Renting with an ESA in New York City
Few places test an accommodation request like New York City, where you might be dealing with a co-op board, a condo's house rules or a management company running hundreds of walk-ups across Brooklyn and Queens. No-pet clauses are common in prewar buildings, and the doorman is often the first person to enforce one. City law adds its own disability protections on top of federal ones. If you're applying to a co-op, raise the animal with the board early rather than after you're approved.
Neighborhoods we often hear from
- Astoria
- Bushwick
- Washington Heights
- Park Slope
- Upper West Side
- Jackson Heights
Local help: New York City Commission on Human Rights
New York ESA laws for New York City renters
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.
Source: NYC Commission on Human Rights: emotional support animals in housing (fact sheet)
Your New York City 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 City.
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 City 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.