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In Ohio, it's important to be aware of the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act as they pertain to emotional support animal laws. These regulations safeguard individuals with disabilities from discrimination in housing and air travel, allowing ESA owners to reside with their crucial support animals under the provisions of the Fair Housing Act.
What is an emotional support animal? — An emotional support animal provides a comforting presence that mitigates the effects of an emotional or mental disability.
Are ESAs considered pets in Ohio? — No. Ohio law regards ESAs as assistance animals, not pets.
How do I get an ESA Letter in Ohio? — Using Pettable's online service is the easiest way to get an ESA letter in Ohio.
Do landlords in Ohio have to accept ESAs? — Yes. Federal fair housing laws exempt assistance animals like ESAs from pet-related restrictions.
Pets are unique members of the family. Many studies show that pets can prevent loneliness and improve their owner's well-being and quality of life. But some animals can do even more than that.
Emotional support animals comfort their owners, helping them cope with emotional or mental disabilities. ESAs are crucial to a person with a disability that the US government recognizes as assistance animals.
An assistance animal has certain protections under federal law. Specifically, the government requires housing providers to allow tenants to keep their assistance animals in their homes, despite restrictions on pets. That means you can keep your emotional support animal in your home in Ohio.
Where else can you take your emotional support animal? And what sort of documentation do you need to show that your animal is an ESA, not a pet? Learn more about emotional support animal laws and how to get an official ESA Letter.
Ohio ESA Laws - What to Know in 2025
In 2025, Ohio follows federal guidelines for emotional support animals (ESAs), offering protections primarily for housing under the Fair Housing Act, which requires landlords to accommodate ESAs even in no-pet properties. However, ESAs do not have public access rights like service animals, meaning they are not allowed in places like restaurants or stores without the business's approval. Employers are not required to allow ESAs at work, though some may make exceptions. To qualify for ESA protections in Ohio, individuals must obtain a legitimate ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional.
ESA Housing Laws in Ohio
The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) applies in Ohio and the US. This law prohibits housing providers from discriminating against individuals based on protected criteria, including race, color, familial status, sex, religion, national origin, and disability.
Under the FHA, landlords can't refuse to rent to an individual because of their disability. The housing provider must make reasonable accommodations for the individual, including allowing them to keep a service animal or assistance animal in their home regardless of pet restrictions.
Both national and state laws distinguish between pets and working animals. In the Ohio administrative code, emotional support animals and service animals fall into the legal category of "animal assistants." State protections for animal assistants (including ESAs) mirror those in the Fair Housing Act.
Landlords must accommodate emotional support animals, and they can't charge pet deposits or fees. However, the law allows a landlord to require documentation to prove that a tenant has an animal assistant, not a pet. Suppose your landlord asks for proof that you have an emotional support animal. In that case, you must provide a legitimate ESA Letter for housing written and signed by a licensed mental health provider (LMHP).
Housing providers do not have to permit service animals if the animal's presence displays impulsive or destructive behaviors or if the animal is a direct threat to the health and safety of others.
Public Access & Travel Rights for ESA Owners in Ohio
Public access and travel rights for emotional support animals are extremely restricted in the State of Ohio and much of the United States. Generally, ESAs are not permitted in public spaces where normal pets are not allowed, unlike service animals which are provided extensive public acess rights due to their specialized training.
ESA Travel Rights in Ohio
Emotional support animals are not granted any special rights when it comes to travel in Ohio. Whether it's a train, bus, or airplane emotional support animals will generally be treated as pets, leaving them subject to additional fees or restrictions. At one point, emotional support animals were permitted access to air travel but due to abuse of the system and complaints from airlines the law as changed in 2021.
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) protects the rights of individuals with disabilities to fly with their service animals, including emotional support animals (ESAs). However, in 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation updated the ACAA, stating that airlines are no longer required to treat ESAs as service animals. As a result, ESAs are now considered pets, subject to the airline's pet policies, including fees and restrictions. For people with ESAs in Ohio, this means that they no longer have the automatic right to fly with their ESA for free or without restrictions. Instead, passengers must comply with the specific airline's pet rules, which may include additional fees or requirements.
Ohio ESA Public Access Laws
In Ohio, emotional support animals (ESAs) do not have the same public access rights as service animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects service animals, granting them access to public places like restaurants, stores, hotels, and public transportation. However, ESAs are not automatically allowed in these spaces because they do not meet the legal definition of a service animal. This means that an ESA is excluded from entering places like shopping malls, museums, theaters, or on public transportation, regardless of whether the animal provides support for its owner’s mental health needs. Business owners and service providers are not required to accommodate ESAs in these public settings.
Despite these restrictions, people with ESAs can still take their animals to certain pet-friendly locations. Many hotels, parks, and outdoor spaces allow pets, and some establishments may permit ESAs with prior approval or special arrangements. There are also a growing number of businesses that cater to pet owners and are more likely to be ESA-friendly. However, access will depend on each business's specific policies, so it's important for ESA owners to confirm their animal's access rights before visiting. This makes it essential to always check ahead, as public access for ESAs is more limited compared to service animals.
Examples of Pet Friendly Locations in Ohio to Take Your ESA
Although ESAs are not permitted in many businesses or public places, there are some areas where pets are permitted in Ohio that you could take your ESA to if you crave some time out of the house with your emotional support animal:
Petco and PetSmart These pet store chains are typically ESA-friendly, allowing owners to bring their animals inside, provided the pet is under control. They also offer services like grooming and training, making them convenient spots for ESA owners. (Check with your local store for specifics.)
Home Depot Many Home Depot locations are known to be pet-friendly, allowing ESAs to accompany their owners. While this is not a nationwide guarantee, many stores in Ohio will permit pets inside, especially in outdoor and gardening areas.
The Ohio State University Campus OSU has a pet-friendly campus policy that allows ESAs to accompany students and staff in certain areas. This includes outdoor spaces like campus gardens and some academic buildings, subject to individual department policies.
Cleveland Metroparks Many parks within the Cleveland Metroparks system, such as the Edgewater Park, allow pets and ESAs to accompany visitors on trails and open spaces, offering a great outdoor experience for both owners and animals.
Columbus Commons This downtown park in Columbus hosts pet-friendly events and offers open spaces where ESAs can enjoy time with their owners. It’s a great place to take your ESA for a walk or to participate in pet-friendly events.
Additional Ohio Pet Laws that are Important for ESA Owners
As an ESA owner, it's important to remember you need to adhere to most standard pet regulations as well as ESA specific laws. Here's a handy list of local ordinances to consider if you are adopting a new ESA:
1. Dog Licensing - Ohio law requires all dogs over three months of age to be licensed annually with the local county auditor. Licensing helps reunite lost pets with owners and supports animal control efforts. Failure to license can result in penalties. Ohio Department of Agriculture
2. Leash Laws -Dogs must be kept under reasonable control at all times. While a leash is not mandatory unless specified, owners are responsible for ensuring their dogs do not cause a nuisance or danger. Ohio Revised Code - Section 955.22
3. Barking and Noise Ordinances - Excessive barking or howling that disrupts the peace can lead to complaints and potential fines. For instance, in Akron, a dog that barks for more than 10 minutes between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or more than 20 minutes during the day, may be considered a nuisance. City of Akron Code
4. Pet Waste Removal - Pet owners are required to promptly remove their pet's waste from public and private properties. Failure to do so can result in fines and contributes to environmental concerns. Ohio Revised Code - Section 951.02
5. Dangerous Dog Regulations - Ohio law defines "dangerous dogs" and imposes stricter confinement and control measures for such animals. Owners must ensure these dogs are securely confined or restrained to prevent harm to others. Ohio Revised Code - Section 955.11
How to Get a Legitimate ESA Letter in Ohio
An ESA letter proves that you have an assistance animal eligible for housing protections under the FHA. With Pettable, you can get your ESA Letter online if you meet the eligibility requirements.
1. Complete Our Assessment
Start by taking our online questionnaire to help us understand your situation and determine if you're a good candidate for an ESA. Once that's done, you can select the type of ESA Letter you need: housing, travel, or both.
2. Consult With a Therapist
We'll email you some consent forms to sign, and once you return them, you'll get a link to schedule a telehealth consultation with a licensed mental health professional. They'll evaluate you to determine if you have a mental or emotional condition that qualifies for an ESA.
3. Get your Emotional Support Animal Letter
If you meet the eligibility requirements for an emotional support animal, your licensed mental health professional will write an official letter for you. With rush service, you can get your letter within 24 hours (California residents excluded).
At Pettable, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a full refund if your letter doesn't work as intended.
If your ESA Letter does not work for you, we will refund 100% of your payment.
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
Emotional support animals include dogs, cats, and other animals that help their owners cope with mental conditions. ESAs don't help their owners by performing specific tasks. Instead, they offer comfort and unconditional love that mitigates the effects of a mental or emotional condition. Emotional support animals can help with many different issues:
Depression
Agoraphobia
Social anxiety
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Panic disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Any animal can be an ESA. While dogs and cats are the most common, there are also ESA turtles, birds, hamsters, fish, reptiles, and goats.
What is a Service Animal?
A service animal isn't the same as an emotional support animal. A service animal performs specific tasks directly related to its owner's physical or mental impairment. A typical example of a service animal is a guide dog, but service animals can perform many other tasks:
Alerting a deaf person
Reminding their owner to take medication for a mental illness
Protecting an individual from harm during a seizure
Turning on the lights in a room before an individual with PTSD enters
Service animals can be trained to perform these tasks by anyone, so you may opt to self-train your service animal. Our on-demand online PSD training program was created to help you train your dog as a psychiatric service dog. The program is presented in the form of online video lessons guided by a qualified professional dog trainer. Throughout the course, you will learn how to train your dog for the necessary tasks and teach them how to properly behave in public. If you are interested in this product take our online assessment to get started.
Difference Between an Emotional Support Animal and a Service Animal
Essentially, two things distinguish service animals from emotional support animals: species and training. There aren't restrictions on what kind of animal can be an ESA; any animal qualifies. However, only dogs and miniature horses can be service animals, as long as they are individually trained to perform tasks relating to a person's physical disability or even emotional and mental health issues.
Emotional support animals don't need to do tasks for their owners like service animals. While it's wise to ensure your ESA is potty trained and well-behaved in public, you don't have to do additional training. Service animals need special training to perform tasks. A service animal's work must directly relate to its owner's disability.
Service animals qualify due to their specific training and the way the animal poses as physical support. Service animals, like service dogs, can help with their disabilities, as well as mental health issues and mental and emotional support.
Are you still confused about the rules and regulations for emotional support animals? Check out these answers to common questions about ESAs.
Do I need to register my emotional support animal in Ohio?
No, registration is not required for emotional support animals or service animals in Ohio, and no official registry exists. Registering your emotional support animal with any organization offers no legal protection, and can be turned away by a landlord. An official document from a healthcare professional (ESA letter) is the only requirement.
Do I have to tell my landlord I have an ESA in Ohio?
Yes. To request FHA accommodation for your emotional support animal, you need to inform your landlord that you have an ESA and provide a letter for housing for legal access.
Can a landlord deny an emotional support animal in Ohio?
Not usually. The FHA requires landlords to accommodate an ESA unless the animal threatens the health and safety of other residents, causes property damage, or creates an "undue financial and administrative burden."
When do I tell my landlord about my ESA in Ohio?
You must tell your landlord about your ESA if you want to avoid pet restrictions, deposits, and fees. When you request, your landlord can ask for documentation, so have your letter ready.
Can a landlord in Ohio charge a fee for an emotional support animal?
No. Animal assistants (including ESAs) aren't pets, so pet fees don't apply to them. However, you must pay for any damage your emotional support animal causes.
Can you have more than one ESA in Ohio?
Yes. There isn't a limit on the number of emotional support animals you can have as long as you have documentation for each one.
What restrictions can my landlord place on my emotional support animal in Ohio?
A landlord can deny a request for an ESA that would cause a "fundamental change" to the nature of their business. For example, a landlord could deny your request to build an outdoor shelter for an emotional support pig.
Susana is an avid animal lover and has been around animals her entire life, and has volunteered at several different animal shelters in Southern California. She has a loving family at home that consists of her husband, son, two dogs, and one cat. She enjoys trying new Italian recipes, playing piano, making pottery, and outdoor hiking with her family and dogs in her spare time.
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