Emotional Support Animal Laws and Regulations

Curious about you and your furry friends’ legal rights when it comes to the ADA, ACAA, and FHA? Each article below is fact checked to bring you up-to-date and accurate information.

Federal
ESAs are protected under federal housing rules. Empower yourself by learning about your rights.
State
Many states have passed ESA laws. We’ll help you understand your state’s unique requirements.

Our Best Articles on ESA Laws

Do You Know if Your ESA Letter is Legit?

Are you interested in having a legitimate emotional support animal? ESA Doctors was founded in 2015 with a mission to support ESA owners and spread truthful...

ESA Doctors2024-03-15T09:41:15+00:00ESA Laws|

Emotional Support Animal Laws You Should Know

In this article, we explain which laws protect owners of emotional support animals (ESAs) and how housing providers must comply. We will also review ESA...

ESA Doctors2024-03-22T07:12:40+00:00ESA Laws|

What is the Mrs. Murphy Exception to the Fair Housing Act?

What does it mean? Some landlords do not have to comply with federal emotional support animal rules. The “Mrs. Murphy”...

ESA Doctors2024-03-20T19:23:57+00:00ESA Laws, Federal|

Can a landlord charge a pet deposit for an Emotional Support Animal?

No. Owners of emotional support animals do not have to pay pet deposits. ESA owners also do not have to...

ESA Doctors2024-03-15T10:02:21+00:00ESA Laws|

When can a landlord legally reject an Emotional Support Animal?

By law, owners of emotional support animals (ESA) are exempt from residential no-pet policies. Housing providers must reasonably accommodate tenants...

ESA Doctors2024-03-15T10:03:03+00:00ESA Laws|

Do I Have to Wait 30 Days to get an ESA Letter in California?

Need an ESA letter right away? Not so fast if you’re a resident of California. If you’re trying to qualify...

ESA Doctors2024-03-20T19:36:01+00:00ESA Laws, State|

1.What laws protect emotional support animals?

Emotional support animals are protected by the federal Fair Housing Act which is applicable to every state. In addition, many states such as California, Florida, New York, Illinois and others have passed their own legislation protecting owners of emotional support animals.

2.What legal rights do I have as an ESA owner?

Owners of emotional support animals have the right to live in no-pets buildings. If you own a valid emotional support animal, the landlord must also waive pet fees, pet deposits, and pet breed and weight restrictions.

3.How do I qualify for an emotional support animal under the law?

To qualify for an ESA, you’ll need to get an ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Note that many states have additional requirements when it comes to getting an ESA letter. For example, California, Arkansas and Montana have a 30 day waiting period for obtaining an ESA letter from a new healthcare provider.