ESA Letter » Emotional Support Animal » ESA Letter Illinois
ESA Letter Illinois

Illinois ESA Laws: A Complete 2026 Guide (Housing, Travel & Workplace)

Athena Angela Gaffud, DVMWritten by: Athena Angela Gaffud, DVM - Updated:Feb 04, 2026
Get your ESA letter Money back guarantee

Illinois residents who rely on the support of emotional support animals (ESAs) to tame symptoms of a mental health or emotional condition, know how important your ESA is for your quality of life. Because of this, you are entitled to housing rights under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) when you obtain a legal ESA letter. However, this does not mean that you and your ESA in Illinois also have service animal rights, such as unrestricted access to public places and rights while traveling. It’s also important to note that Illinois has a special law that cracks down on fake ESA letters and fraudulent certifications.

This guide breaks down Illinois ESA laws in plain English so you know what’s allowed, what’s risky, and how to do things legally.

Warning: Illinois’s “Assistance Animal Integrity Act” Protects Against ESA Fraud

Under the Illinois Assistance Animal Integrity Act (310 ILCS 120), signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2019, it is illegal to:

  • Misrepresent a pet as an assistance animal
  • Use fake ESA letters or certifications without a legitimate therapeutic relationship
  • Present fraudulent documentation that confirms, without conducting a meaningful assessment, that a person has a disability or needs an assistance animal

Key Takeaways for Illinois ESA Owners

  • Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) provides primary ESA protections – Illinois residents with valid ESA letters have housing rights including exemption from pet fees and breed/size restrictions
  • Housing provider verification rights – Landlords may request reliable documentation of disability and disability-related need only if disability or need is not readily apparent or known; cannot demand specific diagnosis details
  • Assistance Animal Integrity Act strengthens ESA verification – 310 ILCS 120 (signed August 2019, effective January 1, 2020): Prohibits fraudulent ESA certifications issued without meaningful assessment of disability or disability-related need; requires legitimate therapeutic relationship between provider and person
  • Therapeutic relationship requirement – Illinois law defines therapeutic relationship as provision of medical/program/personal care services by (1) physician or medical professional, (2) mental health service provider, or (3) non-medical service agency/reliable third party with actual knowledge of individual’s disability
  • No public access rights for ESAs – ESAs are not covered under Illinois law or the ADA for public accommodations (restaurants, stores, hotels, transportation)
  • Illinois Human Rights Act protects service animals in housing – 775 ILCS 5/3-104.1: Prohibits refusal to sell or rent to persons with physical disabilities who have guide, hearing, or support dogs
  • Annual ESA letter renewal recommended – Valid ESA letter from licensed Illinois mental health professional should remain current to maintain FHA housing protections
  • Class C misdemeanor for denying service animal access – 720 ILCS 5/48-8 (effective January 1, 2013): Knowingly denying or interfering with service animal access to public places is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days jail, fine up to $1,500, or both

Note: Illinois was one of the first states to create comprehensive legislation addressing ESA documentation integrity, with the 2019 Assistance Animal Integrity Act designed to combat fraudulent ESA certifications while protecting legitimate users.

CertaPet is Fully Compliant with Illinois ESA Law

  • Licensed Illinois mental health professionals
  • Fast digital delivery
  • 100% money guarantee 
Quick Links

What Is an Illinois Emotional Support Animal?

In Illinois, an emotional support animal (ESA) is legislated under the larger umbrella of “assistance animals” when it comes to housing rights through the Fair Housing Act. An Illinois emotional support animal is an animal that helps alleviate symptoms for an individual related to their mental health or emotional condition simply through their presence. ESAs in Illinois are not trained to carry out specific tasks for people with disabilities.

ESA vs. Service Dog in Illinois (Quick Table)

FeatureEmotional Support / Assistance AnimalService Dog / Guide / Support Animal
Main roleComfort / emotional supportSpecifically trained tasks
Training required?No special training requiredYes, individually trained
Key protection in ILHousing (Integrity Act + FHA + Illinois Human Rights Act)Housing and public access, employment
Public places (stores, etc.)Usually treated as a petMust generally be allowed under ADA
AirlinesTreated as a pet (as of 2021)Must be allowed as service dogs
Housing pet feesNo pet fees for valid assistance animalsNo pet fees

How to Get a Legitimate Illinois ESA Letter (Step-by-Step)

Below are the steps to obtain a valid Illinois ESA letter. It is very important to follow them to make sure that your ESA will benefit from housing rights.

1. Work With a Licensed Professional

The Illinois Assistance Animal Integrity Act says that any documentation used to prove you need an emotional support animal in Illinois for housing purposes must:

  • Be in writing
  • Be made by a person with whom you have a therapeutic relationship
  • Describe your disability-related need for the assistance animal

Basically, this means your ESA letter should come from a licensed mental health professional or other licensed healthcare provider who has actually evaluated you and has actual knowledge of your disability and need for the animal, not just rubber-stamped an online form.

It is best to secure an ESA letter in Illinois from a healthcare provider licensed in the state to avoid potential landlord rejection. Consultations done via telehealth are legal as long as they involve real assessments with a clinician, not a 60-second quiz or an instant letter.

Important: Illinois law makes it very clear that “therapeutic relationship” does NOT include a company that issues a certificate, license, or similar document that, without conducting a meaningful assessment, confirms that a person has a disability or needs an assistance animal.

2. Make Sure Your ESA Letter Includes the Right Elements

A strong Illinois ESA letter for housing typically:

  • States that you have a mental or emotional disability (no need to list specific diagnosis details)
  • Explains that the animal helps with your symptoms or functioning, and is necessary for you to use and enjoy your dwelling
  • Is in writing, on professional letterhead, signed and dated
  • Includes the clinician’s full name, license type, license number, and state of licensure
  • Shows that the provider has a therapeutic relationship with you

The Illinois Assistance Animal Integrity Act doesn’t require a specific format, but it does require that documentation be “reliable” and based on a therapeutic relationship, which is exactly what a detailed, professionally written letter accomplishes.

3. Avoid “Letter Mills” and Misrepresentation Traps

Illinois’s Assistance Animal Integrity Act was written specifically to deal with fake letters and fake ESAs in housing. There are a variety of red flags to be on the lookout for when accessing suspicious online ESA services:

  • Sites that promise a letter in minutes without any real evaluation
  • “Certificates,” “registries,” or “ID cards” are sold as if they were official government documents
  • Providers who never ask about your history, symptoms, or how the animal helps, and clearly don’t have a “therapeutic relationship” with you
  • Any suggestion to “just say you’re disabled” to qualify

Landlords in Illinois are authorized to request access to valid ESA documentation, and they may deny housing to pet owners who are unable to produce such documents.

All of this information might feel daunting, but this is where CertaPet has you covered.

A good ESA platform for Illinois should:

  • Match you with a licensed clinician who can legally treat Illinois residents
  • Ensure you have a real evaluation, not just a yes/no checkbox
  • Provide documentation that lines up with the Illinois Assistance Animal Integrity Act and HUD guidance, so it stands up to scrutiny if your landlord, HOA, or condo board questions it

Understanding Your Illinois ESA Housing Rights

ESAs in Illinois are protected under housing rights through:

  • Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) and HUD’s assistance-animal guidance
  • The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/3), which protects people with disabilities – including users of assistance animals – from discrimination in housing
  • The Illinois Assistance Animal Integrity Act (310 ILCS 120), which sets documentation standards and prohibits fraudulent certifications

What Landlords, HOAs, and Condo Boards Can and Cannot Do

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) is the state agency that enforces housing discrimination laws. Its guidance makes it very clear that:

Housing providers must:

  • Make reasonable accommodations for people with compliant ESA letters when it comes to housing
  • Waive existing pet policies in these cases

They can not: 

  • Charge pet rent, pet fees, or pet deposits
  • Impose breed and size restrictions for ESAs in Illinois

You’re still responsible for:

  • Any actual damage beyond normal wear and tear caused by the animal

When Can an Illinois Landlord Say “No”?

Housing providers can deny an assistance-animal request if:

  • The animal poses a direct threat to others’ health or safety that cannot be reduced by reasonable steps
  • The animal would cause substantial physical damage to the property that cannot be avoided (for example, repeated serious destruction)
  • The animal has engaged in a pattern of uncontrolled behavior that the owner has not taken effective action to correct
  • Allowing the animal would impose an undue financial or administrative burden or fundamentally alter the provider’s operations

If you believe you’ve been wrongly denied, you can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) or HUD.

Where Can You Take Your ESA in Illinois? (Rules, Risks & Limits)

Public Places and Businesses

Under the ADA, ESAs in Illinois do not have public access rights (stores, restaurants, hotels, etc.) like service dogs do. Business owners can decide to allow ESAs in their establishments on a case-by-case basis, and Illinois ESAs are permitted in any establishment that already implements pet-friendly policies.

Air Travel

As of January 2021, under the Air Carrier Access Act, ESAs are categorized as regular pets for air travel across all 50 states. This means that ESAs in Illinois are subject to regular airfare fees and must travel in airline-approved pet carriers.

”<span>*Emotional

Public Transportation

Public transit systems in Illinois (such as the CTA in Chicago or other regional transit authorities) typically only allow service animals. ESAs are not recognized under most transit policies. However, some transit authorities may permit small ESAs in carriers under general pet policies; make sure to check with your specific transit provider.

Illinois ESA Rules for the Workplace

According to the Federal ADA (Title I), only service animals are permitted in the workplace. ESAs in Illinois do not have automatic access to workspaces, but can request accommodations from their employers. An ESA owner who has a legal Illinois ESA letter can discuss possible accommodations with their employer regarding bringing their ESA to work. In some cases, the employer might decide to make an exception. Just remember that they’re legally not obligated to accept ESAs.

Illinois ESA Resources for Students in Campus Housing

ESAs in College and University Housing

Campus housing (dorms, university-owned apartments) is still housing, so the FHA and Illinois fair-housing principles apply.

Many Illinois colleges follow the same pattern:

The University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) explains that students with ESAs must work with the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) to request accommodation. ESAs are allowed in on-campus housing but not in other university buildings.

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) requires students to register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) through its standard accommodations registration process. Assistance animals living in Campus Housing are subject to UIC Campus Housing Assistance Animal Agreements.

Eastern Illinois University has a detailed ESA policy requiring students to provide documentation from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional who has an established therapeutic relationship with the student. Students must complete multiple stages, including documentation review, meeting with the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations, and obtaining written approval before bringing an ESA to campus.

Illinois State University requires students residing in University Housing with an Assistance Animal to make a Request for Housing/Dining Service through Student Access and Accommodation Services and provide appropriate documentation on the provider’s letterhead.

Illinois Wesleyan University notes that an ESA may NOT be kept in University housing at any time prior to receiving written approval. Students must complete an Emotional Support Animal Verification Form and meet with Student Accessibility Services.

If you’re a student, expect this basic process:

  1. Contact your Accessibility/Disability Services office (not Housing first)
  2. Provide ESA documentation from a qualified provider with whom you have a therapeutic relationship
  3. Await approval and follow any rules (vaccines, cleanliness, where the animal can go, etc.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord deny my ESA in Illinois?

Yes, under specific conditions. A landlord, HOA, or condo board can deny if:

  • You don’t meet the disability standards
  • You refuse to provide compliant Illinois ESA documentation when it’s legitimately requested
  • The animal is dangerous, extremely disruptive, or would cause significant property damage
  • The animal has engaged in a pattern of uncontrolled behavior that you haven’t taken effective action to correct
Can my landlord charge pet rent or a pet deposit for my ESA?

No. Pet rent, pet fees, and pet deposits must be waived for assistance animals (including ESAs). You’re still responsible for actual damage beyond normal wear and tear.

Are there breed or weight limits for ESAs in Illinois housing?

Breed or weight limits that apply to pets generally must be waived for ESAs, unless the landlord can show a specific safety or property risk associated with your animal. A blanket “no pit bulls” rule, by itself, is not a valid reason to deny a properly documented ESA.

Do I have to register my ESA with the state or get a special ID?

No. There is no official Illinois ESA registry. What matters in housing is a compliant Illinois ESA letter from a provider with whom you have a therapeutic relationship and who has actual knowledge of your disability and need for the animal, not an ID tag or certificate.

Can I have more than one ESA in Illinois?

Yes. HUD guidance and Illinois law acknowledge that some people may need more than one assistance animal, but you’ll need documentation that explains the disability-related need for each animal. Landlords have the right to consider whether multiple animals would create an undue burden, health/safety risk, or significant property damage.

Does my ESA need special training?

No, ESAs don’t need to undergo specialized task training. However, assistance animals must:

  • Be under your control
  • Be house-trained enough not to cause ongoing sanitation problems
  • Not be aggressive or dangerously out of control
Are ESAs allowed in Illinois workplaces?

Not by default. Illinois law and the ADA state that employers need not accommodate ESAs. You can still request an ESA as an accommodation, but your employer can legally say no if it’s not reasonable or if there are other workable accommodations.

What animals can be ESAs in Illinois?

A variety of pets can serve as emotional support animals, as long as they provide comfort and support for mental or emotional disabilities. The most common ones are dogs and cats, but they can be any animal.

Can I use an ESA letter from another state in Illinois?

You may be able to temporarily use an ESA letter issued in another state, but it must meet Illinois requirements (be from a licensed healthcare professional, demonstrate a therapeutic relationship, etc.). For long-term use in Illinois, it’s recommended to get your letter from an Illinois-licensed mental health professional.

See What Our Clients Say About US

We helped more than 200,000 people with their ESA and PSD needs

google
star rating star rating star rating star rating star rating
4.6 stars • 2322 reviews
trustpilot
star rating star rating star rating star rating star rating
Excellent • 1003 reviews
bbb
star rating star rating star rating star rating star rating
4.37 stars • 38 reviews
shopperapproved
star rating star rating star rating star rating star rating
4.7 stars • 8575 reviews
Get your ESA letter
  • No pet deposit
  • Travel with your PSD at no cost
  • No pet rent fee
  • Easy ESA letter renewal plans
  • No size or breed restrictions
  • Continued care from your licensed professional
Get your ESA letter

Emotional Support Laws by State

Northeast

Southeast

Midwest

Southwest

West

Territories and Districts

>