ESA & PSD Letters in All 50 States

In these states, ESA documentation can only come from a clinician who has known you as a client for 30 days or longer.

• California

  For emotional support dogs: a 30-day client relationship and a clinical evaluation come first.

• Arkansas

  For emotional support dogs: 30 days with the provider, license details on the letter and a yearly evaluation.

• Iowa

  A 30-day provider-patient relationship, in person or by telehealth, with the license number and type in the finding.

• Louisiana

  A Louisiana license, at least 30 days and two sessions before any support animal documentation.

• Montana

  A Montana-licensed clinician, a client relationship of 30 days or more and a clinical evaluation.

Here, state law or the state's own guidance bars pet fees and deposits once a landlord approves an assistance animal.

• Utah

  Charging extra or asking a deposit because of a support animal counts as discrimination; repair costs for damage it causes stay recoverable.

• Virginia

  No pet fee, pet deposit or added rent for an assistance animal.

• West Virginia

  No fee or deposit for an assistance animal under 150 pounds, trained or not.

• Hawaii

  No separate pet deposit for an assistance animal allowed as a reasonable accommodation.

• Maine

  No fee or security deposit for an assistance animal in housing.

• Maryland

  The state's 2026 guidance: no fees, deposits or processing fees for an emotional support animal.

Since May 2026, HUD finds cause in housing complaints only for trained animals. These states keep emotional support animals covered under their own law.

• Arizona

  Since 2025, state law counts assistance animals whether trained or not, emotional support included.

• Colorado

  From August 12, 2026, state law protects emotional support animals in housing.

• Massachusetts

  The state's anti-discrimination commission said in July 2026 that state law still protects people who need assistance animals.

• Maine

  The state's human rights commission wrote in August 2026 that HUD's change "changes nothing in Maine."

• Maryland

  Guidance from September 2026: an ESA can be a reasonable accommodation without task training.

Several states fine people who misrepresent an animal or hand over false documentation.

• Alabama

  False documents or a false claim to a housing assistance animal can mean a $500 civil fine or a Class C misdemeanor.

• Arkansas

  Fraudulent emotional support dog or service animal claims carry penalties of $500, then $1,000, then $2,500.

• Utah

  A class C misdemeanor when someone knowingly claims a pet is a service or support animal.

• Maine

  A civil violation of up to $1,000 each time for false papers or an untrained animal passed off as a service animal.

• Hawaii

  $100 to $250 for knowingly misrepresenting a service animal, and at least $500 after that.