Curious about you and your furry friends’ legal rights when it comes to the ADA, ACAA, and FHA? Each article below is fact checked to bring you up-to-date and accurate information.
ESAs are protected under federal housing rules. Empower yourself by learning about your rights.
Many states have passed ESA laws. We’ll help you understand your state’s unique requirements.
On May 22, 2026, a federal memorandum from the U.S. Department of Housing was issued that many ESA owners found alarming. You might think that...
Federal and state laws protect your right to have an emotional support animal in your home. Experts have reviewed our ESA articles so you can...
Do you need to train your emotional support animal to qualify for housing protections? That depends on where you live! In May 2026, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) changed its Guidance on emotional support animals (ESAs). Under the new Guidance, HUD wil [...]
On May 22, 2026, a federal memorandum from the U.S. Department of Housing was issued that many ESA owners found alarming. You might think that it means landlords will now be able to deny your animal, charge you pet fees, or evict you, but that's not the case. The situation is mor [...]
This article was last updated on December 3rd, 2025, to reflect Louisiana’s latest laws. If you want to understand Louisiana's emotional support animal laws, this guide will explain them to you in simple terms. In 2024, Louisiana passed the Support and Service Animal Integrity Ac [...]
This article was last updated on January 29th, 2025. If you're trying to understand Iowa's emotional support animal laws, you might have heard about recent changes that affect both tenants and landlords. In 2024, Iowa updated its ESA law, Section 216.SB, Code 2024, [...]
Emotional support animals are protected by the federal Fair Housing Act which is applicable to every state. In addition, many states such as California, Florida, New York, Illinois and others have passed their own legislation protecting owners of emotional support animals.
Owners of emotional support animals have the right to live in no-pets buildings. If you own a valid emotional support animal, the landlord must also waive pet fees, pet deposits, and pet breed and weight restrictions.
To qualify for an ESA, you’ll need to get an ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Note that many states have additional requirements when it comes to getting an ESA letter. For example, California, Arkansas and Montana have a 30 day waiting period for obtaining an ESA letter from a new healthcare provider.