Renting with an ESA in Fargo
Apartments make up a large share of Fargo's housing, and many are newer walk-up or elevator buildings on the south side, plus older houses near NDSU rented by students. Downtown has added lofts above shops on Broadway. Winters are severe, so landlords sometimes ask practical questions about animals and snow. North Dakota has its own statute on assistance animals in housing, including rules about reliable documentation, so expect a careful review of your letter.
Neighborhoods we often hear from
- Downtown
- Roosevelt
- Horace Mann
- Hawthorne
- Osgood
- Village West
North Dakota ESA laws for Fargo renters
North Dakota spells out its own rules for assistance animal requests in rentals. Under N.D.C.C. 47-16-07.5, a landlord with a no-pets policy may ask for reliable documentation that confirms your disability and ties it to the animal, unless your need is already obvious or known. The statute also says who can write that documentation, and the next section sets penalties for fraud.
- Documentation can come from a physician or other medical professional, provided that provider is not operating in North Dakota solely to produce service or assistance animal paperwork.
- Knowingly making a false disability claim, or handing over fraudulent documentation, to get a housing accommodation is an infraction under N.D.C.C. 47-16-07.6.
- After a guilty plea or conviction, the landlord may evict and may collect a damage fee of up to $1,000 if fraudulent documentation was used.
Source: N.D. Century Code chapter 47-16 (sections 47-16-07.5 and 47-16-07.6)
Your Fargo 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 Fargo.
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.
Fargo 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.