New York ESA laws
New York has no statute written only for emotional support animals. The state Human Rights Law and the federal Fair Housing Act both treat an ESA as a reasonable accommodation for a tenant with a disability. If you rent in New York City, the City Human Rights Law adds another layer, and the city's Commission on Human Rights publishes detailed guidance on how these requests should be handled.
- City guidance lets a housing provider confirm your disability and need with a treatment provider, but it cannot demand your diagnosis, a specific form or recent paperwork.
- In New York City, landlords are told not to collect an upfront pet deposit or fee for an ESA, though you can still be billed for real damage.
- No-dog clauses and breed, size or weight limits generally yield to an ESA in the five boroughs unless the landlord can show undue hardship.
- Anywhere in the state, you can take a housing discrimination complaint, including a refused accommodation, to the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Source: NYC Commission on Human Rights: emotional support animals in housing (fact sheet)
Your New York 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 New York.
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.
New York 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 New York denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the New York State Division of Human Rights 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 New York psychiatric service dog letter.