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Illinois psychiatric service dog letters

Illinois PSD letter online

For Illinois 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 Illinois

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

AuroraJolietSpringfieldSpringfieldRockfordRockfordChicagoChicago
Major city Also served by phone or video

Illinois service dog laws

Public access for service animals in Illinois is set by 720 ILCS 5/48-8 in the Criminal Code, which runs alongside the ADA. It names psychiatric service animals explicitly and covers dogs and miniature horses that are trained or still being trained. Refusing entry to a person with a service animal, or to a trainer, is a criminal offense rather than just a civil matter.

  • Section 48-8 protects trainers accompanied by a service animal, so a dog in training also has entry rights to public accommodations.
  • Knowingly denying a handler or trainer access to a public accommodation is a Class C misdemeanor under 720 ILCS 5/48-8(b).
  • The Illinois Human Rights Act separately bars landlords from refusing to rent to, or charging extra fees to, tenants who use guide, hearing or support dogs.

Source: 720 ILCS 5/48-8 (Service animal access)

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 Illinois ESA letter.

How to get a PSD letter in Illinois

  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.

Illinois 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 Illinois

If a landlord refuses a service dog, ask for the decision in writing, then contact the Illinois Department of Human Rights 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 Illinois: 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 Illinois?

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 Illinois?

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 Illinois law add to the ADA?

Section 48-8 protects trainers accompanied by a service animal, so a dog in training also has entry rights to public accommodations.

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 Illinois 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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