ESA letter for college

Federal fair housing law generally reaches dorms, residence halls and student apartments. In 2015, the Justice Department resolved a lawsuit against University of Nebraska at Kearney over the school's refusal to let students keep emotional support dogs in campus housing. The university agreed to revise its policy and pay $140,000 to the students it had turned down.

That doesn't mean every request will be approved. Under guidance HUD released on May 22, 2026, an untrained emotional support animal isn't presumed reasonable, and each request is looked at individually. FHEO-2020-01, the notice on assistance animals HUD put out in 2020, was withdrawn as of September 17, 2025. The FHA, its reasonable accommodation rule at 24 CFR 100.204 and the Joint Statement that HUD and the Justice Department issued in 2004 all remain in force.

Most colleges route ESA requests through a disability services or accessibility office, sometimes working with residence life. Each school sets its own process, so look up yours before you apply.

• Find your school's assistance animal or housing accommodation policy online.
• Submit the school's accommodation request form, if it has one.
• Include supporting documentation, for example a letter from a licensed therapist who evaluated you.
• Meet or talk with a disability services staff member if they ask.
• Agree to the school's animal rules, such as vaccinations, waste cleanup and keeping the animal in your room.

Housing assignments fill early, and schools often ask for accommodation requests well before the term starts. The FHA doesn't require a request at a particular time, but applying early gives the school time to review it and to find a suitable room.

If you're in California, plan ahead. AB 468 requires a client relationship of at least 30 days and a clinical evaluation before documentation for an emotional support dog is issued. We give you a same-day letter of intent you can share with your school, and the ESA letter after a follow-up around day 30.

Colleges must balance your request against the needs of other students, such as a roommate with a severe allergy or a fear of animals. Schools often handle this by assigning a different room or a single, rather than simply refusing.

Talk openly with your housing office about any concerns. Being a considerate neighbor, with a clean space, a quiet animal and prompt cleanup, helps your accommodation work for everyone.

An ESA accommodation applies to your housing. The ADA doesn't treat an emotional support animal as a service animal, so it has no right to join you in classrooms, dining halls, libraries or at campus events.

A dog that has been individually trained to carry out tasks for a psychiatric disability may qualify as a psychiatric service dog, and those are handled differently. Ask your disability services office how it treats service animals.

Our college housing ESA letter is $129 and follows a brief evaluation lasting 5 to 10 minutes, held over phone or video and carried out by a licensed therapist. When an ESA is appropriate, you get a signed PDF letter, usually that same day, showing the therapist's name, what kind of license they hold and its number, the issuing state and the date.

Many schools have their own verification form for a therapist to complete. If yours does, mention it when you book. You pay only if the therapist approves a letter, and there's no subscription.

Before you bring an animal to campus, think honestly about your schedule, budget and living space. Classes, work, exams and breaks all affect how much time you can give an animal, and you'll be responsible for food, vet care and cleanup.

Plan for holidays and emergencies too. Know who can care for your animal if you travel home, get sick or need to move out quickly.

An animal can be a real source of comfort, but research on pets and mental health is mixed, and an ESA isn't a substitute for treatment. Your campus counseling center may offer free or low-cost care.

If you're struggling with thoughts of harming yourself or feel you're in crisis, dial or text 988. In an emergency, dial 911.