Homestead ESA Letters and Psychiatric Service Dog Letters
Homestead sits between Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park and had 80,737 residents in 2020. Start with a free online screening, and a Florida-licensed clinician will decide whether a support animal letter or a psychiatric service dog letter fits your care.
Miami-Dade Reclaim Fees
| Sterilized dog | $50 |
|---|---|
| Dog not sterilized | $100 |
| Sterilized cat | $30 |
| Cat not sterilized | $50 |
Boarding adds $10 a day for dogs and $5 a day for cats, and the pet's rabies certificate is required.
From Screening to Signed Letter in Homestead
Answer the screening
Free questions about your symptoms, your animal and the Homestead home you rent or plan to rent.
Meet a clinician
A Florida-licensed clinician evaluates you, by telehealth when that is clinically appropriate.
Receive your letter
If you qualify, pick a plan and the signed letter arrives by email.
A Railroad Stop Named Homestead
When the Florida East Coast Railway planned a station about 30 miles south of Miami in 1898, Henry Flagler suggested naming it for James E. Ingraham. Ingraham declined and proposed Homestead, after the homesteading going on to the northwest in today's Redland. The first station opened in July 1904, and Homestead incorporated in 1913.
- October 1904
- William D. Horne bought the first town lot; his store and rooming house still stands as the historic Redland Hotel.
- 1913
- Incorporation, making Homestead the second-oldest city in Miami-Dade County after Miami.
- 2013
- The city named itself the gateway community for Biscayne and Everglades National Parks.
Miami-Dade Lost Pet Reclaim Cost Estimator
If your dog or cat ends up at Miami-Dade Animal Services, the county charges a redemption fee plus boarding. Enter what applies to see the listed amount before you drive up from Homestead.
- Fill in the form, then select Estimate the Cost.
Homestead Letter Plans in the Pit Lane
Every pit box holds one plan, and each price comes straight from our live checkout.
What Homestead Clients Can Order
ESA housing letter
For a reasonable accommodation request to a Homestead landlord or association.
Letter for several animals
One document that names each animal the clinician supports.
Psychiatric service dog letter
For a Homestead handler whose dog is trained in tasks for a psychiatric disability.
Certificate and ID card
Part of selected bundles.
Rodeo Grounds, Speedway and the Parks Road
After Andrew
Category 5 Hurricane Andrew struck on August 24, 1992, devastating the town and Homestead Air Force Base; the speedway was built in the years that followed.
Seasonal park trolley
Since 2014 the Homestead Trolley has run seasonal service to Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.
End of the Turnpike
The Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike ends near the city at U.S. 1.
Farm country
Homestead is both a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area.
Florida Rules a Homestead Letter Follows
Licensed in Florida
A clinician licensed in Florida reviews every Homestead evaluation we complete.
More than a certificate
Section 760.27 says an internet registration, ID card or certificate is not, by itself, enough to support a housing request.
No made-up paperwork
Giving false information to get ESA documentation is a second-degree misdemeanor in Florida, with 30 hours of community service.
Homestead and Nearby Areas We Serve
Homestead Questions on the Timing Sheet
Does my Homestead dog need a county tag?
Yes. Miami-Dade County requires a license tag for every dog over four months old, and the dog has to wear it at all times. Tags exist for cats too, but cats are not required to have one.
When does a Miami-Dade dog tag come due again?
Each year by the month and day of the dog's most recent rabies shot. A three-year tag goes with a three-year vaccine, and its expiration date matches the vaccine's.
What does it cost to get a lost dog back from Miami-Dade Animal Services?
The county lists $50 for a sterilized dog and $100 for one that is not, plus $10 a day for boarding. A second redemption within 12 months costs $75 or $125. You also need the rabies certificate.
Can a Homestead landlord ask what my diagnosis is?
No. Under Florida Statute 760.27 a housing provider may ask for reliable information when a disability is not obvious, but not for the diagnosis, its severity or medical records, and not for a particular form or a notarized statement.
Whose letter counts for a Florida housing request?
Florida accepts information from a Florida health care practitioner, a telehealth provider registered under section 456.47, or an out-of-state provider who has treated you in person at least once. An internet registration or ID card is not enough on its own.
Can a Homestead landlord add a deposit for an approved support animal?
Section 760.27 says the provider may not charge extra for an animal it accepts as an accommodation. You remain responsible for any damage the animal causes.
Up U.S. 1 Toward Miami
General information for Homestead renters and pet owners, current as of October 2026, and not legal advice. Miami-Dade County sets and can change its tag, redemption and shelter rules, so confirm a detail with Animal Services before you rely on it. Screening does not guarantee a letter. In a crisis, call or text 988.
Begin a Free Homestead Screening Today
From Redland groves to the speedway, a Florida-licensed clinician can look at how your animal supports your health.
