Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letter
What Is an Emotional Support Animal Letter?
An emotional support animal (ESA) letter is an essential document for anyone who wants to include an ESA in their treatment plan. This letter is required if you plan to request housing accommodations or make use of your protected ESA rights.
The rules around who can issue an ESA letter, what it must include, and the criteria for diagnosis can differ from state to state. In most cases, the letter must be written by a licensed mental health professional who can confirm that an individual has a legitimate need for an emotional support animal.
Because fake or misleading ESA letters have become more common, it’s important to choose a trustworthy source and verify that you’re receiving a legitimate, legally compliant letter. If you already have a diagnosed mental health condition or disability and are in ongoing treatment with a licensed provider, you may simply speak with them about whether adding an emotional support animal is appropriate for your care.
How Do I Obtain an ESA Letter?
Obtaining an ESA letter involves several steps, and the process can vary depending on the state you live in, as each jurisdiction may have different laws and requirements. It’s a good idea to review your state’s specific regulations before you begin.
In most states, individuals seeking an emotional support animal must have a diagnosed mental health condition or disability. If you are not currently diagnosed or working with a professional, your first step is to meet with a licensed mental health provider to receive an appropriate evaluation and diagnosis.
Once you have your diagnosis, talk to your provider about whether adding an emotional support animal to your treatment plan is suitable. They will help you understand the benefits, discuss any potential challenges, and make sure you are able to care for an ESA responsibly.
If your provider determines that an ESA would be helpful for you, they will issue an official ESA letter. The exact wording may differ depending on your state, but the letter typically confirms your need for an emotional support animal and includes your provider’s contact information.
After receiving your ESA letter, you can move forward with adopting an emotional support animal or request accommodations for a pet you already have.
If you already share a strong bond with a pet, you can designate them as your emotional support animal by using your ESA letter when requesting appropriate housing or other accommodations.
Understanding Your Emotional Support Animal Rights
Emotional support animals don’t receive the same level of public access rights as service animals, but they are still protected under several federal laws, along with many state-level regulations. Knowing your ESA rights is essential once you have an approved emotional support animal, as it helps you make sure your companion can remain with you whenever possible.
If you’re unsure about your rights or believe they may have been violated, it’s best to look into your state’s specific laws or consult a legal professional who specializes in disability rights.
What Are the Benefits of Having an ESA Letter?
★ You Can Live Almost Anywhere With Your ESA
Emotional support animals are protected from no-pet policies in apartments, rental homes, and college dorms.
★ No Breed or Weight Restrictions
Because ESAs don’t require specialized training, all breeds and sizes are eligible.
★ No Pet Fees or Deposits
With an ESA letter, you are exempt from pet rent, pet deposits, and other housing fees.
Who Might Qualify for an ESA Letter?
Individuals with a qualifying mental health condition or disability who would benefit from the presence of an emotional support animal (ESA) may be eligible for an official ESA letter. Issued by a licensed mental healthcare provider, this document verifies the specific need for the animal and grants the individual access to legal accommodations provided by federal and state laws.
Common conditions that may qualify for an ESA include:
Anxiety
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Learning disabilities
Chronic stress or stress-related conditions
Note: This list is not exhaustive; many other mental health conditions may also qualify.
Determining the need for an ESA is a highly personal process. If you believe you require a diagnosis, or if you wish to discuss how an emotional support animal could improve your current treatment plan, you should consult with a licensed mental healthcare provider.
Federal Rights
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a well-known piece of federal legislation that covers rights for service animals, but this act does not extend to emotional support animals. This distinction matters because the ADA allows service animals to accompany their owners into nearly any business or facility, including those that normally prohibit pets.
For emotional support animals and their owners, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) is the most important federal law. This act prevents discrimination in housing and ensures that people can live with their emotional support animals or service animals when necessary.
Under the FHA, people with emotional support animals can request accommodations to bring their ESA into their home or rental property, even if the property doesn't normally allow animals. These accommodations are usually requested by providing an official ESA letter to the landlord or rental agency, and reasonable accommodation requests must be approved.
Traveling Rights
Many people need to travel with their emotional support animals, and until recently, ESA owners could ensure their animals received the same treatment as service animals on flights. However, changes to the Air Carrier Access Act in 2021 altered how airlines handle emotional support animals while maintaining protections for service animals.
When traveling with your emotional support animal, airlines now have discretion in how they classify ESAs – they may recognize them as emotional support animals and waive pet fees, or they may require you to register your ESA as a pet and pay the standard fee for bringing an animal in the cabin.
You should review the airline's specific policies on emotional support animals before booking your flight, as you'll need to know in advance whether that airline accommodates ESAs or only allows cabin pets and what steps are required to register your animal for travel.