Tennessee ESA laws
Tennessee spells out support animal requests in rental housing in Tenn. Code Ann. 66-7-111. You can ask a landlord to make an exception to a no-pet rule, an animal limit or an animal fee, and the landlord may ask for reliable documentation if your disability or need isn't apparent. The statute also says which kinds of paperwork don't count.
- Paperwork from a website whose main business is selling certificates or ID documents for animals is not reliable documentation under 66-7-111.
- A landlord may verify your letter, but the statute doesn't let them obtain confidential or protected medical records.
- Knowingly giving a landlord a false disability claim or false animal documentation is a Class B misdemeanor under Tenn. Code Ann. 39-16-304, and it also counts as a lease default.
- Under 66-7-111(g), a landlord isn't liable for injuries caused by a service or support animal they allowed as an accommodation.
- Housing discrimination complaints under the Tennessee Human Rights Act go to the Civil Rights Enforcement Division of the Attorney General's Office.
Source: Tenn. Code Ann. 66-7-111
Your Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
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.
Tennessee 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 Tennessee denies your ESA
Ask the housing provider to put the refusal and its reason in writing. You can then contact the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, Civil Rights Enforcement Division 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 Tennessee psychiatric service dog letter.