All 50 states + DC
ESA Letters by State
Pick your state to see who can sign your letter there, whether a waiting period applies, how long it takes, and which agency takes a complaint if your landlord refuses.
Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Andrew Patel, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Last reviewed August 31, 2026.
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Why This Is a State-by-State Question
Until 2026 it mostly was not. HUD's 2020 guidance answered the same way in every state, and a letter was a letter. On May 22, 2026 HUD narrowed its enforcement standard to animals individually trained to perform disability-related tasks, which pushed the weight onto state law — and state law varies enormously.
Five states require a thirty-day relationship before a letter can issue. Thirteen have protection that legal commentary identifies as independent of HUD. Three have no state fair housing agency at all. Your state page tells you which of those you are in. What changed →
Looking for the law itself rather than the letter? The state law guides cover statutes, penalties and enforcement in more depth.
Pricing
Same Price in Every State
The rules change at the state line. The price does not.
ESA Letter
- Signed by a therapist 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 therapist 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 therapist, 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 therapist 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
Choosing Your State
Does it matter which state I pick?
It decides three things: whether a waiting period applies, which agency handles a complaint if your landlord refuses, and — most practically — which state your therapist has to be licensed in. An out-of-state signature is the single most common reason a letter gets rejected.
Which states have a waiting period?
Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana. Each requires a client–provider relationship of at least 30 days before an ESA letter can be issued, so plan on two appointments about a month apart.
Is the price different by state?
No. $129 for up to two animals and $199 for three or more, everywhere, including the five states where the process takes longer.
I am moving. Which state do I choose?
The one you will be living in when you make the accommodation request. Your letter has to come from a therapist licensed there.
Get Your ESA Letter from a Licensed Therapist
Answer a short screening questionnaire, talk to a therapist licensed in your state, and get a real answer either way.