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California psychiatric service dog letters

California PSD letter online

For California handlers whose dog has been trained to do specific tasks for a mental health condition. A licensed clinician evaluates you by phone or video in about 5–10 minutes.

  • Phone or video evaluation in about 5–10 minutes
  • $149 for up to 2 dogs, pay only if approved
  • For dogs trained to do specific tasks
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Free to book. You pay only if your letter is approved.

PSD
$149per letter
Licensed clinician evaluation
Evaluation: Phone or video, 5–10 minutes
$149per letter
Phone or video, 5–10 minutesEvaluation
One or two dogsCovers
$2293 dogs

PSD letters anywhere in California

Your evaluation is by phone or video, so it works the same in every California city and town. The ADA covers public places statewide; California law adds the points below.

StocktonSanta AnaSan JoseSan FranciscoSan DiegoSan DiegoSan BernardinoSacramentoSacramentoRiversidePasadenaOxnardOxnardOaklandMoreno ValleyModestoModestoLos AngelesLong BeachLong BeachIrvineIrvineHuntington BeachGlendaleFresnoFresnoFremontFremontFontanaChula VistaChula VistaBakersfieldBakersfieldAnaheim
Major city Also served by phone or video

California service dog laws

California's Disabled Persons Act, in Civil Code 54.1 and 54.2, gives people with disabilities the right to bring guide, signal and service dogs into public places without paying extra or putting down a deposit. Any ADA violation also counts as a violation of 54.2, so the state law adds remedies on top of federal ones rather than replacing them.

  • Civil Code 54.2(b) extends access to people training guide, signal or service dogs, as long as the dog is leashed and wears an identification tag from an authorized agency.
  • Knowingly and fraudulently claiming to own or train a service dog is a misdemeanor under Penal Code 365.7, punishable by up to six months in county jail, a $1,000 fine or both.
  • Handlers and trainers remain liable for any damage their dog causes, under the same Civil Code section.
  • In housing, the Civil Rights Department treats service animals and ESAs alike for no-pets exceptions, deposits and breed limits.

Source: Cal. Civil Code 54.2

How a PSD letter differs from an ESA letter

Psychiatric service dog

Trained to perform specific tasks. Can go into stores, restaurants and the airplane cabin with you.

Emotional support animal

Helps through companionship, with no task training. Covered for housing only. See the California ESA letter.

How to get a PSD letter in California

  1. Book a time

    Choose a phone or video slot and tell us about your dog and the tasks it performs.

  2. Talk with a clinician

    A licensed clinician reviews your symptoms and how the dog's training helps you.

  3. Your signed letter arrives

    If approved, your signed letter is emailed as a PDF. If not, you are not charged.

California PSD letter cost

LetterCoversPrice
PSD letterOne or two dogs$149
PSD letter3 dogs$229

Booking is free and you're charged only if your letter is approved.

Service dog housing rights in California

If a landlord refuses a service dog, ask for the decision in writing, then contact the California Civil Rights Department or file a complaint with HUD.

Clinicians who evaluate letter requests

Andrew Patel, M.D.

Physician

Reviews each evaluation and signs ESA and PSD letters when the clinical findings support one.

Gabriel Warner, LCSW

Clinical social worker (LCSW)

Carries out the mental health evaluations behind ESA and PSD letter requests and issues letters when appropriate.

PSD letters in California: your questions

Booking is free and the consultation takes about 5–10 minutes.

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Do I need a letter to have a psychiatric service dog in California?

Not for public places. The ADA limits staff to two questions: is the dog needed for a disability, and what task has it been trained to do? A letter helps with housing requests and with airline forms.

What makes a dog a psychiatric service dog?

It has been trained, one on one, to do specific tasks linked to a mental health condition, such as interrupting a panic attack, waking you from nightmares or creating space in a crowd. Comfort alone does not count as a task.

How much is a PSD letter in California?

One or two dogs cost $149, and three dogs cost $229. Booking costs nothing, and you're charged only if your letter is approved.

Can my psychiatric service dog fly in the cabin?

Airlines accept trained service dogs in the cabin. They usually ask you to complete the U.S. Department of Transportation service animal form before travel, and a clinician letter can help you answer it accurately.

What does California law add to the ADA?

Civil Code 54.2(b) extends access to people training guide, signal or service dogs, as long as the dog is leashed and wears an identification tag from an authorized agency.

Can I train my own psychiatric service dog?

Yes. Federal rules do not require a professional trainer or certificate. The dog must be trained to perform tasks and must be under your control in public.

Get your California PSD letter

Book a free 5–10 minute evaluation with a licensed clinician. An approved letter costs $149 for one or two dogs, and there is no charge if it isn't approved.

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Reviewed October 2026. Laws and agency processes change, so confirm details with the relevant state agency. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice.

$149per letter
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