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ESA Letter Wyoming

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

Ivana Crnec, DVMWritten by: Ivana Crnec, DVM - Updated:Feb 04, 2026
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If you live in Wyoming and rely on an emotional support animal (ESA) to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, or another mental health condition, understanding your legal rights is essential. Wyoming provides housing protections under both federal and state law, ensuring residents with disabilities can live with their emotional support animals without facing discrimination.

This guide explains Wyoming’s ESA laws, housing protections, penalties for misrepresentation, and how to obtain a legitimate ESA letter in Wyoming from a licensed mental health professional.

⚠️ Warning: Wyoming Service Animal Misrepresentation Penalties

Wyoming law (Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-203) makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly and intentionally misrepresent an animal as a service animal or assistance animal. Violators can be fined up to $750. ESAs are legally classified as “assistance animals” in Wyoming for housing purposes, but they do NOT have public access rights.

Key Takeaways for Wyoming ESA Owners

  • State housing law: Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-201(c) provides ESA protections alongside the federal Fair Housing Act
  • Strong housing rights: No pet deposits or fees, access to no-pet housing, protection from discrimination
  • No public access rights: ESAs cannot enter restaurants, stores, hotels, or other public places (only service animals have public access)
  • Misrepresentation penalties: Up to $750 fine (misdemeanor) under Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-203 for falsely claiming an animal is a service or assistance animal
  • No ESA registries: Official registrations don’t exist—avoid scam websites selling fake certifications
  • Airlines treat ESAs as pets: No air travel protections; most airlines charge standard pet fees

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What is a Wyoming Emotional Support Animal?

An emotional support animal provides therapeutic benefits to individuals with mental or emotional disabilities through companionship, comfort, and support. Unlike service animals, ESAs don’t require specialized training to perform specific tasks.

ESAs vs. Service Animals in Wyoming:

AspectEmotional Support Animals (ESAs)Service Animals
Training RequiredNo specialized training requiredMust be trained to perform specific disability-related tasks
SpeciesAny domestic animal (dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, etc.)Dogs and miniature horses only
Public Access RightsNo public access rights in WyomingFull access to public places under Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-201(b)
Housing RightsProtected under FHA and Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-201(c)Protected under FHA and Wyoming law
Air TravelTreated as pets (fees apply)Protected under Air Carrier Access Act
DocumentationESA letter from licensed mental health professional requiredNo certification required, but handlers may be asked two questions

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

Step 1: Qualify for an ESA

To qualify for an emotional support animal in Wyoming, you must:

  • Have a diagnosed mental or emotional disability (anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.)
  • The disability must substantially limit one or more major life activities
  • A licensed mental health professional must determine that an ESA will help alleviate symptoms of your disability

Step 2: Consult with a Wyoming-Licensed Mental Health Professional

Only licensed mental health professionals can issue legitimate ESA letters in Wyoming. These professionals include:

  • Licensed Clinical Psychologists (PhD, PsyD)
  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
  • Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
  • Psychiatrists (MD, DO)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

The provider must be licensed in Wyoming and have a legitimate therapeutic relationship with you. Instant online ESA letters without proper consultations are often fraudulent and may not be accepted by landlords.

Step 3: Obtain Your Wyoming ESA Letter

A valid ESA letter in Wyoming must include:

  • Provider’s name, license type, license number, and jurisdiction
  • Date of issuance (letters are valid for one year)
  • Statement that you have a mental or emotional disability
  • Explanation that the ESA is necessary to alleviate symptoms of your disability
  • Provider’s signature
  • Written on the provider’s official letterhead

Avoiding ESA Letter Scams

Unfortunately, many websites sell fake ESA letters and fraudulent “registrations” that have no legal standing. Protect yourself by avoiding:

  • ESA registries or databases (no official ESA registry exists)
  • Websites that don’t verify provider licenses in your state
  • Instant ESA certifications without consulting a licensed professional
  • ESA vests, IDs, or certificates sold as proof of legitimacy (these have no legal value)
  • Providers without legitimate patient relationships

Warning: Using a fraudulent ESA letter to gain housing accommodations may result in eviction, denial of future accommodation requests, and potential legal consequences. Under Wyoming law (Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-203), misrepresenting an animal as an assistance animal is a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $750. Always ensure your ESA letter comes from a Wyoming-licensed mental health professional with whom you’ve had a legitimate consultation.

Use CertaPet for Convenient Online Consultations

CertaPet connects Wyoming residents with licensed mental health professionals for legitimate ESA evaluations. Our process ensures you receive a valid, landlord-approved ESA letter.

Understanding Your Wyoming ESA Housing Rights

Fair Housing Act & State Law Protections

State Law Overview

Wyoming has specific state laws protecting emotional support animals in housing. Under Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-201(c), landlords and housing providers must permit assistance animals in leased or rented residential property in accordance with the federal Fair Housing Act.

Wyoming law defines “assistance animal” to include any animal that:

  • Performs tasks or provides assistance to a person with a disability, OR
  • Provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects or symptoms of a person’s disability

This definition explicitly includes emotional support animals, giving Wyoming residents both state and federal housing protections.

Wyoming’s fair housing law provides these key protections:

  • Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-201(c): Landlords must permit assistance animals (including ESAs) in rental housing in accordance with federal Fair Housing Act
  • No pet fees: Landlords cannot charge pet fees or additional rent for ESAs (though tenants remain responsible for any damage caused by the animal)
  • No breed or size restrictions: Landlords cannot apply breed or weight restrictions to ESAs

How to Request an ESA Accommodation

To secure housing accommodations for your emotional support animal in Wyoming, follow these steps:

1. Obtain a legitimate ESA letter from a Wyoming-licensed mental health professional (LMHP).

2. Submit your ESA letter to your landlord or housing provider when requesting reasonable accommodation. Provide the letter before or shortly after moving in with your ESA.

3. Allow the landlord time to review your request. Housing providers may verify the letter’s authenticity by contacting your LMHP but cannot ask about specific details of your disability.

4. Maintain your ESA’s good behavior. You’re responsible for your animal’s actions, cleanliness, and any property damage. Landlords can deny or remove ESAs that pose safety threats or cause substantial property damage.

When Can a Landlord Deny an ESA?

While both federal and Wyoming law require reasonable accommodations, landlords may legally deny an ESA request in certain situations:

  • Direct threat to health or safety: The animal poses a genuine threat to other tenants or staff
  • Substantial property damage: The animal would cause significant damage that cannot be reasonably prevented
  • Undue financial or administrative burden: The accommodation would fundamentally alter the nature of the housing provider’s operations
  • Invalid documentation: The ESA letter is fraudulent, outdated, or from an unlicensed provider

Landlords cannot deny ESAs based solely on breed, size, or weight restrictions that apply to regular pets.

Enforcement & Filing Complaints

If you experience housing discrimination related to your emotional support animal in Wyoming, you can file a complaint with:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Denver Regional Office

Wyoming falls under HUD’s Denver Regional Office jurisdiction.

  • Phone: (800) 877-7353 or (303) 672-5437
  • Address: Denver Regional Office of FHEO, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1670 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
  • Filing Deadline: One year from the date of discrimination
  • Website: hud.gov/fairhousing

HUD will investigate your complaint, and if they find reasonable cause to believe discrimination occurred, they may pursue conciliation or hold a public hearing.

Additional Wyoming Resources

  • Legal Aid of Wyoming: (877) 432-9955
  • Equal Justice Wyoming: (307) 777-8383
  • Wyoming Housing Network (HUD-approved counselor): (307) 472-5843

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

Contrary to service dogs, emotional support animals in Wyoming are not protected under the ADA, thus they do not benefit from generic public access rights. This means that when it comes to public spaces, ESAs in Wyoming can be denied entry. Businesses and establishments are within their legal rights to turn ESAs away unless they already implement pet-friendly policies. Below is a list of public places that can refuse ESAs in Wyoming.

Public Places

  • Restaurants and bars
  • Hotels and motels
  • Retail stores and shopping centers
  • Movie theaters and entertainment venues
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Public transportation (buses, taxis, Uber/Lyft)
  • Hospitals and medical facilities (except as patients)

Air Travel

  • In 2021, federal rules changed. Under the Air Carrier Access Act, emotional support animals are no longer guaranteed the same travel rights as service animals. Wyoming defers to those federal rules. ESAs in Wyoming are now subject to regular airline travel fees, and most of all, they cannot freely access the cabin. As they are treated just like regular pets, they need to fly in airline approved carriers and fit under size restrictions.

What This Means for You

  • You might fly with your ESA but only if the airline allows it, and by paying standard animal airfare fees.
  • You’re not guaranteed in-cabin access just because you have an ESA letter.
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Workplace

  • Employers are not required to allow ESAs in Wyoming workplaces under the ADA
  • However, some employers may allow ESAs as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other disability laws; discuss this with your employer and HR department

Wyoming ESA Resources for Students in Campus Housing

Many Wyoming colleges and universities allow emotional support animals in campus housing for students with documented disabilities. Below are the ESA policies for major universities in the state.

University of Wyoming (UW)

The University of Wyoming permits emotional support animals in residence halls and University Apartments through the Disability Support Services office.

Key Requirements:

  • Students must request accommodation through Disability Support Services (DSS)
  • Must complete entire ESA request process before animal can reside on campus
  • Documentation required from medical/mental health provider showing:
    • Existence of a disability
    • Relationship between the disability and the relief the animal provides
  • ESAs found on campus prior to approval must be boarded at owner’s expense until process is completed
  • Must sign Emotional Support Animal Student Agreement with Residence Life staff
  • ESAs restricted to student’s assigned room or apartment in University Housing
  • ESAs permitted in “common areas” within assigned residence hall or apartment building (hallways, lobbies, community spaces) BUT must be leashed, crated, or caged in common areas
  • ESAs NOT permitted in other residents’ rooms/apartments, administrative offices, or dining halls
  • Students remain financially responsible for any property damage or injury caused by ESA
  • Annual veterinary clean bill of health required
  • Must have backup caregiver for emergencies

Contact: Disability Support Services – (307) 766-6189 or udss@uwyo.edu

ESA Resources for Wyoming Veterans

Federal & State Housing Protections

Veterans in Wyoming receive the same Fair Housing Act and Wyoming state law protections as all other residents. There are no special state ESA laws specifically for veterans, but veterans qualify for ESA housing accommodations just like any other Wyoming resident with a documented mental health condition.

VA Mental Health Services & ESA Letters

Wyoming veterans can access mental health services through the VA healthcare system. VA mental health providers licensed in Wyoming can issue valid ESA letters that meet Fair Housing Act requirements.

Key points for veterans:

  • Veterans receive same FHA and Wyoming housing law protections as all residents
  • VA-connected mental health providers licensed in WY can issue valid ESA letters
  • ESAs are NOT allowed on VA facility grounds (service animals only)
  • Veterans can use VA mental health services to connect with WY-licensed providers for ESA evaluations

VA Facilities Offering Mental Health Evaluations:

  • Cheyenne VA Medical Center – 2360 East Pershing Boulevard, Cheyenne, WY 82001 – (888) 483-9127 – Serves approximately 24,500 veterans in southeastern Wyoming, northeastern Colorado, and southwestern Nebraska
  • Sheridan VA Medical Center – 1898 Fort Road, Sheridan, WY 82801 – Tertiary care mental health referral center serving veterans throughout Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming

Additional Support:

  • Wyoming Department of Veterans Affairs: (307) 777-7145
  • Cheyenne Vet Center: Confidential counseling for PTSD, depression, MST, and other mental health needs
  • Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then press 1 (24/7 support)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my emotional support animal in Wyoming?

No. There is no official ESA registry in Wyoming or any other state. Websites claiming to “register” or “certify” your ESA are scams. The only documentation you need is a legitimate ESA letter from a Wyoming-licensed mental health professional.

Can my landlord charge me a pet deposit for my ESA in Wyoming?

No. Under both the Fair Housing Act and Wyoming law (Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-201(c)), landlords in Wyoming cannot charge pet deposits, pet rent, or additional fees for emotional support animals. However, you remain financially responsible for any damage your ESA causes to the property.

Can I bring my ESA to restaurants, stores, or hotels in Wyoming?

No. Emotional support animals do not have public access rights in Wyoming. Only service animals (animals individually trained to perform specific disability-related tasks) are allowed in public accommodations under Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-201(b). Attempting to bring an ESA into public places by claiming it’s a service animal could result in criminal penalties up to $750 under Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-203.

Can I fly with my ESA in Wyoming?

No. Airlines are no longer required to accommodate emotional support animals under updated Department of Transportation regulations. Most airlines now treat ESAs as regular pets and charge standard pet fees. If you need to fly with an animal for psychiatric reasons, consider whether your animal qualifies as a psychiatric service dog (PSD), which has air travel protections.

What should I do if my landlord denies my ESA request in Wyoming?

First, ensure your ESA letter is legitimate and from a Wyoming-licensed mental health professional. If your documentation is valid and the landlord still denies your request without legal justification, file a complaint with Wyoming HUD’s regional office.

Can I have more than one ESA in Wyoming?

Yes, you can have multiple emotional support animals if your mental health professional determines that each animal is necessary to alleviate symptoms of your disability. Each ESA must be individually documented in your ESA letter. However, having a very large number of ESAs may not be considered a “reasonable” accommodation under Wyoming law.

Does my ESA need special training in Wyoming?

No. Emotional support animals do not require any specialized training. Their therapeutic benefit comes from their presence and companionship, not from performing specific tasks. However, your ESA must be well-behaved and under your control at all times.

What are the penalties for misrepresenting a service animal in Wyoming?

Under Wyo. Stat. § 35-13-203, knowingly and intentionally misrepresenting an animal as a service animal or assistance animal is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $750. This includes falsely claiming an ESA is a service animal to gain public access rights.

Do I need an ESA letter to keep my emotional support animal in Wyoming housing?

Yes. To receive Fair Housing Act and Wyoming law protections, you must have a valid ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional. Without proper documentation, landlords can treat your animal as a regular pet and apply standard pet policies.

Can my landlord ask me about my disability in Wyoming?

Landlords can request documentation proving you have a disability and that your ESA is necessary to alleviate symptoms. However, they cannot ask for specific details about your diagnosis or medical history. Your ESA letter should provide sufficient information without disclosing private medical details.

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