An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter is an official document issued by a licensed mental health professional confirming that an individual benefits from an emotional support animal due to a qualifying mental or emotional condition.
Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), tenants with a valid ESA letter may request reasonable accommodation in housing, even in properties with “no pet” policies.
This ESA letter template includes landlord-focused language designed to support housing accommodation requests. The structure reflects documentation standards commonly aligned with Fair Housing Act (FHA) housing requirements. Formatting is clean and submission-ready for property managers and housing providers.
Standard Emotional Support Animal Letter Template :
Emotional Support Animal Letter
SeaSide Therapy
5978 Gregory St.
City, State, Zip Code
123-456-7890
[Date]
RE: Emotional Support Animal Recommendation
To Whom It May Concern,
I am a licensed mental health professional currently treating [Patient’s Full Name], whom I have seen since [Date]. Based on my clinical evaluation, [Patient’s Full Name] has a mental or emotional disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This condition substantially limits one or more major life activities.
In my professional judgment, the presence of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is necessary to alleviate symptoms associated with this disability. The ESA provides therapeutic emotional support that is integral to the patient’s treatment and overall mental health stability.
Accordingly, I recommend that [Patient’s Full Name] be permitted to keep an ESA in housing accommodations, including those with pet restrictions. This recommendation is consistent with protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
Please contact me if additional verification is required.
Sincerely,
[Professional’s Name]
Title
License Number
Contact Information
Download & Format Options
Download the editable Google Docs version or use the print-ready A4 format for official submission.
Choose the Right ESA Letter Template
Select the version that matches your specific housing and documentation needs.
Landlord-Specific ESA Letter
Formatted specifically for submission to property managers and housing providers. Optimized for FHA housing accommodation requests.
→ View Landlord-Specific Template
Doctor-Signed ESA Letter Template
Version structured for licensed mental health professionals issuing formal clinical documentation.
→ View Doctor-Signed Version
ESA Letter PDF Full Bundle (Print Version)
Clean A4, US letter, MS Word format, ready for direct download and official submission.
→ Download ESA Letter PDF
California ESA Letter Template
Wording aligned with California-specific housing considerations.
→ View California Version
Frequently Asked Questions
In most housing situations covered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), landlords must provide reasonable accommodation for a valid ESA letter issued by a licensed mental health professional. However, denial may occur if the documentation is incomplete, not issued after a legitimate evaluation, or if the animal poses a direct safety threat.
No. Emotional Support Animals are not considered pets under FHA housing guidelines. While standard pet deposits or pet rent generally cannot be charged for an ESA, tenants remain responsible for any actual damage caused by the animal.
Yes. A landlord may verify that the letter was issued by a licensed mental health professional. However, they cannot request detailed medical records or ask for specific diagnosis information.
It can be valid if it was issued by a licensed mental health professional after a legitimate clinical evaluation. Letters generated without evaluation, instant certificates, or ID cards alone are not legally sufficient for housing purposes.
Most ESA letters are valid for 12 months, though policies may vary depending on provider practices and housing requirements.
Yes. Under the FHA, housing providers must make reasonable accommodations even in properties with no-pet policies, provided the ESA letter meets legal documentation standards.
Important Compliance Note
Note: This template reflects standard language commonly used for housing-related ESA documentation under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Only licensed mental health professionals may issue valid ESA letters.