Emotional support animals are great pets. In fact, you’ll find that these pets are a lot more than pets, and for some, they’re even household heroes. While this may be the case, you won’t be able to live in an apartment that’s not pet-friendly without an ESA letter. These are letters that have to be signed by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) who’s licensed in Florida.
Without this letter, you may have to pay pet fees and worry about other issues with landlords, especially in competitive housing environments in cities like Tampa or Miami.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is a unique companion animal whose purpose is to help someone manage a mental health condition. These animals are assigned to a specific person, and they’re usually someone’s pet before being elevated to this role.
While ESAs are still usually treated as pets in public spaces and on airlines, they do have some protections in housing. This is because ESAs are protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which prevents landlords from discriminating against people who have them. In fact, landlords can’t even charge pet fees. The only exception is if your ESA is harming people, damaging property, or causing other issues.
What Is an ESA Letter: Florida?
An ESA letter in Florida is like an ESA letter in any other state. It’s a letter that’s prescribed by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) who maintains a therapeutic relationship with someone. In order for the letter to be valid in Florida, though, it needs to be signed by a LMHP who has a license in Florida. Now, they don’t have to live in Florida, but they do need to have a license from the state.
It’s also important to note that you don’t have to find a therapist down the street from you. If you don’t have insurance for therapy or you want to find a more affordable and hassle-free option, online platforms can connect you with one via telehealth. Depending on your situation, this may be the right move.
Florida ESA Letter Laws
If you want to have an ESA by your side in Florida, it helps to understand how Florida ESA law handles these support animals; this Florida ESA law guide covers it all. The good news is that there are three main areas you have to understand, and these areas are housing, public access, and travel laws. Learn more about these laws below.
ESA Housing Laws in Florida
When it comes to housing laws for ESAs in Florida, we’ve already touched on them briefly. In Florida, housing for ESAs is handled by the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This act allows you to live with an ESA without having to worry about pet fees or pet restrictions. Of course, you’ll need a valid ESA letter to enjoy these benefits, and if your ESA isn’t well-behaved, landlords can take action.
ESA Travel Laws in Florida
In the past, you used to be able to travel with an ESA letter. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case because the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) no longer protects emotional support animals. Instead, the act only protects service animals. Thankfully, if you qualify for an ESA letter in Florida, there’s a good chance that you’ll qualify for a psychiatric service dog (PSD). Depending on the airline, you may be able to pay a pet fee and bring your pet with you if you have a carrier.
ESA Public Access Laws in Florida
Last but not least, you have public access laws for ESAs in Florida. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to write about these laws because they don’t exist. The only time you’ll be able to bring an ESA with you in public is if the space is pet-friendly. If you find you need support in public places, you may want to consider a psychiatric service dog over an ESA.
ESA Letter Florida: Our Final Thoughts
When you need an ESA letter, Florida is a state that makes the process simple. Still, you need to ensure that you get a letter from a LMHP who’s licensed in the state of Florida. The relationship also needs to be therapeutic, and you need to follow Florida ESA laws, or you can end up paying fines and pet fees. In fact, if you end up with an ESA letter that’s not legitimate, you can end up being evicted.
With a valid ESA letter in hand, you should not face any housing obstacles with your ESA.
