St. Cloud ESA Letters and Psychiatric Service Dog Letters
St. Cloud had 58,964 residents at the 2020 census and an estimated 74,960 in 2025. Our free online screening comes first; after it, a Florida-licensed clinician decides whether an emotional support animal letter or a psychiatric service dog letter is the right fit.
St. Cloud Household Animals
Up to three pet animals on property not zoned Agricultural.
Chickens are extra, with a $25 permit and a $10 yearly renewal.
Sugar Cane, Canals and a Soldiers' Colony
Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia dug canals here and in 1886 and 1887 set up the St. Cloud sugarcane plantation, joined to the South Florida Railroad by his Sugar Belt Railway in 1888. The Panic of 1893 and the Great Freeze ended it. In 1909 the Seminole Land and Investment Company chose the site for a Grand Army of the Republic veterans' colony, and so many Union veterans are buried at Mt. Peace Cemetery that it has been called one of the largest non-battlefield Union cemeteries south of the Mason-Dixon line.
St. Cloud Plans in the Boat Slips
Each slip holds a plan, priced from our live checkout.
Three-Pet Limit and Chicken Permit Check
Count your household's animals and describe any chicken plans. The check compares them with St. Cloud's pet limit and its Backyard Chicken Keeping Program.
- Fill in the form, then select Check My Household.
From Screening to a St. Cloud Letter
Screen online
Answer questions about your health and the animal you keep in St. Cloud, free of charge.
Be evaluated
A Florida-licensed clinician reviews your case and holds a telehealth visit when it is clinically suitable.
Receive it by email
Approved clients choose a plan and receive the signed letter electronically.
Letters for St. Cloud Households
ESA housing letter
Supports an accommodation request to a St. Cloud landlord or homeowners association.
More than one animal
Names each animal your clinician says supports you.
Psychiatric service dog letter
For a dog trained to do tasks for a psychiatric condition.
ID card and certificate
Part of selected bundles.
On the South Shore of East Lake Toho
St. Cloud lies in northern Osceola County on the southern shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga. It has long tried to keep a small-town identity separate from the theme parks and from neighboring Kissimmee.
- The downtown's Spanish Revival landmarks include work by Ryan & Roberts, an Orlando firm of two women architects.
- In 2006 St. Cloud became the first U.S. city to give residents free high-speed wireless internet through CyberSpot, which ran until 2009.
- Osceola County Animal Services has its shelter at 3910 Old Canoe Creek Road in St. Cloud, 407-742-8000.
Florida Rules That Reach St. Cloud
Requests to housing providers
Under 760.27 you can be asked for supporting information and proof of licensing and vaccination, never for medical records.
Rabies vaccination
Section 828.30 requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies from four months of age.
Truthful information only
Section 817.265 makes falsifying ESA information a second-degree misdemeanor.
St. Cloud Areas We Serve
St. Cloud Questions in the Tackle Tray
How many pets may a St. Cloud household keep?
On property that is not zoned Agricultural (A), up to three pet animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits or other animals. Having more than three is one of the code violations the city sees most often.
Are backyard chickens allowed in St. Cloud?
Yes, with a Backyard Chicken Keeping permit from the Community Development Department, for residents of detached single-family homes and duplexes. The chickens are allowed on top of the three pet animals.
What does a St. Cloud chicken permit cost?
The application and permit fee is $25 and the yearly renewal is $10. Each permit expires one year after it is issued.
Is a class required before keeping chickens in St. Cloud?
Yes. Applicants must take a chicken-keeping class, and the Osceola County UF/IFAS Extension offers one called Backyard Poultry Basics.
Can I keep a rooster or sell eggs under the St. Cloud program?
No. Roosters and breeding are not allowed, and the program is for personal use only, so hens, eggs and manure may not be sold.
Does an emotional support animal count toward St. Cloud's three-pet limit?
The city's pages do not address it. Florida Statute 760.27 governs requests to housing providers, not city zoning code, so ask St. Cloud Code Compliance before you add a fourth animal.
Around Osceola County and Beyond
General information for St. Cloud residents, current as of October 2026, and not legal advice. The City of St. Cloud sets its pet limits and chicken permit rules and can change them; its own pages differ on the maximum number of chickens, so confirm with Community Development before you apply. Screening does not guarantee a letter. In a crisis, call or text 988.
St. Cloud Screening, Free to Start
From the lakefront to Old Canoe Creek Road, a Florida-licensed clinician can consider how your animal supports your wellbeing.
