Three dogs per premises
The most for an entire one- or two-family or commercial premises. Over three, the code treats it as a kennel.
Erie County · ESA and PSD letters
Buffalo ESA and PSD Letters, From Elmwood to the University District
Renting a flat near Elmwood, an upper in North Park or an apartment by Allentown? Begin with the free screening and your choice of plan. Next comes a video evaluation by a New York-licensed clinician, and the signed letter is yours to give your landlord if that clinician agrees.
Riverside to South Park
Clinician with a NY license
$0 up front
Free for Buffalo
Skip the Snowy Drive to an Office
Start the Buffalo Screening- A free form
- All of it from home
Pricing
Transparent, One-Time Pricing for Buffalo Letters
Compare the current evaluation fees, read live from our checkout. Buffalo's screening is free of charge. You buy a plan at checkout before the video visit, and a letter that cannot be supported opens a 30-day refund window. Questions? Read our FAQ page or contact us.
ESA Housing Letter For One Pet
Clinical review for one emotional support animal and a New York housing letter.
$149.00/ one-time
- Official ESA letter if supported
- Licensed professional review
- Valid for 1 year
- Digital copy
- Email support
- 24-48 Hour
Most Popular
ESA Housing Letter For Multiple Pets
One evaluation covering the support provided by each of your animals in a New York home.
$159.00/ one-time
- ESA letter for multiple pets
- All approved pets on one letter
- Valid for 1 year
- Digital copy
- Priority phone and email support
- Renewal reminders
- 24-48 Hour
PSA Letter
A psychiatric service dog evaluation with a clinician licensed in New York.
$199.00/ one-time
- Official PSD letter if supported
- Licensed professional review
- Valid for 1 year
- Digital copy
- Email support
- 24-48 Hour
Bundle Packages
Compare the combined letter and document options.
Bundle
ESA Letter + Certificate Bundle
An ESA letter and certificate together in one document package.
$199.00/ one-time
- Official ESA letter if supported
- ESA certificate
- Licensed professional review
- Valid for 1 year
- Digital copy
- Email support
- 24-48 Hour
Letter + Certificate + ID
PSD Letter + Certificate + ID Card
A PSD letter, certificate and ID card in one package.
$225.00/ one-time
- Official PSD letter if supported
- PSD certificate
- PSD ID card
- Licensed professional review
- Valid for 1 year
- Digital copy
- Priority email support
- 24-48 Hour
Clinical review
Secure payment
Digital documents
One-time plan fee
Need help choosing? Take the free screening first or compare every plan. Documentation depends on clinical approval; optional certificates and cards do not establish access rights.
What Buffalo Landlords See in an ESA Letter From Us
Many Buffalo doubles and apartment buildings have no-pet rules, so a Buffalo ESA letter should state clearly who evaluated you.
- A person, not a form. A New York-licensed clinician evaluates you live, then signs and lists the license.
- The letter that matches. An emotional support animal needs an ESA letter; a dog that performs tasks needs a psychiatric service dog letter.
- Room to verify. Landlords can test any reference number through our verification page. The letter concerns housing, and your landlord decides.
Buffalo's Dog Limits Depend on Your Building
This matters more here than in most cities, because Section 78-19.1 counts per household in larger buildings. City Code 78-19.1
One dog per household
The most allowed in a building of three or more units.
The section's only disability exception is for waste pickup, and these numbers cover dogs only. If you need a second dog as an assistance animal in a three-unit building, raise it with your landlord first and ask the city.
Licensing a Dog at Buffalo City Hall
Dogs four months or older need a one-year license and proof of rabies vaccination. A tagless dog can be treated as a stray. City Code Chapter 78
- Where
- City Clerk, 1304 City Hall, 65 Niagara Square; Dog Licensing Bureau, 716-851-5433.
- Yearly fee
- $13.50 spayed or neutered; $20.50 unaltered.
- No fee
- Guide, hearing, service, war, search, detection, police and therapy dogs.
- Off your property
- Keep your dog securely on a leash, and leave it home from special events on city property.
The City Animal Shelter, Now and Next
Dog complaints go to the city's 311 line on weekdays, and dangerous dogs go to the police. City shelter page
City of Buffalo Animal Shelter380 N Oak Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
716-851-5694 or 716-851-4265
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
716-851-5694 or 716-851-4265
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Metro Rail, Buses and the Airport
How an animal gets around Buffalo depends on what the law calls it.
NFTA Metro's rule
Its How to Ride guide says service animals are the only animals allowed on Metro vehicles, so an emotional support animal cannot board. Metro ride guide
Buffalo Niagara International Airport
Relief areas are outside lower-level arrivals and upstairs between Gates 11 and 14. It publishes no ESA rule, and our letters are written for housing. Airport accessibility
University at Buffalo and Buffalo State Housing
Both schools expect documents from a clinician who has treated you, so ask the office first whether a new evaluation with us would qualify.
| University at Buffalo | A packet from a treating clinician and a veterinarian, reviewed for up to four weeks. Accessibility Resources: (716) 645-2608. UB animal packet |
|---|---|
| Buffalo State | Both Student Accessibility Services and Residence Life must approve. Do not bring the animal before then. (716) 878-4500. Buffalo State housing |
Buffalo Tenant Help and Support Lines
Most of these services depend on your income or your situation, so call first.
Buffalo Neighborhoods We Work With
The city maps 35 planning neighborhoods, and any address in them gets the same video evaluation.
AllentownBlack RockBroadway-FillmoreElmwood-BidwellNorth ParkParksideRiversideUniversity Heights
Buffalo Questions on Dog Limits, Metro and Campus
How many dogs can I have in a Buffalo apartment?
One per household in a building of three or more units. A one- or two-family premises may have up to three dogs in total.
Does an ESA count toward Buffalo's dog limit?
The city code has no written exception for assistance animals in these limits. Raise it with your landlord and the city first, and get the answer in writing.
Where is the Buffalo animal shelter?
At 380 N Oak Street, phone 716-851-5694 or 716-851-4265. The city has named 294 Louisiana Street for a future shelter, but construction is proposed for 2028 and 2029.
Which number handles stray dogs in Buffalo?
The city's route is 311, staffed weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call the police about a dangerous dog.
Is an ESA allowed on NFTA Metro buses or trains?
No. NFTA Metro says service animals are the only animals allowed on its vehicles, including Metro Rail.
What does the City Clerk charge for a dog license?
$13.50 a year if spayed or neutered and $20.50 if not, at the City Clerk's office in City Hall. Service dogs are licensed at no fee.
Does the University at Buffalo accept an online ESA letter?
UB asks for a third-party clinician who has treated the student, plus a veterinarian's statement. Ask Accessibility Resources at (716) 645-2608 before you pay for a letter.
Where do Buffalo tenants turn for free legal help?
Neighborhood Legal Services at 47 Court Street takes walk-ins on weekdays, 716.847.0650, and the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo is at 716-853-9555.
More for Western New Yorkers
- Our New York guide page
- Regions, dog licenses and complaint offices
- Our statewide letter service
- How our New York service works
Buffalo Renters, Start Free From Home
There is no cost to answer. Should you continue, a New York-licensed clinician will evaluate you on camera and sign only what is supported.
City of Good Neighbors
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