South Dakota ESA laws
South Dakota wrote its own rules for animals in rental housing back in 2018. SDCL 43-32-33 through 43-32-36 let a landlord ask for supporting documentation when your disability or your need for the animal isn't obvious, and they set out who is allowed to write that letter. The federal Fair Housing Act still sits on top of these state rules.
- Under SDCL 43-32-34, a landlord can't demand paperwork when your disability or your need for the animal is readily apparent or already known to them.
- SDCL 43-32-35 says the letter has to connect your disability to the animal and come from a licensed health care provider who doesn't operate in South Dakota solely to certify animals.
- Knowingly making a false disability claim or handing over fraudulent documentation can lead to eviction plus a damage fee of up to $1,000 under SDCL 43-32-36.
- For these housing sections, the state uses the term service animal broadly, so it reaches emotional support, therapy and assistance animals that serve a tenant with a disability.
Your South Dakota 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 Dakota.
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 Dakota 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 Dakota denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the South Dakota Division of Human Rights (Department of Labor and Regulation) 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 Dakota psychiatric service dog letter.