Emotional Support Dog Apartment Rules

Housing laws protecting your service animal or emotional support animal fall under one of three federal laws fair housing act ada act 1990 and rehab act.

Emotional support dog apartment rules. You may or may not have encountered an emotional support animal letter these are validation letters from a licensed mental health professional telling you the renter has been prescribed the animal for mental health related purposes. An emotional support animal letter is a signed statement from the tenant s mental health practitioner proving that the animal companion is essential to their wellbeing and recovery. North carolina laws on service dogs and emotional support animals by lisa guerin j d. Emotional support animals are different from service animals which are governed by additional laws and defined under the americans with disabilities act as a dog.

Additionally they expose owners to possible fair housing complaints. Laws prohibit employment discrimination because of a disability. Emotional support animal letters for housing. They affect an owner s ability to assess pet deposits and fees and to apply rules and policies to a resident s animal.

Department of housing and urban development hud issued new guidance regarding emotional support animals esas in housing this is a major development for owners of esas and the first comprehensive update to esa housing rules since hud last issued guidance in 2013. An emotional support animal is one type of assistance animal allowed as a reasonable accommodation to a residence with a no pets rule. What is the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodation.

Under north carolina law and the federal americans with disabilities act ada people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations such as restaurants museums hotels and stores. This animal is not a pet but is there to give the needed therapy the person requires the emotional support. The letter can be signed by a doctor pa psychologist social worker peer support group non medical service agency or a reliable 3rd party that would be aware. An esa is a medical tool and not a pet.

For the emotional support animal to be legal tenants need documentation from a licenced medical professional stating that the animal is being used to manage a health condition. Reasonable accommodation requests for assistance animals including emotional support animals cause concern for apartment owners and operators. Allowing an individual with a disability to have a service animal or an emotional support animal accompany them to work may be considered an accommodation. Under federal fair housing laws emotional support animals must have access to apartments with a no pet policy and are exempt from pet related fees.

12 important facts esa owners need to know. Emotional support animals help aid with an emotional or mental disability.