ESA Letter Template & Sample: What a Legitimate Letter Includes
A ValidESA guide · Updated · General information, not legal or medical advice
In short
ESA letter sample (fictional example)
Sample only: not a valid letter
[Clinician letterhead: name, practice and contact details]
Date: [Month DD, YYYY]
To whom it may concern:
I am a licensed [license type, for example LCSW, LPC, LMFT or psychologist] in the state of [State], license no. [license number]. [Client name] has been evaluated by me. Based on my professional assessment, [Client name] has a disability as defined by the Fair Housing Act, and an emotional support animal helps alleviate one or more symptoms or effects of that disability.
I therefore recommend that [Client name] be permitted to live with their [species and name of each animal] as a reasonable accommodation in housing.
[Clinician’s signature]
[Clinician name, credentials, license type, license number, state]
7 things a reliable ESA letter usually includes
| Element | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 1. Clinician’s name and license type | Shows who evaluated you |
| 2. License number and state | Lets a housing provider check the license with the state licensing board |
| 3. Date | Many landlords want a recently dated letter |
| 4. Statement of disability-related need | The basis of a reasonable-accommodation request |
| 5. Each animal | Links the letter to your request; list every animal |
| 6. Signature and contact details | Makes it a professional document someone can follow up on |
| 7. A way to confirm it | License details a landlord can check; a ValidESA letter also has a verification ID, shown in your customer portal |
Some states set their own rules. California, for example, requires documentation for an emotional support dog to list the clinician's license number, type, jurisdiction and effective date. See the California ESA guide.
What an ESA letter does not need
- Your diagnosis or medical history
- Treatment notes or medication details
- A "registration" or ID number from an ESA registry
It also should not claim that a landlord must accept it no matter what: a letter supports a request, it doesn't decide it.
ESA letter PDF: can you download and use one?
Your real letter usually arrives as a PDF, but a blank ESA letter PDF or template you download and fill in yourself is not a valid letter. It has no licensed author, so it fails a basic license check and can get your request refused. Landlords can confirm a ValidESA letter on our ESA verification page; for scams to avoid, read are online ESA letters legit?
How to write an ESA accommodation request to your landlord
The letter itself must come from your clinician, but the request can be a short note you write yourself: who you are, that you are asking for a reasonable accommodation to live with your emotional support animal, and that your clinician's letter is attached.
Example request: fictional
Dear [Landlord or property manager],
I am requesting a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act to live with my emotional support animal, [animal’s name and species], at [property and unit]. A letter from my licensed clinician is attached.
[Optional: I also ask that pet fees, pet deposits and pet rent be waived for this animal.]
[If your letter is from ValidESA: You can confirm it at validesa.com/esa-verification with verification ID [your ID, in the form VE-XXXX-XXXX].]
Please reply in writing by [date].
Thank you,
[Your name]
Fee waivers are a request, not a given
Asking for pet fees, deposits and pet rent to be waived can be part of a reasonable-accommodation request under the Fair Housing Act, but approval isn't automatic. HUD's 2020 notice, which said those charges generally should not apply to an approved assistance animal, was withdrawn, so ask in writing and check your state guide.
ESA letter vs PSD letter: different documents
A psychiatric service dog letter documents a clinician's assessment that you have a psychiatric disability and a need for a dog individually trained to perform tasks for it. It does not train or certify the dog, and it reads differently from an ESA letter. See the PSD letter page.
Red flags of a fake ESA letter
- No license number or state
- No clinician name or contact details
- A "certificate" or "registration" instead of a letter
- Issued instantly, with no evaluation
- A promise that any landlord must accept it
Get a real ESA letter
ValidESA letters are written and signed by a clinician licensed in the state you are in during your evaluation, start at $99, and are issued only if the clinician approves. If they approve, the signed letter is typically ready within 24–48 hours of approval. See how to get an ESA letter, or ESA letter renewal if you already have one.
ESA Letter Template: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I write my own ESA letter?
No. A letter is reliable documentation only if a licensed professional who evaluated you writes and signs it with their license details. A template you fill in yourself has no licensed author.
What should an ESA letter include?
The clinician’s name, license type, license number and state; the date; a statement that you have a disability-related need for the animal; each animal; and the clinician’s signature and contact details.
Is there a free ESA letter template PDF?
The sample on this page is for reference only. A downloaded PDF with your own details typed in is not a valid letter, because no licensed clinician evaluated you or signed it.
How do I write an ESA letter?
You don’t; your licensed clinician does, after evaluating you. What you write is the short accommodation request to your landlord, and you can adapt the request example on this page.
Does an ESA letter need to name my diagnosis?
No. A letter documents a disability-related need; it does not need to state your diagnosis, and you do not need to send medical records with your request.
Why does the date on the letter matter?
Many landlords expect a recently dated letter, often one from the last year. If yours is getting old, see ValidESA’s ESA letter renewal page.
Where can I get a real ESA letter?
From a mental health professional licensed for the state you are in during your evaluation. ValidESA ESA letters start at $99, and a letter is issued only if the clinician approves.
Related guides
This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. A letter is issued only if a licensed clinician approves it, and no letter can guarantee that a housing provider will approve a request. Laws differ by state. Questions about an order, a cancellation or a refund: contact us or read our Refund & Cancellation terms. See also the Privacy Policy. If you are in crisis in the United States, call or text 988.