Emotional support animal housing protections start with one federal law that applies everywhere: the Fair Housing Act, which requires most landlords to make a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal even under a no-pets policy. On top of that federal floor, many states have added their own assistance-animal statutes, misrepresentation penalties, or enforcement agencies. This page links every state guide so you can see what actually applies where you live.
Pick your state below. Each guide walks through who can write a letter, how housing accommodations work locally, and the exact steps to follow. When you are ready to begin, you can get your ESA letter from a licensed provider.
ESA Letter Requirements by State
States are listed alphabetically. Where a state has its own emotional support animal law or a named enforcement agency, the note points to it; the linked guide has the full detail and sources.
- Alabama — The Alabama Assistance and Service Animal Integrity in Housing Act (Code Title 24, Ch. 8A) governs landlord requests.
- Alaska — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Arizona — Housing complaints go to the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
- Arkansas — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- California — AB 468 requires a licensed provider and a 30-day client relationship before a letter is issued.
- Colorado — Misrepresenting an assistance-animal need is a fineable offense under C.R.S. 18-13-107.3.
- Connecticut — A 2024 law (Sec. 46a-64d) has the CHRO publish service, ESA, and therapy-animal guidance.
- Delaware — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Florida — Florida Statute 817.265 makes falsifying ESA information a second-degree misdemeanor.
- Georgia — Complaints to the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity dual-file automatically with HUD.
- Hawaii — Hawaii Revised Statutes 515-3 defines an assistance animal to include emotional support animals.
- Idaho — Housing complaints run through the Idaho Human Rights Act and Human Rights Commission.
- Illinois — The Assistance Animal Integrity Act (310 ILCS 120) requires a genuine therapeutic relationship.
- Indiana — Indiana Code 22-9-7-13 bars a housing provider from charging a fee for an ESA.
- Iowa — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Kansas — A 2022 ESA housing bill (SB 360) died in committee; no ESA-specific statute exists.
- Kentucky — KRS 383.085 excludes a provider whose primary service is selling accommodation letters.
- Louisiana — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Maine — Maine Revised Statutes Title 17, Sec. 1314-A fines false assistance-animal documentation up to $1,000.
- Maryland — Rights run through Maryland fair-housing law (Sec. 20-706); the Commission on Civil Rights enforces.
- Massachusetts — Rights run through Chapter 151B, enforced by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
- Michigan — Complaints are handled by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
- Minnesota — ESA housing rights come from the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
- Mississippi — The Support Animal Act (43-6-151 to 43-6-155) covers public places, not ESA housing.
- Missouri — Complaints go to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.
- Montana — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Nebraska — Complaints go to the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission.
- Nevada — Nevada Revised Statutes 118.105 is a specific assistance-animal housing statute.
- New Hampshire — Complaints go to the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights.
- New Jersey — Complaints go to the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.
- New Mexico — The New Mexico Human Rights Act (Sec. 28-1-7) is the state complaint path.
- New York — The New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law 296) covers ESA housing.
- North Carolina — The State Fair Housing Act (Sec. 41A-4) requires reasonable housing accommodations.
- North Dakota — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Ohio — Ohio Administrative Code 4112-5-02 defines assistance animals broadly across species.
- Oklahoma — Faking an ESA need under Title 41, Sec. 113.2 can cost a tenant up to $1,000.
- Oregon — Oregon Revised Statutes 90.300 bars a pet security deposit for an assistance animal.
- Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania's 2018 Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act fines faked documentation up to $1,000.
- Rhode Island — Complaints go to the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights (G.L. Ch. 34-37).
- South Carolina — The Fair Housing Law (Title 31, Ch. 21) is enforced by the SC Human Affairs Commission.
- South Dakota — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Tennessee — TCA 66-7-111 sets a support-animal exception; enforcement moved to the Attorney General.
- Texas — No separate ESA statute; rights run through the Texas Fair Housing Act.
- Utah — Utah Code 26B-6-805 makes falsely claiming a support animal a class C misdemeanor.
- Vermont — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
- Virginia — Virginia Code 36-96.1:1 expressly defines ESAs as assistance animals, not pets.
- Washington — RCW 49.60.222 sets the reasonable-accommodation duty; the Human Rights Commission enforces.
- West Virginia — The West Virginia Fair Housing Act was recodified to Code 16B-18-5 in 2024.
- Wisconsin — Wisconsin Statutes 106.50(2r)(br) forfeits at least $500 for ESA housing fraud.
- Wyoming — Step-by-step guide to qualifying and getting your letter.
What every state has in common
No matter which state you live in, a legitimate ESA letter comes from a licensed mental health professional who has evaluated you and can speak to your disability-related need — not from an instant online certificate. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, a qualifying assistance animal is treated as a reasonable accommodation rather than a pet, so a housing provider generally cannot charge a pet fee or deposit for it, though you remain responsible for any actual damage.
The differences between states are mostly about extra paperwork rules, penalties for faking a need, and which agency handles a complaint if a landlord refuses. This is general information, not legal advice; ESA and housing laws change, so confirm the current rules for your situation.
Ready to get started?
If you meet the requirements for your state, the next step is a letter from a licensed provider. Start your ESA letter with ESA Registration of America and follow the steps in your state's guide above.
