Emotional support animals in California

California requires that an ESA letter come from a licensed professional who has had a relationship with you for at least 30 days and has completed a clinical evaluation. A registration card is not documentation in California, or anywhere.

What the law says here

Emotional support animals are protected in housing under the federal Fair Housing Act. They are not service animals and do not have public-access rights, and U.S. airlines are no longer required to accept them in the cabin.

California law (Health & Safety Code §122318) requires that a licensed mental health professional establish a client-provider relationship with you for at least 30 days before providing emotional support animal documentation.

California law requires us to tell you that an emotional support animal is not a service animal, that misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is a misdemeanor, and that an emotional support animal is not entitled to the public-access rights and privileges of a service animal.

Where a registration card fits

Our card and certificate are convenience items for everyday situations: a doorman, a walker, a neighbor. They carry a registration number anyone can check on our verification page. They do not establish a disability or a need for an accommodation, and a California housing provider is not required to accept them in place of a letter. If you need housing protection, get a letter from a licensed professional.

What a California housing provider may ask

If your disability isn't obvious, they may ask for reliable documentation from a licensed professional that you have a disability and a disability-related need for the animal. They may not ask for your diagnosis or medical records, and may not charge pet rent or a pet deposit for an approved assistance animal.

Sources

42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B); HUD FHEO Notice FHEO-2020-01
Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 122317–122319 (AB 468, 2021)

General information, not legal advice. Laws change; we update this page when they do.