Renting with an ESA in St. Louis
Brick defines the city. St. Louis has a deep stock of two-family flats, four-family buildings and converted rowhouses, many owned by small landlords who live nearby or manage a handful of units. Those owners often write their own leases, which can include flat no-pet clauses that an emotional support animal request may override. Larger renovated loft buildings downtown and in the Central West End use formal portals instead. The city's Civil Rights Enforcement Agency investigates fair housing complaints if a landlord refuses to engage.
Neighborhoods we often hear from
- Central West End
- Soulard
- Tower Grove South
- Lafayette Square
- Dogtown
- The Hill
Local help: City of St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency
Missouri ESA laws for St. Louis renters
Missouri does not have a stand-alone ESA housing statute, but it does address assistance animals directly. RSMo 209.204 makes it a crime to knowingly misrepresent an animal as an assistance animal to get a housing accommodation, including lying to a health care provider to get documentation. Honest requests are handled under the Fair Housing Act, and the Missouri Commission on Human Rights investigates housing complaints.
- RSMo 209.204 says documentation for an assistance animal must come from a qualified professional; fake paperwork or misstating facts to a provider is a crime.
- A first misrepresentation offense is a class C misdemeanor with civil liability for damages; a second is a class B misdemeanor.
- The Missouri Commission on Human Rights investigates housing discrimination and takes intake through an online complaint assessment or by phone.
Source: RSMo 209.204
Your St. Louis 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 St. Louis.
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.
St. Louis 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.