Pennsylvania ESA laws
Pennsylvania treats an emotional support animal as a housing accommodation under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and the federal Fair Housing Act. Act 118 of 2018 added state penalties for lying about the need for an assistance animal in housing. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission enforces these rights and publishes guidance on assistance, emotional support and service animals.
- Under Act 118, knowingly misrepresenting a disability or a disability-related need for an assistance animal in housing is a third-degree misdemeanor.
- Creating or handing over a document that falsely presents an animal as an assistance or service animal is a summary offense, with a fine of up to $1,000.
- The Commission opened public comment on updated animal guidance on October 1, 2026, running through November 15, 2026, so its verification guidance may change.
- The Commission takes housing and commercial property complaints alongside employment, education and public accommodation cases.
Source: PHRC: Assistance, Emotional Support, and Service Animal Guidance
Your Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
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.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission 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 Pennsylvania psychiatric service dog letter.