[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-277881-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-277881-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","assistance-animals-fact-sheet","Assistance Animals - Fact Sheet","","This fact sheet explains protections under the Federal Fair Housing Act for persons with disabilities who seek a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal. It defines disability and assistance animals, describes how a tenant should request an accommodation and what information a housing provider may request. It addresses proof requirements, acceptable supporting materials, whether certification is needed, evaluation standards, and limits on charges and denials, including conditions for refusal based on objective evidence.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/assistance-animals-fact-sheet/277881/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/assistance-animals-fact-sheet/277881.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Taylor Morgan","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-27","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",13,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What does the Federal Fair Housing Act protect regarding assistance animals?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The Act prohibits housing discrimination and includes protection for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including allowing an assistance animal when the request is properly made.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How should a tenant request a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"A tenant provides notice to the housing provider that an accommodation is needed, either orally or preferably in writing for documentation. The provider must respond in a timely manner after a request is made.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Can a housing provider charge fees or deny a request for an assistance animal?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"A housing provider cannot require deposits, fees, or surcharges in exchange for having an assistance animal, since they are not considered pets. A request may be denied only if the specific animal poses a direct threat or would cause substantial property damage that cannot be reduced by another reasonable accommodation, based on objective evidence.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},277881,1790016707,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":121,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":26},1099523885336,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","FAIR HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES  \n-ASSISTANCE ANIMALS  \nProtection under the Federal Fair Housing Act  \nThe Federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits discrimination in housing, both public and private, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. One potential type of prohibited discrimination under this Act is a refusal to provide a reasonable accommodation to a person with a disability.  \nThe FHA describes disability as mental or physical impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities.  \nPhysical and mental disabilities may include, but are not limited to:  \n● visual, speech, or hearing impairments,  \n● cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, or chronic fatigue,  \n● cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS,  \n● drug addiction (other than addiction caused by current illegal use of a controlled substance) and alcoholism,  \n● learning impairments, traumatic brain injury, intellectual development disorder, and other mental or emotional disabilities.  \nWhat are assistance animals?  \nAccording to the Federal Fair Housing Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, an assistance animal is an animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability.  \nHow should a tenant request a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal?  \nRequesting an accommodation is as simple as giving notice to your housing provider that you need one. You may do this orally or in writing; however, it is preferable to put the request in writing for documentation purposes. An example letter for a request for reasonable accommodation is attached to this Fact Sheet. To receive an accommodation, you must first make the request; a person with a disability is not entitled to an accommodation unless a request has been made. The housing provider is obligated to respond to the request in a timely manner.  \nMay a housing provider ask for proof of disability or the need for an assistance animal?  \nProof isn't necessary in cases where the disability is readily apparent or known, and the need for accommodation is also evident. However, in cases where the disability is not obvious or the  \nFair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan [www.fhcmichigan.org](www.fhcmichigan.org) • 1-877-979-3247 Assistance Animals, Page 1  \nneed for accommodation is not apparent, the housing provider may request additional information.  \nWhat information may the housing provider request?  \nIn order to evaluate a request for reasonable accommodation, a housing provider may ask for additional information to:  \n● verify that the person meets the Fair Housing Act’s definition of disability,  \n● show the relationship between the person’s disability and the need for the assistance animal,  \n● demonstrate how the assistance animal performs tasks that benefit the person with a disability or how the assistance animal alleviates one or more symptoms of a disability.  \nWhat materials can I provide to the housing provider if requested?  \nSome materials that could be provided include but are not limited to:  \n● proof of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits,  \n● a letter from a mental health or medical professional verifying the disability and the need for the assistance animal (for guidance, please see our Fair Housing for Medical and Mental Health Professionals booklet),  \n● a letter from a non-medical service agency verifying the connection between the disability and assistance animal,  \n● proof that an assistance animal is up-to-date on any required vaccines or veterinary care required by law.  \nDoes an assistance animal require certification?  \nAn assistance animal does not need to be individually trained or certified to qualify, and no agency has the authority to","cbCaiuX3zIP17f22","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuX3zIP17f22","pdf",599106,"English","# Assistance Animals\n## Protection Under the Federal Fair Housing Act\n## What Are Assistance Animals?\n## Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation\n## Proof and Additional Information\n## Materials You Can Provide\n## Certification Requirements\n## How Requests Are Evaluated\n## Charges, Fees, and Deposits\n## Denials and When They Apply\n## Must an Assistance Animal Be a Dog?","[{\"question\":\"What does the Federal Fair Housing Act protect regarding assistance animals?\",\"answer\":\"The Act prohibits housing discrimination and includes protection for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including allowing an assistance animal when the request is properly made.\"},{\"question\":\"How should a tenant request a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal?\",\"answer\":\"A tenant provides notice to the housing provider that an accommodation is needed, either orally or preferably in writing for documentation. The provider must respond in a timely manner after a request is made.\"},{\"question\":\"Can a housing provider charge fees or deny a request for an assistance animal?\",\"answer\":\"A housing provider cannot require deposits, fees, or surcharges in exchange for having an assistance animal, since they are not considered pets. A request may be denied only if the specific animal poses a direct threat or would cause substantial property damage that cannot be reduced by another reasonable accommodation, based on objective evidence.\"}]","Assistance Animals - Fact Sheet | PDF",1789504976]