Florida ESA laws
Florida spelled out its emotional support animal rules in 2020 with Fla. Stat. 760.27. A landlord may ask for reliable information when your disability or your need for the animal is not apparent, and a letter from a health care practitioner counts if they have personal knowledge of your condition. Online registrations and ID cards, on their own, do not.
- A practitioner licensed outside Florida qualifies only if they are in good standing in their home state and have seen you in person at least once.
- Landlords may not demand your diagnosis, medical records, a notarized form or a specific application, and may not charge extra for the animal.
- Knowingly giving false ESA information or paperwork is a second-degree misdemeanor with 30 hours of community service, under Fla. Stat. 817.265.
- Housing discrimination complaints go to the Florida Commission on Human Relations, which enforces the Florida Civil Rights Act.
Source: Fla. Stat. 760.27
Your Florida 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 Florida.
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.
Follow Florida's documentation rules
Florida law adds requirements before a letter counts, such as a minimum treatment relationship, an in-person visit or a clinician licensed in the state. The clinician explains what applies to you and when the letter can be issued.
Your signed letter arrives
Once the state's requirements are met and the clinician approves, the letter is emailed as a PDF with their license details. You pay only if it is approved.
Florida 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 Florida denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the Florida Commission on Human Relations 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 Florida psychiatric service dog letter.