Short answer
An ESA is a companion animal that a licensed mental health professional has determined helps a person with a mental or emotional disability. ESAs are usually dogs or cats, and can be a pet you already have. Unlike service animals, ESAs need no special training. You can ask a landlord to allow an ESA as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act; since HUD's 2025-2026 changes, how a request for an untrained ESA is handled depends more on the property and your state.
ESAs and service animals
Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. An ESA isn't one. It needs no special training, and it has no ADA right to go into stores, restaurants or other public places (28 CFR 36.104). Where ESAs are allowed.
Housing
You can ask a landlord to allow an ESA as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. Since HUD's 2025-2026 changes, HUD finds a violation in animal-accommodation complaints only for animals trained to provide disability-related assistance, so how a request for an untrained ESA is handled depends more on the property and your state. What HUD's changes mean and ESA laws by state.
Flying
Since January 11, 2021, U.S. airlines may treat emotional support animals as pets. Can I fly with my ESA?
Getting an ESA letter
An ESA letter comes from a licensed mental health professional who has evaluated you. Where to get one, or start with our Free Pre-Qualification.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed: November 13, 2026.
