How to Get an Emotional Support Animal in Austin, TX
Written by: Erika Caturegli, PhD - Updated:Apr 15, 2025 
Table of Contents
Austin, Texas is one of America’s fastest growing cities. It is a city with multiple parks and animal-friendly businesses. All of this makes Austin a wonderful city for pets, which makes it a great place to have emotional support animals (ESAs). An emotional support animal is an animal that provides a therapeutic benefit to its owner through companionship.
The animal provides emotional support and comfort to individuals with psychiatric disabilities and other mental impairments. The animal is not specifically trained to perform tasks for a person who suffers from emotional disabilities. Unlike a service animal, an emotional support animal is not necessarily granted access to places of public accommodation but does have protections and laws of its own.
Get Your ESA Letter TodayESA Austin- Top Dog Parks
Only by having a letter or prescription from a licensed medical professional, will you be covered legally under the Fair Housing Act.
This letter will also work for up to one year for flying with your emotional support animal under The Air Carrier Access Act.
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department operates 12 off-leash areas in the city for you to enjoy with your dog. In general, all parks are open for public use each day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Most of the parks in Austin are conveniently located within a 15-minute walk of downtown.
CertaPet‘s favorites include Zilker Park on Barton Springs Rd, Shoal Creek Greenbelt on Lamar Blvd, and West Austin Park on W 10th St.
The city of Austin does have ordinances that visitors should be aware of.
- Rabies vaccinations are required for all dogs, as is required by State Law
- Owners/handlers must clean up after their dogs and deposit waste into a trash can
- Aggressive dogs must be removed from public spaces immediately
- Dogs must be within sight and sound control of Owners/handlers at all times
- Dogs in heat are not allowed in off-leash areas
ESA Austin- Top Dog-Friendly Restaurants and Bars
If you’re in Austin with your ESA, you might wonder “what restaurants and bars might be dog-friendly?” Well have no fear, Austin has over 170 restaurants that welcome emotional support dogs to their establishment.
Kerbey Lane Café is one of Austin’s most famous restaurants and is extremely dog-friendly. Located on Kerbey Ln Drive, its massive outdoor patio makes it an ideal place to bring your four-legged friend for a bite to eat. Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin Blvd is also a well known dog-friendly establishment.
Mozart’s patio offers breathtaking views of Lake Travis to go along with their gourmet coffee. Another Austin hot spot is Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill. Located in the heart of downtown on Brazos Street, Cedar offers a great beer selection and mixed drink menu along with all your traditional favorite bar foods.
Most importantly, Cedar is dog-friendly, which makes it an ideal place for those visiting with their emotional support animal.
See if You Qualify for an Emotional Support AnimalESA Austin- Final Thoughts
A person may wonder where to start the process of getting an ESA.
They can start by taking CertaPet’s simple 5-minute survey to see if you would be a good candidate. If you are considered a good candidate, we can connect you with a licensed medical or mental health professional who will determine if an emotional support animal is best for you.
Take CertaPet ESA ScreeningSee What Our Clients Say About US
We helped more than 200,000 people with their ESA and PSD needs
David Brock1 reviews US
I did my research before deciding to go with Certapet for my ESA and PSD. Certapet was definitely the right decision. The website was very easy to use. The consultation and certification was also very well organized. I have been using Certapet for 6 years now and will continue to use them in the future. I highly reccomend Certapet to all pet owners seeking ESA and PSD help.
Lauren13 reviews US
I've had a fantastic experience with Certapet! I needed my PSD letter updated due to a change of state, and Certapet made the process incredibly smooth and straightforward. Overall, I highly recommend Certapet to anyone seeking an ESA or PSD letter. They make a potentially stressful situation smooth and efficient, and I'm grateful for their service.
Kbr Tuncer13 reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I'm really impressed with how smooth and professional the entire process was. They assisted me at every step and eased my concerns. I must say Laura was exceptionally kind and friendly, asking all the right questions and really listening to me. I received my letter and I'm absolutely delighted that I chose CertaPet. A big thank you to Laura and the whole CertaPet team!
Emily Pinley5 reviews★ ★ ★ ★ ★
They made the process of getting my Great Dane certified so simple and fast! My therapist was wonderful and I was able to get all my paperwork in the same day. I was approved to lease because of the ability to get my doggo certified. Thank you!
Billie Sue Coleman1 reviews★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I am so appreciative to having one location go to for my Service Dog support. I love the in depth evaluation process, supportive staff and supplies available to people seeking a service animal. It was an entirely new experience for me and Certapet has made it much easier with my anxiety. Thank you!
David Brock1 reviews
I did my research before deciding to go with Certapet for my ESA and PSD. Certapet was definitely the right decision. The website was very easy to use. The consultation and certification was also very well organized. I have been using Certapet for 6 years now and will continue to use them in the future. I highly reccomend Certapet to all pet owners seeking ESA and PSD help.
Lauren13 reviews
I've had a fantastic experience with Certapet! I needed my PSD letter updated due to a change of state, and Certapet made the process incredibly smooth and straightforward. Overall, I highly recommend Certapet to anyone seeking an ESA or PSD letter. They make a potentially stressful situation smooth and efficient, and I'm grateful for their service.
Kbr Tuncer13 reviews★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I'm really impressed with how smooth and professional the entire process was. They assisted me at every step and eased my concerns. I must say Laura was exceptionally kind and friendly, asking all the right questions and really listening to me. I received my letter and I'm absolutely delighted that I chose CertaPet. A big thank you to Laura and the whole CertaPet team!
Emily Pinley5 reviews★ ★ ★ ★ ★
They made the process of getting my Great Dane certified so simple and fast! My therapist was wonderful and I was able to get all my paperwork in the same day. I was approved to lease because of the ability to get my doggo certified. Thank you!
Billie Sue Coleman1 reviews★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I am so appreciative to having one location go to for my Service Dog support. I love the in depth evaluation process, supportive staff and supplies available to people seeking a service animal. It was an entirely new experience for me and Certapet has made it much easier with my anxiety. Thank you!