Updated August 31, 2026
ESA letter requirements
Most rejected letters fail on the same three things: wrong license state, no license number, and a diagnosis the landlord never asked for. Here is the full checklist.
Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Andrew Patel, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Last reviewed August 31, 2026.
Who is allowed to write one
A licensed healthcare professional with an active license in the state where you live. In practice that means:
- Licensed psychologist (PhD, PsyD)
- Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Licensed professional counselor (LPC, LMHC)
- Licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
- Psychiatrist or other physician
- Psychiatric nurse practitioner (PMHNP)
The license has to be in your state. This is the single most common reason a letter is bounced: telehealth crosses state lines, licensure does not.
The checklist
| Element | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Clinician letterhead | Shows a real practice, not a template |
| License type, number and issuing state | Lets the landlord verify. Missing numbers get letters rejected. |
| Date written | Most landlords want something under 12 months old |
| Statement of a professional relationship | Confirms an evaluation happened |
| Statement of disability under the FHA | The legally operative sentence |
| Statement of disability-related need for the animal | The second legally operative sentence |
| Animal named and identified | Ties the accommodation to a specific animal |
| Signature and contact details | Makes verification possible |
Extra requirements in five states
Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana and Montana require a client-provider relationship of at least 30 days before a letter can issue. California also requires the clinician to hold a California license, to complete a clinical evaluation, and to give you written notice that an ESA is not a service dog. Iowa adds an annual renewal requirement.
If you are in one of those five states
A same-day letter is not a compliant letter. Two appointments, about a month apart, is what the law calls for. See your state’s rules →
What gets a letter rejected
- Out-of-state clinician. Number one by a wide margin.
- No license number. Nothing to verify means nothing to accept.
- Registration certificates attached. Signals a merchandise site and undermines the letter it is stapled to.
- Obvious template language. Property managers read hundreds of these.
- Diagnosis included. Not required, and it invites questions you do not have to answer.
- Stale date. A letter from three years ago will be questioned.
What a landlord may and may not ask for
They may ask for documentation confirming a disability and a disability-related need, when neither is obvious. They may verify that the license is real.
They may not demand your medical records, insist on their own form being used, require a specific diagnosis, ask for proof of training, or charge you a fee for reviewing the request. If they insist on a proprietary form, you can supply your letter alongside it — the law does not require you to use their paperwork.
Pricing
ESA Letter Cost: One Price, Paid Once
No subscription, no renewal auto-charge, no registry fee. You pay for a clinical evaluation and, if the clinician approves you, a signed letter.
ESA Letter
- Signed by a clinician licensed in your state
- Covers up to 2 emotional support animals
- Formatted for landlords, property managers and HOAs
- Free rewrite if your landlord asks for a different format
ESA Letter · 3+ Animals
- Every animal named on one letter
- Signed by a clinician licensed in your state
- Useful when a building caps the number of pets
- Free rewrite if your landlord asks for a different format
PSD Letter
- Confirms a disability and a need for task-trained work
- Useful for housing, employers and school disability offices
- Covers up to 2 dogs
- Not an ADA certificate — see the note below
PSD Letter · Up to 3 Dogs
- Every dog named on one letter
- Confirms a disability and a need for task-trained work
- Covers up to 3 dogs
- Not an ADA certificate — see the note below
About the PSD letter: it is documentation from a licensed clinician, not a certificate or an ID. Under the ADA, public access comes from your dog being individually trained to do work or tasks for your disability. Businesses are allowed to ask only two questions and are not allowed to require paperwork. Nobody can sell you access rights — anyone who says otherwise is selling a novelty.
You are charged only after a clinician approves you. We may place a temporary authorization hold on your card beforehand to confirm it is valid; a hold is not a charge and is released if you are not approved.
100% refund if your landlord denies your ESA. If your housing provider refuses the accommodation after you submit a letter we issued, we refund what you paid in full. Full terms, including what a claim needs, on our refund policy page.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the letter need to be on paper?
No. A signed PDF is standard and creates a cleaner record than paper. Send it by email so the timestamp exists.
Can one letter cover two animals?
Yes, if the clinician can justify both. Our $129 letter covers up to two; three or more is $199.
My landlord gave me their own form. Do I have to use it?
No. You can complete it if you want, but you are not obliged to, and you should not sign a broad medical records release. Send the clinician letter and offer to answer reasonable verification questions.
Sources
- Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604 — discrimination in the sale or rental of housing Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives
- 24 C.F.R. Part 100 — HUD regulations implementing the Fair Housing Act Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity — the office that enforces the Fair Housing Act U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Joint Statement on Reasonable Accommodations Under the Fair Housing Act HUD and the U.S. Department of Justice
- Disability rights in housing — HUD overview HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
- Federal Trade Commission — consumer protection and advertising rules Federal Trade Commission
Find Out Where You Stand in About Ten Minutes
Answer a short screening questionnaire, talk to a clinician licensed in your state, and get a real answer either way.