Here Are Two Ironclad Laws For Emotional Support Animals

By: Prairie Conlon Updated: October 3, 2024

Emotional Support Animal Laws: Understanding Assistance Animals

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are animals that are specially designated to assist individuals with emotional or psychological disabilities. They are a type of assistance animal, and according to federal law, assistance animals can be distinguished in the following ways:

Service Animals

Individuals who are blind, deaf, restricted to a wheelchair, or suffer from seizure disorders can benefit immensely from the aid of a service animal. Service animals are dogs or miniature horses that are specially trained to perform tasks and recognize medical conditions.

Emotional Support Dogs and Other Animals (ESA)

ESAs are more specifically chosen as companions to individuals who are psychologically or emotionally disabled. These companions can range from a dog, a cat, or even a miniature horse. ESAs are not trained to perform tasks or recognize particular signs or symptoms but are distinguished by the close, emotional, and supportive bond between the animal and the owner.

 

esa laws

Who Can Obtain an ESA Letter?

Individuals limited by an emotional and/or mental disability, such as depression or a similar condition, which affects their mental well-being can obtain an ESA letter.

Emotional and psychological disabilities applicable to an ESA letter may include:

  • Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Depression
  • Phobias and Fears
  • General Anxiety Disorder
  • Panic Disorder
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder

An ESA letter is written by a Licensed Mental Health Professional who believes you would benefit from an Emotional Support Animal.

While ESAs may become members of an individual’s family, they should not be confused with traditional pets. ESAs provide a very specific service as an emotional support animal, and very specific laws govern their use.

emotional support animal definition

 

Federal Laws and ESAs

There are two main federal laws applicable to ESAs and their owners, which are the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair Housing Act.

It is important that anyone considering obtaining an Emotional Support Dog letter be aware of the laws that apply to owners and what they should expect from airlines and landlords.

A brief summary of federal laws and ESAs can be found by reading on:

The Air Carrier Access Act

The Air Carrier Access Act was passed in 1990 and works alongside Department of Transportation rules prohibiting discrimination of disabled individuals traveling by air. According to the Air Carrier Act provisions, airlines are not allowed to refuse transportation, limit, or require advanced notice before offering service to individuals who are disabled.

Airlines may require advanced notice for certain accommodations, such as medical equipment or electric wheelchairs, and may require notice for ESAs specifically, depending on the individual airline guidelines.

The Air Carrier Act, however, still requires that airlines accommodate ESA owners who have verified identification, which is your ESA letter and possibly additional forms based on the specific airline.

ESA owners are not required to sit in any particular location unless the animal is large enough to obstruct an aisle that must remain unobstructed.
The Air Carrier Act also restricts airlines from charging fees for accommodating disabled persons with an ESA.

**Please note, as of January 11, 2021, under new regulations passed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the allowance of Emotional Support Animals onboard flights may vary from airline to airline. Please contact your airline of choice for their most up-to-date policies on Emotional Support Animals.

Emotional Support Animal Housing Laws: The Fair Housing Act (FHA)

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, commonly known as FHA, requires apartments and housing communities that ordinarily restrict pets to make “reasonable accommodation” for ESAs.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines “reasonable accommodation” and obligates all housing providers covered under the FHA to allow ‘assistance animals,’ including ‘Emotional Support Animals,’ as a reasonable accommodation.

You can download the exact notice issued by HUD regarding assistance animals here (it’s only a few pages long and defines the laws very clearly – all ESA owners or applicants should go through it).

esa hud notice

In short, that means that verified ESA owners (i.e. owners who have an ESA letter written by a Licensed Mental Health Professional) cannot be denied housing, just as individuals in a wheelchair or with a disability cannot be denied housing based on their condition.

In order to be protected by FHA laws, the ESA owner must have a diagnosed disability and provide documentation to the property owner or housing representative.

The benefits of FHA laws include the fact that property owners cannot charge an advance deposit or other pet fees for ESAs. ESA owners should note, however, that if significant damage is done, or if it becomes apparent that the animal is being neglected, the property owner might be able to recoup fees later.

Property owners also cannot question the disability, require the animal to wear identification as an Emotional Support Animal, or refuse housing.

 

Emotional Support Animal Registration is NOT REAL

Unfortunately many ‘ESA registration’ sites take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.

These sites claim that to make your pet an Emotional Support Dog or ESA, all you need is to be “registered” in their database and put an emotional support dog vest on your pup.

This neglects the key point of Emotional Support Animals: they are for people with diagnosed disabilities and serve an important purpose. They’re not intended as a ‘cover’ to allow just anyone to fly with their pet for free. Furthermore, wearing an emotional support animal vest is not required for your animal.

This also goes for Emotional Support Animal certification sites, or the idea that you need to get your ESA “certified.”

This is a false statement that does not hold up in a court of law and tricks consumers into paying for something that isn’t real.

Both the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair Housing Act mentioned above only apply to people and pets with a legitimate ESA letter from a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP).

If you want to learn more about getting a legitimate ESA letter, click here to get started.

I Already Have an ESA Letter. Should I Use an Emotional Support Dog Registration Site Too?

As stated above, registration sites offer no value. There is no such thing as an “Official Emotional Support Animal Registry” or “Emotional Support Dog Registry.”

This also goes for sites with names similar to “United States Dog Registry,” “US Animal Registry,” and “Service Dog Registry of America.”

These are simply fraudulent companies that are exploiting consumers.

Can a Landlord Deny an Emotional Support Animal?

Most of the time no.

But let’s be clear.

There are two questions a housing provider must consider when a request for reasonable accommodation is made:

  1. Does the person seeking to use and live with the animal have a disability — i.e., a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities?
  2. Does the person making the request have a disability-related need for an assistance animal? In other words, does the animal work, provide assistance, perform tasks or services for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provide emotional support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of a person’s existing disability?

If the answers to both questions are “yes,” then a landlord must provide reasonable accommodation for an Emotional Support Animal, as long as the tenant can provide proof of a legitimate ESA letter.

CertaPet ESA letters are written by REAL Licensed Mental Health Professionals and in such a way that more than 99% of landlords accept the letters without incident.

Please note: Emotional Support Animals may not be accepted in:

  • Buildings that have four or less units, with the landlord occupying one of the units
  • Single-family housing that’s sold or rented without a real estate broker
  • Private clubs
  • Motels/hotels used as dwellings

ESAs are More Than “Man’s Best Friend”

Emotional Support Animals are not restricted to Emotional Support Dogs or Emotional Support Cats, but could even be a miniature horse!

Individuals who already have a pet that brings them comfort and emotional support can also apply for an Emotional Support Dog letter, which will provide them with the protections discussed in this article and benefits that are immeasurable.

What is important is that the ESA and the owner have a special relationship that genuinely offers emotional support and wellbeing.

CertaPet makes the process of getting a legitimate ESA letter simple and easy.

We know the invaluable contribution animals make to help people cope with mental illnesses and other emotional disabilities. Whether a person is living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or another disability: ESAs can have a massively beneficial and life-changing impact on their owners.

So how does CertaPet work?

We know that for some people, the process of finding, traveling to, and meeting up with a therapist can be incredibly overwhelming, stressful, and/or anxiety-inducing.

That’s why we make it easier than ever for you to connect with a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) in your state, who you can consult with virtually, allowing you to go through the ESA process from the comfort of your own home!

Ready to get started? All you need to do is to take our free, 5-minute pre-screening test. If your answers indicate that you may qualify for an ESA, we will connect you with a LMHP in your state, who can issue you an ESA letter.

 

 

Here’s What Emily, A Happy Customer, Has to Say About CertaPet’s Service

author avatar
Prairie Conlon
Licensed mental health professional and the world’s leading emotional support animal expert. Founder of Emotional Support Animal Assisted Therapy. Utilizing animal assisted interventions to induce healing and wellness.

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