Montana ESA laws
Montana is one of the states with its own ESA documentation law. Since 2023, MCA 70-24-114 has spelled out what a landlord may request: supporting information from a mental health professional licensed in Montana who has known you for at least 30 days and has completed a clinical evaluation. A parallel section, MCA 70-33-110, applies the same rules to mobile home lot rentals.
- The provider must be a Montana-licensed mental health professional with a client relationship of at least 30 days before writing the letter.
- The letter has to list the provider's license type, license number and its effective date, and describe the support the specific animal gives.
- Landlords cannot demand your diagnosis, its severity or your medical records, and an online ID card or certificate alone does not prove need.
- Each animal needs its own supporting information, and the landlord must give you a written decision once you have provided it.
- The Montana Human Rights Bureau takes housing discrimination complaints; you generally have 180 days from the incident to file.
Source: MCA 70-24-114 (emotional support animals, documentation)
Your Montana 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 Montana.
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 Montana's documentation rules
Montana 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.
Montana 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 Montana denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the Montana Human Rights Bureau 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 Montana psychiatric service dog letter.