What is an emotional support animal (ESA)?

An emotional support animal is an animal companion that provides support, comfort, and companionship to an individual with certain mental health concerns. It helps alleviate at least one aspect of the mental health concern and can be any type of animal. ESAs provide support through companionship and can help ease anxiety, depression, and certain phobias.

What is the difference between an ESA and a service animal?

Function: Service animals are trained to perform specific tasks to assist its owner, while an ESA provides emotional support without specific training.

Legal Status: Service animals are protected by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and have public access rights, while ESAs do not have the same legal status. A service dog, such as a guide dog or psychiatric service dog, is generally allowed anywhere the public is allowed; ESAs are not.

What protections does an ESA have?

ESAs are covered under The Fair Housing Act (FHA). This is a law that protects people with disabilities from housing discrimination. The law also enables emotional support animals to live with their owner, exempt from pet fees and restrictions. Under the Fair Housing Act landlords must offer reasonable accommodation to tenants including:

• The right to keep their ESA(s) in their home, even if the housing complex prohibits pets

• Exemption from a housing complex’s weight or breed restrictions on pets

• Exemption from pet-related fees, such as additional rent or cleaning deposits

How long does an ESA letter last?

ESA letters are typically valid for up to 12 months after issuance, but there isn’t a specific expiration date for housing. It’s recommended to ensure the letter is fairly recent as landlords may prefer it that way when considering accommodation requests.