Richland ESA and Psychiatric Service Dog Letters
Richland sits where the Yakima River meets the Columbia, and the Hanford Site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory remain major employers in the area. If an animal helps you manage a mental health condition, a free screening tells you whether a Washington-licensed clinician can write your letter.
From army town to city
Three Stages to a Richland Letter
Screen online
Answer questions about your mental health, your animal and your housing. It costs nothing.
Get evaluated
A Washington-licensed clinician reviews your answers and adds telehealth when clinically indicated.
Use your letter
Once approved and paid, the signed letter arrives by email for your landlord.
Richland Letter Services
Emotional support animal letter
For a lease with a pet ban, animal limit or pet charges.
Letter for two or three animals
One document that lists up to three dogs or cats.
Psychiatric service dog letter
For a dog trained to perform tasks linked to a mental health condition.
Certificate and ID card
Record-keeping extras in the bundle plans.
Richland Plans on One Price Line
Each dot marks a plan's live price, from the lowest to the highest. Details for every plan follow below.
Tri-Cities Pet Rules Comparer
Richland, Kennewick and Pasco share one animal shelter and one bus system, but licensing differs. Pick where you are moving from and to.
| Rule | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Choose the two cities and select Compare the Rules. | |
The Town the Government Owned
In March 1943 the Army took over Richland for the Manhattan Project and evicted its residents. The government owned every home and assigned housing to Hanford workers, and the population reached 25,000 by August 1945. Residents only bought their houses after 1957, and the city re-incorporated in 1958.
Two Rivers, One Long Trail
Sacagawea Heritage Trail
A 23-mile paved loop follows both sides of the Columbia through Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, with three bridges across.
Riverfront parks
Several city parks front the Columbia and Yakima rivers, and the only bridge to Bateman Island starts at the Richland Wye.
Ben Franklin Transit
Buses cover Richland and the other Tri-Cities. Pets and support animals ride in a secured carrier.
Richland Areas We Serve
What a Washington License Adds
A credential your landlord can check
A letter signed by a clinician licensed in Washington can be confirmed on the state's public lookup in minutes, which keeps a Tri-Cities application moving.
State protection
Washington law covers emotional support animals in rentals.
No pet fees
No pet deposit or pet rent for an approved assistance animal.
Richland Questions
Does Richland still require pet licenses?
No. On June 18, 2019, Richland ended its requirement to license dogs and cats after a cost-benefit review approved by the city council. Washington law still requires rabies vaccination.
Who do I call about a loose dog in Richland?
Tri-Cities Animal Services handles animal control for Richland, Kennewick and Pasco from its shelter at 1311 S 18th Ave in Pasco. The number is 509-545-3740.
Can my support animal ride the bus in Richland?
Ben Franklin Transit carries pets, including emotional support animals, only in a secured carrier, and the animal and carrier together must stay within 25 pounds. Trained service animals ride without a carrier.
Can I get my letter before I relocate to the Tri-Cities?
Yes. The screening and any telehealth visit happen online, so you can finish them before you arrive and have the letter ready for your housing search.
Can one letter cover two support animals?
Yes. The multi-pet plan lists up to three emotional support dogs or cats in a single letter.
Will my landlord learn my diagnosis?
No. The letter confirms that you have a disability-related need for the animal without naming the condition, and the evaluation stays private.
Other Eastern Washington Pages
General information for Richland residents, current as of September 2026, and not legal advice. Local rules come from the Cities of Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, Tri-Cities Animal Services and Ben Franklin Transit; all can change. The comparer is a guide only. Screening does not guarantee a letter. In a crisis, call or text 988.
Start Your Richland Screening
A few minutes online, then a Washington-licensed clinician decides. Payment comes only after approval.
