Questions renters ask about ESA and PSD letters

An emotional support animal is an animal that helps a person with a mental or emotional disability by providing comfort and support through its presence. It does not need special training. In housing, it can be allowed as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act and many state laws, even where pets are not allowed.

A letter from a licensed mental health professional, written after evaluating you, stating that you have a condition that substantially limits a major life activity and that your animal helps with its symptoms. You give it to your housing provider with your accommodation request.

No. There is no official registry, certificate, ID card or national database for emotional support animals in the United States. Florida, Iowa and Montana law say outright that online registrations are not valid documentation. Only a letter from a licensed professional who evaluated you counts.

A licensed mental health or medical professional, such as a licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, who evaluated you. Several states require the professional to be licensed in the state where you live.

There is no fixed list. Common ones include anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, panic disorder, ADHD and bipolar disorder. What matters is whether your condition substantially limits daily life and whether your animal helps, which your clinician assesses.

$99 for one animal, $129 for two or three animals in one letter, $119 for a psychiatric service dog letter, $169 for both letters, and $79 for an annual renewal. Prices are the same in English and Spanish.

After the free assessment. You see your plan and price at the end and pay through Stripe. There is nothing to pay before that.

You get a full refund to your card as soon as your clinician closes the file, without having to ask. You never pay for a letter you did not receive.

No rush fees, registration fees, membership fees or verification fees. The plan price is the whole price.

Most clients receive their letter within 1 to 2 business days after your evaluation. In California, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana and Montana, state law requires a 30 day client relationship, so the letter follows that period.

A mental health professional licensed in your state reviews your assessment answers and decides whether an emotional support animal is part of appropriate care for you. Approval is never automatic, and if no letter is issued you get a full refund.

The assessment, checkout and support are fully available in Spanish. Tell us you prefer Spanish and we will do our best to have a Spanish speaking clinician licensed in your state handle your evaluation.

No. The evaluation relies on your assessment answers. You may share records if you wish, but they are not required.

An ESA evaluation is a specific service, not ongoing therapy. If you would like ongoing care, we can point you to resources in your area.

They must consider your request and can refuse only for reasons the law allows: a direct threat or substantial damage from the specific animal, an undue burden, or an exempt building. Since May 2026 HUD brings charges only for trained animals, but state agencies and courts remain open, and several states said ESAs stay protected under state law.

No. A housing provider may confirm that your letter is genuine and that a disability related need exists. They are not entitled to your diagnosis, records or treatment details.

It depends on your state. Kentucky, Virginia, Utah, Minnesota and Indiana bar these fees for assistance animals by statute, and California guidance bars them. Elsewhere the question is contested after HUD withdrew its guidance. You are always responsible for actual damage.

Blanket limits are generally not a lawful reason to deny an assistance animal; the provider has to look at your specific animal. A specific animal with a history of aggression can be denied as a direct threat.

Yes. Student housing is covered by the Fair Housing Act and often Section 504. Requests usually go through the school's disability services office, which may have its own timeline and form.

Yes. Homeowners associations and condo boards are housing providers under the Fair Housing Act and must consider accommodation requests from residents.

Only under the airline's pet policy. Since January 2021, the DOT rule allows airlines to treat emotional support animals as pets, and nearly all do. We do not sell travel letters for that reason.

Yes. A trained psychiatric service dog can fly in the cabin when you complete the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form. No clinician letter is required by the airline.

No. The ADA covers only trained service dogs in public places. An ESA letter does not give public access.

Training. A psychiatric service dog is individually trained to perform tasks related to a psychiatric disability, such as deep pressure during panic or waking you from nightmares. An ESA helps through its presence and needs no training.

No. Under the ADA, businesses may ask only two questions and may not require documentation. A PSD letter is useful for housing and sometimes for work.

Yes. Federal law allows owner training and requires no certification. The dog must reliably perform its tasks and behave appropriately in public.

No federal law sets an expiration date. Many housing providers ask for a letter from the past year, Arkansas requires yearly re-evaluation, and Iowa letters carry an expiration date. Renewal is $79.

Get a new evaluation with a clinician licensed in your new state, especially if you move to a state with its own rules, such as California or Florida.

Adding an animal needs an evaluation that names it. The renewal or multi pet plan covers that.

Never. We may send one reminder email before your letter turns a year old.