Colorado ESA laws
Colorado moved in 2026 to put emotional support animal protections directly into state law. House Bill 26-1045, signed by Governor Polis, adds definitions of assistance animals and emotional support animals to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, after HUD narrowed its own federal enforcement. Renters who are refused can file with the Colorado Civil Rights Division.
- Under HB26-1045, an assistance animal's presence alone is not treated as a safety threat or as likely to cause major property damage.
- The same law presumes a blanket ban on assistance animals is discriminatory, while still letting landlords ask for reasonable documentation when a need is not obvious.
- C.R.S. 18-13-107.3 makes it a civil infraction to knowingly misrepresent an assistance animal to get a housing accommodation after being warned, with fines from $25 up to $500.
- That misrepresentation law expressly does not limit how a person with a disability may otherwise show a need for an assistance animal.
Source: Colorado General Assembly: HB26-1045, Disabilities Housing Protections
Your Colorado ESA letter, step by step
Book a time
Pick a phone or video slot online and answer a short questionnaire about how you are feeling and the animal you live with in Colorado.
Talk with a licensed clinician
A licensed clinician spends about 5–10 minutes with you and decides whether an emotional support animal is part of your care.
Get your signed letter
If the clinician approves, your letter is emailed to you as a PDF with their license details. If not, you are not charged.
Share it with your housing provider
Send the letter with a short reasonable accommodation request. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.
Colorado ESA letter cost
| Letter | Covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ESA letter | Up to 2 animals | $129 |
| ESA letter | 3 or more animals | $199 |
Booking is free and you're charged only if your letter is approved.
What an ESA letter covers
Rentals and other housing
A letter supports a reasonable accommodation request, so a housing provider considers an exception to no-pet rules or pet fees for your animal.
Not flights or stores
Airlines treat emotional support animals as pets, and stores or restaurants do not have to admit them. Only trained service dogs have those rights.
Any common species
Dogs and cats are most common, but the letter is about your need for the animal, not its breed or training.
Reasonable limits apply
A provider can still refuse an animal that poses a direct threat or causes serious damage.
What to do if a landlord in Colorado denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the Colorado Civil Rights Division or file a complaint with HUD. Many renters settle the issue at this stage simply by asking for a written decision.
Have a dog trained to do specific tasks for a psychiatric condition? See the Colorado psychiatric service dog letter.