South Carolina ESA laws
South Carolina addresses emotional support animals directly in its own fair housing law. A 2019 amendment, S.C. Code Section 31-21-70(N), sets out what a landlord may ask when you request a non-service animal as an accommodation and what documentation is enough to back up the request. The federal Fair Housing Act applies as well.
- A landlord may ask two things: whether you have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity, and whether you have a disability-related need for the animal.
- Documentation is sufficient under the statute if it shows you have a disability and that the animal provides disability-related assistance or emotional support.
- Fair housing complaints go to the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission and must be filed within 180 days of the discriminatory act.
- Public places may set their own rules for emotional support animals under S.C. Code 47-3-990, so an ESA's protections are mostly about where you live.
Your South Carolina 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 South Carolina.
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.
South Carolina 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 South Carolina denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the South Carolina Human Affairs 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 South Carolina psychiatric service dog letter.