If you are looking for an ESA letter template or an example of what a real one looks like, this page has you covered — no email required. Below are three free templates you can copy and use right now: the housing letter your provider signs, a request you can bring to a therapist you already see, and a reasonable-accommodation letter for your landlord. After the templates, you will find exactly what makes an ESA letter valid, what a landlord can and can't ask, and the honest ways to get a letter that actually holds up.
Free ESA letter templates
Use these as-is. The bracketed parts are the details filled in by a licensed provider or by you. Want them all in one file?
⬇ Download the free template pack (PDF) — all three templates plus the validity checklist. No email required.
1. ESA letter for housing (what your provider signs)
This is the core document — the letter a mental health professional who is licensed in your state puts on their letterhead.
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern,
I am a licensed mental health professional [Provider Name, credential — e.g., LCSW/LMFT/LPC], licensed to practice in the State of [State], license number [#####]. [Client Name] is currently under my professional care.
[Client Name] has a mental health condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. As part of their treatment, it is my professional opinion that an emotional support animal is beneficial in helping to alleviate symptoms associated with their condition.
I am therefore requesting a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act so that [Client Name] may keep their emotional support animal in their residence. I am not required to disclose the details of the diagnosis.
Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Provider Name, credential]
License # [#####], State of [State]
[Practice contact information]
2. Ask a therapist you already see
If you already have a therapist, counselor, or doctor, the cheapest path is often to ask them directly. Send this request and attach the housing letter above so they can see the format. (Here is more on how to ask a doctor for an ESA letter.)
Dear [Provider Name],
I'm writing to ask whether you'd be willing to write an emotional support animal (ESA) letter for me for housing purposes.
An ESA letter is a short letter, on your letterhead, that states you are a licensed [profession] in [state] (with your license number), that I am under your care, that I have a condition that substantially limits a major life activity, and that an emotional support animal helps alleviate my symptoms — and that requests a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. You are not required to disclose my diagnosis.
I've attached an example of the format for reference. I'd be grateful if you would consider it, and we can discuss at our next appointment.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
3. Request to your landlord (reasonable accommodation)
Once you have your provider's letter, this is the request you send your landlord. Attach the signed letter from template 1.
Dear [Landlord / Property Manager],
I am a [tenant at / applicant for] [property address]. I have a disability, and as part of my treatment my licensed mental health professional has determined that an emotional support animal helps alleviate my symptoms.
Under the Fair Housing Act, I am requesting a reasonable accommodation to keep my emotional support animal in my home, including a waiver of any no-pet policy and any associated pet fees or deposits.
I have attached a letter from my licensed provider confirming this need. Please let me know if you need anything further to process this request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] · [Date]
What makes an ESA letter valid
A template is just words on a page until a licensed provider signs it. Here is what a housing provider actually looks for, and why each part matters:
- Written by a mental health professional licensed in your state. This is the one that can't be skipped — it is what gives the letter legal weight for a housing request.
- On the provider's letterhead, with their license number and state of licensure. This lets a landlord confirm the provider is real and genuinely licensed where you live.
- A current date and the provider's signature. An unsigned or years-old letter is easy to reject.
- A clear request for a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. This is the specific legal basis for keeping the animal despite a no-pet policy.
- No requirement to disclose your diagnosis. A good letter confirms the need without exposing your private medical details — and a landlord isn't entitled to them.
What a landlord can — and can't — ask you
This is where a lot of people get tripped up, so it's worth being clear. Under the Fair Housing Act, a housing provider generally can:
- Ask for a letter from a licensed professional confirming your need for an emotional support animal
- Confirm that the provider who signed it is genuinely licensed in your state
But a housing provider generally cannot:
- Demand your medical records or the details of your diagnosis
- Charge a pet deposit or monthly pet fee for a legitimate emotional support animal
- Require the animal to have special training or "certification" (ESAs are not service dogs)
- Reject a reasonable request simply because they don't like pets
Yes, landlords do check — and increasingly they verify that the signer is really licensed. That is exactly why a self-written letter, a purchased "certificate," or one from a provider not licensed in your state tends to fall apart.
Why ESA letters get denied (and how to avoid it)
Most rejections come down to a handful of avoidable problems:
- The signer isn't licensed in your state. An out-of-state provider — or someone who isn't a licensed mental health professional — is the most common reason a letter is refused.
- It's a template nobody actually signed. A blank letter you filled in yourself has no licensed provider behind it, so there is nothing to verify.
- It's missing the license number, date, or signature. These are the first things a careful landlord looks for.
- It's the wrong document. A "registration," ID card, or certificate is not the same as a letter and won't satisfy a housing request on its own.
The honest ways to get a valid ESA letter
There are really two legitimate paths, and the right one depends on your situation:
If you already have a provider. Ask the therapist, counselor, or doctor who already treats you — use template 2 above. This is often the cheapest route. The catch is that many general practitioners decline to write ESA letters, and some therapists aren't comfortable with the housing requirements, so it doesn't always work.
If you don't have a provider who will write one. You can be evaluated by a licensed mental health professional who does this regularly. That's what we do at ESA Registration of America — a straightforward option when the DIY route stalls:
Licensed ESA Letter · Housing
Get evaluated by a state-licensed professional
Connect with a state-licensed mental health professional for a HIPAA-secure video evaluation. If you qualify, you receive a signed ESA letter valid for housing under the Fair Housing Act.
- Evaluated by a state-licensed therapist
- HIPAA-secure online video visit
- Valid for housing under the Fair Housing Act
- Emailed as soon as you're approved
- Not approved? You don't pay
Here is how the options compare:
| Write it yourself | Your family doctor | A therapist you already see | ESA Registration of America | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signed by a provider licensed for this in your state? | No provider involved | Only if they agree to write it | Yes, if they're willing | Yes — a therapist licensed in your state |
| Likely to be accepted by a landlord? | No | Only if it meets FHA requirements | Yes, if it meets FHA requirements | Written to meet Fair Housing Act requirements |
| Typical cost | Free, but not valid | Cost of an office visit | Often free if they'll do it | One flat fee — you don't pay if not approved |
| Turnaround | Instant, but not valid | Days to weeks, if they agree | Depends on your provider | Emailed as soon as you're approved |
Common questions about ESA letters
Can I write my own ESA letter?
You can write one, but it will not carry weight for housing. A valid ESA letter has to come from a mental health professional who is licensed in your state and who has evaluated you. A letter you sign yourself has no licensed provider behind it, so a landlord has nothing to verify and can turn it down.
Do landlords actually verify ESA letters?
Increasingly, yes. Under the Fair Housing Act a housing provider may ask for a letter from a licensed professional, and they are allowed to confirm that the provider is genuinely licensed in your state. A self-written letter, a purchased certificate, or a letter from someone not licensed where you live can be rejected.
Can a landlord charge a pet deposit for an emotional support animal?
No. Because an emotional support animal is treated as a reasonable accommodation rather than a pet, a housing provider generally cannot charge a pet deposit or monthly pet fee for it. You can, however, be held responsible for any actual damage the animal causes.
Can my regular doctor write an ESA letter?
Sometimes, but many general practitioners decline or are not comfortable with the housing requirements. A mental health professional is best positioned to evaluate you and write a letter that meets Fair Housing Act standards.
What does a legitimate ESA letter look like?
It is on the provider's letterhead, it is dated and signed, it includes the provider's license number and state of licensure, and it requests a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. See the housing-letter sample near the top of this page for the exact format.
Why would an ESA letter be denied?
The most common reasons: the person who signed it is not licensed in your state, it is a generic template with no real provider behind it, it is missing the license number or signature, or it is actually a certificate or registration being mistaken for a letter.
The templates above are free to use, and if you'd rather have all three plus the validity checklist in one file, download the template pack (PDF). When you're ready to turn a template into a letter that actually holds up, the surest path is a signature from a mental health professional licensed in your state.
