If you are suffering from a mental health issue in the state of North Carolina, an emotional support animal may help to alleviate your symptoms. Under federal law, owners of emotional support animals have special rights that allow you to live with your ESA, even if your building prohibits pets.
An emotional support animal is a dog, cat, or other small, domesticated animal that provides comfort to people suffering from mental health conditions. ESAs do not require any specialized training — they fulfill their role just through their companionship and presence.
Many people use emotional support animals in conjunction with therapy and prescription medications to improve their mental health. Having an ESA present to provide unconditional love, companionship and support helps countless individuals live a productive and fulfilling life.
In this article, we’ll explain what rights you have as an ESA owner in the Tar Heel State.
To qualify for an emotional support animal in North Carolina, you must have an ESA letter from a healthcare professional licensed for your state. If you are ready to connect with an online healthcare professional specializing in ESAs, you can get started by completing the questionnaire at the link below.
What Conditions Qualify for an ESA in North Carolina?
To qualify for an emotional support animal, you must have a mental or emotional health disability. This includes (but is not limited to) conditions such as severe anxiety, PTSD, phobias, social anxieties, and depression if the condition substantially limits a major life activity like working or socializing.
A licensed healthcare professional is best suited to determine whether you have a qualifying condition and whether an ESA would help. If you meet the criteria for ESA ownership, they can issue an ESA letter. An ESA letter proves that you need an emotional support animal and is the only documentation you need to provide to a landlord to prove that you own an ESA.
How to Get an ESA Letter
An ESA letter must come from a licensed healthcare professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, doctor, or nurse. You can either reach out to a therapist in your area or connect with one online. The internet allows therapists to help clients remotely using modern technology. If you live in North Carolina, ensure that your provider is licensed to practice in North Carolina.
If you would like to be connected with a licensed healthcare professional knowledgeable about ESA recommendations, ESA Doctors can help. The professionals that work with ESA Doctors are compassionate and can issue effective ESA letters for qualifying clients.
ESAs in North Carolina Apartments and Rental Units
Federal housing laws protect ESA owners from discrimination. Landlords must reasonably accommodate ESA owners, even if they have a strict policy that bands pets. ESAs are not considered normal pets and are thus exempt from many rules that would normally apply to an animal in the building.
For example, housing providers are never allowed to charge a fee or deposit for an ESA. Even if they charge a fee or deposit for a normal pet, they can’t do so when it comes to ESAs. Emotional support animals are also exempt from rules that limit the breed, size, or weight of an animal in the building.
Landlords are entitled to see an ESA letter before accommodating an emotional support animal in the building. That is why it is important to get your ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional who knows how to write ESA letters.
There are some situations where a landlord does not have to allow an ESA on the premises. For example, if the ESA in question has shown that it is a safety or health threat to other tenants, the landlord may deny accommodation. However, it is not acceptable to deny an ESA because it is inconvenient, undesirable, or against the building’s policy banning pets.
Flying with an ESA or Psychiatric Service Dog to and from North Carolina
Emotional support animals are no longer allowed on U.S. flights, but psychiatric service dogs are still welcome. The primary difference between a psychiatric service dog and an ESA is that a PSD must be individually trained to perform a job or task relating to the owner’s disability. PSDs must also be trained to be well-behaved in public settings. A PSD can be denied boarding or asked to leave an airport if it is disruptive or threatening.
The owner of a PSD must also have a psychiatric disability. That can include conditions like severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, or phobias. A licensed healthcare professional can determine whether an individual has a psychiatric disability and issue a PSD letter to qualifying clients.
If you own a fully trained psychiatric service dog, you can board flights with your PSD without any additional charge by submitting the DOT’s service animal transportation form to the airline before departure.
For a helpful guide on traveling with a psychiatric service dog, please click on this link.
How to Get your Psychiatric Service Dog Letter online from ESA Doctors
ESAs and the North Carolina Workplace
Emotional support animals do not have a legal right to be in the workplace in North Carolina. Most employers generally do not allow an ESA to accompany their employees during the workday. There are, however, exceptions and some companies are very welcoming of pets and assistance animals. If you would like to bring an emotional support animal to work, you should check with your HR department to see if your company has a policy for animals in the workplace.
Conclusion
If your healthcare professional is unfamiliar with ESAs or you currently are not seeing anyone, you can find help online. A licensed healthcare professional that works online can provide you with an ESA letter without the need for office visits. If you live in North Carolina, it’s important to ensure that the provider is properly credentialed for your state.
Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal Letter
Where do I buy ESA animals once I have my letter?
You do not need to purchase an animal designated as an ESA. An ESA can be a pet you already own or one you adopt. The key is to get an ESA letter which qualifies you to have one.
What is the fee and is it a one time fee
You can find pricing information for our services here: https://esadoctors.com/pricing-plan/
Is it possible to have 4 ESA’s dogs at one time?
It is possible, but each ESA dog would have to be recommended by a licensed mental health professional. Please see this article for more details: https://esadoctors.com/more-than-one-emotional-support-animal/
Would a doctor from a hospital work? If they have seen the patient specifically for mental health?
A licensed doctor can certainly write an ESA letter.
I already have two small cats and have been discussing with my doctor the benefits of having a small dog would be to my anxiety and day to day. I can’t do many activities with the cats… So we’ve been looking into what dog could fit my needs, lifestyle and recommendations from the doctor. Could I get an ESA dog while already having two standard small pets in the apartment when the agreed limit was two?
We are being mindful and considering getting something that is small.
ESAs are technically not considered pets and should not count towards a pet limit, but we suggest having a friendly discussion with your landlord about your situation.
I moved into my condo in 2019 and am getting a dog for ESA reasons in 2021. My landlord is telling me that no pets are allowed at all. Because my initial signed lease agreed to the “no pets”, will that deter me from being allowed an ESA?
No, your landlord must reasonably accommodate your ESA unless they are subject to an exemption. It does not matter that your initial lease stated “no pets” because ESAs are not considered pets.
Can you get an ESA letter before your dog comes home? I have a dog coming but not until November. (When it’s old enough leave its mother.)
Seems it would be better to have the letter for my landlord before I bring my new dog home.
Yes, you can obtain an ESA letter before adopting your ESA.
I have a letter for a emotional support animal but my complex put a 10lb weight limit on it. Is that the law?
Landlords cannot place weight restrictions on an ESA.
Im approved to move into my husband’s rental for $100 more a month, but in exchange they say I have to pay a deposit for my ESA. They want $150 for my non ESA medium dog. They want 300 for my ESA. On exchange for approving me. Is this legal? What do I do?
We suggest reading this post: https://esadoctors.com/esa-fees-refunded/
If you do get aN ESA dog please consider getting pet insurance. There are always unknown and regular health maintenance that people often forget when they first get a dog.
You state the following… Under Federal and North Carolina laws, emotional support animals have certain rights that allow you to live and travel with your pet.
I cannot find such a law for emotional support animals Since you have researched this, I’m sure you must have a reference to the law that comes from the state and federal government. Any help in this matter would be appreciated.
The relevant law is the Fair Housing Act and the Department of Housing’s guidance on ESAs. Please see this link: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/FHEO/documents/19ServiceAnimalNoticeFHEO_508.pdf
My therapist is Encouraging me to get such a pet to help with my PTSD and emotional and depression issues! What is average cost for such a dog?
There is no specific cost for an emotional support animal. An ESA can be a dog, cat or any other small, domesticated animal that is kept in the home. The cost of any animal will vary widely depending on the breed and whether you’re buying from a breeder or adopting from a rescue.
I have two cats. 2020 was hard and going back to work of almost a year. I have to move my cats are ESA do apartments waive pet fees/or pet rent? I’m new to this and I’m not sure how this works. Any info would help. Thank you
Landlords cannot charge fees or deposits for a tenant’s ESA. You may find this article helpful: https://esadoctors.com/esa-fees-refunded/
North Carolina only applies to a TRAINED service animal (trained to handle your disability). You would not only need a not from a doctor showing you have a disability requiring the trained animal, but also proof that your animal was trained to alleviate your disability, such as a seeing eye dog. Simply a letter saying that you needed companionship of such and such pet would not be adequate.
Federal laws overrule state laws and proof of training is not required according to the ADA.