What if your letter is more than a year old?
The letter still records what was found on its date. It doesn't disappear on an anniversary, and a landlord can't simply treat an accommodation as cancelled because the paperwork has aged. An accommodation your landlord has already approved doesn't end on its own. A landlord who wants to revoke one is taking a serious step, and both sides should get advice before acting on it.
What an older letter does is invite a question. The simplest answer is to request a renewal, which gives you a current, dated letter for the next lease or the next request. Keeping the old letter on file is still useful, because it shows when the need was first documented.
Do state laws set a time limit?
Some states have their own assistance animal laws, and those laws can add documentation rules on top of federal law. Our state table tracks each state's statute, its 30-day rule and its complaint agency. It doesn't track expiration dates. That means we haven't confirmed whether your state sets an age limit for an ESA letter. Check your state's law, or ask your state fair housing agency.
What to do if a landlord asks for a new letter
- Ask in writing. Ask what date or information the landlord needs and why. A written question gives you a record and makes the answer easier to check.
- Check what is already approved. If the landlord has approved your animal, look at the approval first. A new letter doesn't cancel an accommodation that was already granted.
- Renew if you need to. A current letter often ends the question. Renewal is covered above.
- Escalate if the request seems unreasonable. If the landlord keeps asking for paperwork with no stated reason, your state fair housing agency can review the situation. Our guide on what to do if your ESA letter is rejected lists the steps.
- Never ignore a deadline. Respond in writing by the date given and keep a copy of everything you send.
Frequently asked questions
Do ESA letters expire under federal law?
No. Federal law doesn't set an expiration date for an ESA letter. The Fair Housing Act and the 2004 HUD and Justice Department joint statement don't say how old a letter can be.
How old can an ESA letter be before it causes a problem?
There is no federal age limit. A letter that is a year old or older can draw questions at a lease renewal, a new lease or a move, and a landlord can ask for information that shows your need is current.
Do I have to renew my ESA letter every year?
No federal rule requires it. Renewing once a year is how we suggest keeping your documentation current. For letters we issued, renewal is $79.
Can a landlord require a new letter at every lease renewal?
A landlord can ask for information that is necessary to evaluate your accommodation. If a landlord wants a new letter at every renewal with no reason given, ask in writing what they need and why. If the request is refused, your state fair housing agency can review it.
Does a new letter cancel an accommodation I already have?
No. A new letter is documentation. It doesn't cancel an accommodation your landlord has already approved, although your lease and your state's law still apply.
Does my state set a shorter time limit?
We haven't confirmed whether any state sets an age limit for an ESA letter. Our state table doesn't track expiration dates, so check your state's statute or ask your state fair housing agency.
Sources
- Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
- 24 CFR § 100.204, Reasonable accommodations (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)
- HUD and U.S. Department of Justice, Joint Statement on Reasonable Accommodations Under the Fair Housing Act, May 17, 2004
- HUD, Notification of Withdrawal of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Guidance Documents, Federal Register, April 6, 2026
Laws and agency positions change. We last checked this page against these sources on October 28, 2026. It is general information, not legal advice.
Find out whether you qualify for an ESA letter
Answer a few questions and a mental health professional licensed in your state reviews your assessment. If you're approved, your Fair Housing Act letter arrives as a PDF, typically within 24 to 48 hours of your evaluation.* $99 one-time, $25 per additional animal, $79 to renew each year. Full refund if you're not approved.
*Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana and Montana require a 30-day client–provider relationship before a letter can be issued, so the letter issues after day 30.