ESA Accommodation Demand Letter

[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]

[Landlord / Property Manager Full Name or Entity Name]
[Property Management Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Re: Request for Reasonable Accommodation — Emotional Support Animal — Unit [Unit Number / Property Address]

Sent via: Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested

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I. Notice of Request for Reasonable Accommodation

Dear [Landlord Name / Property Manager Name]:

I am a tenant at [Property Address, Unit Number] and I am writing to formally request a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B), and its implementing regulations at 24 C.F.R. Part 100, to keep my emotional support animal ("ESA") in my unit.

I have a disability within the meaning of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3602(h), which [briefly describe the functional limitation, e.g., "substantially limits one or more of my major life activities"]. My healthcare provider has determined that an emotional support animal is necessary to afford me an equal opportunity to use and enjoy my housing.

II. Supporting Documentation

Enclosed with this letter, please find the following documentation in support of my reasonable accommodation request:

☐  Letter from my licensed healthcare provider, [Provider Name, Title, License Number], dated [Date], confirming my disability-related need for an emotional support animal
☐  [Any additional documentation]

III. Legal Basis for This Request

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing providers from refusing to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to afford a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B).

HUD regulations implementing the FHA, at 24 C.F.R. § 100.204, confirm that a refusal to permit, as a reasonable accommodation, the keeping of an emotional support animal constitutes a discriminatory housing practice when the accommodation is necessary for a person with a disability.

Note on September 17, 2025: HUD withdrew its FHEO-2020-01 guidance document on that date. The Fair Housing Act statute itself was not amended. 42 U.S.C. § 3604 remains in full force and effect. Courts continue to enforce FHA protections for tenants with disabilities. The withdrawal of administrative guidance does not extinguish statutory rights or judicial precedent interpreting those rights.

IV. Prohibition on Fees and Deposits

I am also formally notifying you that housing providers may not, under the Fair Housing Act, charge tenants with disabilities pet fees, pet deposits, or pet screening fees as a condition of granting a reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal. Courts have found that imposing such fees in connection with an ESA accommodation request may constitute disability discrimination in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3604. See HUD Guidance FHEO-2020-01 (issued Jan. 28, 2020; withdrawn Sept. 17, 2025 — FHA statute unchanged); see also U.S. v. Housing Authority of the City of [City] (illustrative).

[IF APPLICABLE — DELETE IF NOT:] You have charged, or attempted to charge, me a fee of $[Amount] in connection with my ESA. I request that this fee be immediately rescinded and, if already paid, refunded.

V. Response Deadline

Please respond to this request in writing within ten (10) business days of the date of this letter. Failure to respond within this period, or a denial of this accommodation request without an individualized assessment and legally sufficient basis, may constitute an ongoing discriminatory housing practice.

VI. Preferred Resolution

I am requesting the following:

1.  Written approval of my reasonable accommodation request to keep my emotional support animal, [describe animal — e.g., "a domestic cat named [Name]"], in my unit free of any additional fees or deposits;
2.  [IF APPLICABLE:] A refund of the $[Amount] fee previously charged in connection with my ESA; and
3.  Confirmation that your no-pets policy will be applied to me as modified by this accommodation, consistent with your obligations under the Fair Housing Act.

VII. Reservation of Rights

I hope to resolve this matter cooperatively and promptly. Please direct your response to the contact information provided above.

Respectfully,

[Your Signature]

[Your Printed Full Name]
[Date]

Enclosures:
— Healthcare provider letter dated [Date]
— [Additional enclosures if any]