Renting with an ESA in Denver
Denver's rental market has changed fast, with new apartment blocks in RiNo and along the light rail sitting next to Victorian conversions in Capitol Hill and postwar bungalows farther south. Garden-level and basement units are common in older houses, and their owners are often individuals unfamiliar with accommodation requests. Denver voters ended the city's pit bull ban in 2020, yet some leases and landlord insurance policies still carry breed limits. Those limits generally shouldn't be applied to an assistance animal, and the city's Anti-Discrimination Office is a local option.
Neighborhoods we often hear from
- Capitol Hill
- RiNo
- Highland
- Baker
- Park Hill
- Washington Park
Local help: Denver Anti-Discrimination Office
Colorado ESA laws for Denver renters
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.
Source: Colorado General Assembly: HB26-1045, Disabilities Housing Protections
Your Denver 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 Denver.
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.
Denver 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.