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How to Get an Official ESA Letter In Colorado
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Why You Need an Official ESA Letter in Colorado
We only work with licensed Colorado professionals to ensure your ESA letter is 100% official, certified, and legally valid.
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Protect Your Housing Rights:
- Your ESA is recognized under the Fair Housing Act. Landlords are required to accommodate you.
Avoid Fines or Penalties:
- Colorado makes it illegal to fake an ESA or service animal. Under C.R.S. 18-13-107.3 and 18-13-107.7, intentionally misrepresenting a pet as an assistance or service animal can bring fines of $25 for a first offense, $50–$200 for a second, and $100–$500 for later offenses.
We work only with licensed Colorado mental health professionals to guarantee your letter is certified, authentic, and approved by your landlord. We ensure every letter follows the rules.
Get Your Official Colorado ESA Letter in 3 Easy Steps
Why this matters: Colorado falls the FHA when it comes to protecting ESAs.
Important:
- ESA registries and “certifications” don’t create legal rights.
- Your ESA does not become “real” because of a vest, ID card, or online registry.
- Misrepresenting a pet as an assistance or service animal can bring fines of $25 for a first offense, $50–$200 for a second, and $100–$500 for later offenses.
- 1
We connect you to a Colorado - licensed therapist within 2 business days.
- 2
You will get a real clinical evaluation.
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Receive a compliant ESA letter.
How to Spot Fake ESA Providers
- Immediate approval with no therapist evaluation.
- Contact information or license number is missing.
- They provide a certificate or ID card, not a formal letter.
- Services that ‘sell’ ESA registrations or certifications; these are not legitimate.
Why this matters:
- Landlords can legally reject letters missing these requirements.
- Follow the rules, and your ESA letter stays valid and accepted.
Understanding Your ESA Rights in Colorado
- Housing providers (HOAs, landlords, shelters) must make reasonable accommodations for tenants who need an ESA, even in ‘no-pets’ buildings.
- Landlords cannot charge you “pet rent” or “pet deposits” for ESAs.
- There are no blanket bans on ESAs based on breed, size, or weight.
- The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act housing provisions (C.R.S. 24-34-502 & 24-34-502.2) and the enforcement by the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) work alongside the FHA.
- Housing providers can deny an ESA that is dangerous, extremely disruptive, or clearly unsuitable for the housing (for example, repeated aggression or major property damage).
- Employers are not required to accommodate ESAs under the ADA, but many allow them at their discretion.
- Colorado has a specific workplace rule for service animals:
C.R.S. 24-34-803(3)(a) says an employer must allow an employee with a disability to keep a service animal with them at work, with limited exceptions. For ESAs, there’s no automatic right like that
- ESAs do not have public-access rights to stores, restaurants, or other public places.
- Only trained service animals (including PSDs) are granted public access under the ADA.
PSDs (Psychiatric Service Dogs) are protected under the Air Carrier Access act and CAN travel.
If you think you qualify for a Psychiatric Service Dog instead of an Emotional Support Animal, Click Here
Colorado ESA Law
Colorado provides ESA protections in addition to the federal Fair Housing Act. A valid ESA letter must come from a licensed mental health professional.
A landlord may
- Ask for a letter from a licensed health professional confirming your ESA-related need.
- Request that documentation when the disability or need is not obvious.
A landlord may not
- Charge pet fees, pet rent, or a pet deposit for an ESA.
- Demand your full medical records or a specific diagnosis.
- Impose breed, size, or weight restrictions on an ESA.
- Deny an ESA outright in a “no-pet” building without an individualized reason.
Update (May 22, 2026):
HUD withdrew its 2020 assistance-animal guidance on May 22, 2026. The Fair Housing Act itself still stands: housing providers must continue to consider reasonable-accommodation requests for assistance animals, including emotional support animals. Only the 2020 guidance document was rescinded — the underlying law and your rights under it have not changed.
Does Your Pet Qualify as an Emotional Support Animal in Colorado?
Emotional Service Animal Vs. Service Dogs.
What’s the difference?
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| Topic | ESA | Service Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Training Required | No specific task training | Yes: trained to perform specific tasks |
| Public Access (stores, restaurants) | No right of entry by ADA | Broad access under ADA |
| Housing (Colorado & federal fair housing) | Protected as a reasonable accommodation | Protected |
| Airlines (ACAA/DOT 2020 rule) | Treated as a pet | Recognized as service animal |
| Fees/“Pet Rent” in Housing | No pet fees for ESAs | No fees |
Use these student-focused housing and accommodation details when you need to explain your ESA rights on campus.
University and College Housing
Colorado college and university housing falls under FHA jurisdiction, meaning ESAs receive accommodations as reasonable disability support, though access remains limited to student living quarters. Universities may remove animals that pose health/safety threats or interfere with University programs.
Standard process:
- Contact your school’s Disability Services office, Student Accessibility Services, or Center for Accessible Education (not housing departments initially).
- Provide ESA documentation from a qualified Colorado-licensed provider.
- Follow approval processes and requirements (vaccinations, behavioral standards, designated areas).
Colorado schools with documented ESA policies:
- Allow ESAs in dorms or campus apartments as a housing accommodation
- Require registration and approval through the campus Disability / Accessibility office
- Expect vaccinations, good behavior, and someone designated to care for the animal (especially in emergencies).
- Your first stop is your campus Accessibility or Disability Services office, not the housing office directly.
Why CertaPet is The Best Online ESA Provider
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord deny my ESA in Colorado?
Sometimes, but not just because they “don’t allow pets.”
They can only deny if:
- You don’t meet the disability + disability-related need standard,
- You refuse to provide any documentation when it’s legitimately requested, or
- The animal is dangerous, extremely disruptive, or would cause unreasonable damage or burden.
Can my landlord charge pet rent or a pet deposit for my ESA in Colorado?
No, Under the FHA and HUD guidance, housing providers cannot charge extra rent or fees for ESAs with compliant Colorado ESA letters. However, they can charge for actual damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Are there breed or weight limits on ESAs in Colorado housing?
Landlords usually can’t deny an ESA just because of breed or size, unless they can show a specific safety or property risk. A blanket “no pit bulls” rule is not a valid reason to reject a properly documented ESA by itself.
Do I have to register my ESA with Colorado or get a special ID?
No. There is no official Colorado ESA registry.
Can I have more than one ESA in Colorado?
Yes, under specific conditions. HUD recognizes that some people may need more than one support pet, but:
Your clinician’s documentation should explain the distinct disability-related need for each animal. Landlords can consider whether multiple animals would create an undue burden or significant property issues.
Does my Colorado ESA need special training?
No specific training is legally required for an ESA in Colorado housing.
But your ESA must:
- Be under your control,
- Not be aggressive
- Be reasonably house-trained and non-destructive.
Do I have to use the Colorado state ESA form my landlord gave me?
Colorado law allows CCRD to create a standard form landlords can offer for assistance-animal documentation, but it explicitly says tenants are not required to use it. Your provider’s letter can still be valid as long as it contains the necessary information.
Can an HOA in Colorado refuse my ESA?
HOAs are generally treated like other housing providers under the Colorado fair housing laws and FHA.
They must consider requests for ESAs as reasonable accommodations, and they can’t simply hide behind CC&Rs that say “no pets.”
Can my landlord ask what my disability is?
They can ask for enough information to verify:
- That you have a qualifying disability
- That the animal helps with symptoms or functioning.
They can’t demand a full diagnosis, full records, or intrusive details that go beyond what’s needed to verify the need.
Are ESAs allowed in Colorado workplaces?
Not automatically. The ADA and CADA require reasonable accommodations for disabilities, but they don’t explicitly guarantee ESA access at work.
Can my college in Colorado refuse my ESA in the dorms?
Colleges must follow FHA-style housing rules in campus housing, but they can require:
- Prior approval through the disability office
- Documentation from a qualified provider
- Compliance with behavior and care rules
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About Dr. Erika Caturegli is a linguist and content manager with a focus on emotional support animal and service dogs education. With an academic foundation in linguistics and English as a Second Language studies, she brings both...
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