Emotional Support Animals (ESA) Documentation Requirements - PA Housing Act Letter and Agreement Packet

Sep 15, 2026

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) documentation requirements explain how a person with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act for housing that otherwise restricts pets. The packet specifies that the emotional support animal must be tied to the disability-related need and provides a checklist of required materials, including a provider letter, an ESA Animal Agreement, and animal health and registration documents. It also includes Pennsylvania notice language outlining criminal penalties for misrepresentations and provides a sample service-provider letter template.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) Documentation Requirements

Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act

Documents Needed

Notice: Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act of 2018

Misrepresenting Entitlement or an Animal as an Assistance Animal

Sample Letter from a Service Provider

Emotional Support Animal Agreement (Lease Attachment)

Tenant Terms and Conditions

# Emotional Support Animals (ESA)Documentation Requirements Under the Fair Housing Act,an individual with a disability may be entitled to keep an emotional support animal inhousing facilities that otherwise do not allow pets.An emotional support animal-which can include animals other thandogs—must be permitted as a reasonable accommodation when an individual requires the animal in order to have anequal opportunity to use and enjoy the housing.The assistance the animal provides must relate to the individual'sdisability. In order to expedite the processing of the request for accommodation for your ESA,please review the following items andprovide them to our office. Documents Needed 1.Please provide a letter from your licensed mental health professional(therapist,psychologist,psychiatrist)on his/her letterhead that states the person requesting accommodation for the ESA is under his/her care,is emotionally orpsychiatrically disabled,and prescribes for the person an emotional support animal. Under Pennsylvania's Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act of 2018,the documentation provided must:a)be in writing,b)be reliable,c)be based on their direct knowledge of the person's disability or disability-relatedneed for the emotional support animal,and,d)must describe the person's disability-related need for the emotionalsupport animal. An example letter is provided below for guidance should your care provide need assistance in drafting the letter. 2.Please fill out and sign the attached Animal Agreement. 3.Please Provide the following documents: a.Spay/Neuter verification from the veterinarian who performed the operations. b.Shot records showing the animal is up to date on shots. c.Copy of rabies tag/documentation. d.Copy of dog license registration from the municipality where the rental is located,if required by the municipality. e.Color photograph(s)of the animal(s). ## NOTICE-ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE ANIMAL INTEGRITYACT OF 2018 Misrepresenting of Entitlement to Service Animal or Assistance Animal Falsely representing that you have a disability or a disability-related need for a service,assistance,or emotional supportanimal in housing,or making false statements for the purpose of obtaining documentation for the use of a service,assistance,or emotional support animal in housing is a crime in Pennsylvania,punishable by up to one year ofincarceration and a fine up to $2,500. ## Misrepresenting an Animal as a Service Animal or Assistance Animal Intentionally creating a document falsely representing that an animal is a service,assistance,or emotional support animalfor use in housing;or intentionally providing a document to another,falsely representing that an animal is a service,assistance,or emotional support animal for use in housing;or fitting an animal with a harness,collar,vest,or sign thatfalsely indicates or identifies an animal as a service,assistance,or emotional support animal for use in housing is a crimein Pennsylvania,punishable by a fine up to $1,000. ## Sample Letter from a Service Provider [Date] Name of Professional(therapist,physician,psychiatrist,rehabilitation counselor)XXX RoadCity,State,Zip Dear [Housing Provider/Landlord]: [Full Name of Tenant]is my patient,and has been under my care since [date].I am intimately familiar with his/her disability.He/She meets the definition of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act,the FairHousing Act,and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Due to mental illness,[first name of patient]has certain limitations regarding [social interaction/coping withstress/anxiety,etc.].In order to help alleviate these difficulties,and to enhance his/her ability to liveindependently and to fully use and enjoy the dwelling unit you own and/or administer,I am prescribing anemotional support animal that will assist [First Name of Patient]in coping with his/her disability. I am familiar with the voluminous professional lit

FAQs

What must an ESA documentation request show under the Fair Housing Act?

The request must show that the person has a disability and needs the emotional support animal to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the housing. The assistance provided must relate to the person’s disability-related need.

What documents are required to process an ESA accommodation request?

A letter on the licensed mental health professional’s letterhead stating the person is under their care, is emotionally/psychiatrically disabled, and that the ESA is prescribed. The tenant must also sign the attached Animal Agreement and provide animal documentation such as spay/neuter verification, shot records, rabies documentation, license registration (if required), and color photos.

What penalties does Pennsylvania impose for misrepresenting an ESA or related entitlement?

Misrepresenting entitlement to a service or assistance animal in housing is a crime punishable by up to one year of incarceration and a fine up to $2,500. Intentionally creating or submitting false ESA/service-animal documents is also criminal, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Aria Callaghan