The easiest and quickest way to find out if you qualify for an ESA letter in California is to connect with a mental health professional online who is licensed in the state of California and is familiar with California ESA laws. Telemedicine eliminates the hassle of long lines or needing to go physically in person for an evaluation. Connected with experienced mental health professionals from the comfort of your own home to find out if you qualify for an ESA in California.
Answer a few questions about your ESA needs
We'll match you to a professional in your state
Receive it within 24 hours of getting approved*
We'll help with any extra forms you need signed and our therapists are available to talk to your landlord anytime.
*For California residents, effective January 1, 2022, new law AB 468 requires those seeking an ESA letter for dogs to establish a client-provider relationship with the individual for at least 30 days prior to providing documentation, which will result in having two consultations before qualifying.
Getting an emotional support animal in California is available to anyone with a mental or emotional disability.
California recognizes the challenges associated with mental and emotional disabilities and as a result supports and endorses the use of emotional support animals as a component of a person's mental health treatment.
California has friendly policies, laws, and approaches towards emotional support animals. The best way to find out if you qualify for an emotional support animal in California is to connect with a mental health professional licensed in the state of California.
Much of the regulation around emotional support animal is at the federal level and California has adopted many of those federal laws to ensure people with emotional support animals in California are protected by state laws as well.
Below we dive into each aspect of California law pertaining to emotional support animals to help guide you as to your rights and the accompanying benefits associated with having an emotional support animal in California.
For California residents, effective January 1, 2022, new law AB 468, requires those seeking an ESA letter for dogs to establish a client-provider relationship with the individual for at least 30 days prior to providing documentation, which will result in having two consultations before qualifying. The 100% money back guarantee still applies should you not qualify for a letter or if your landlord does not accept it after filing a complaint with HUD.
California legislation has enacted in its own state the federal housing law (which is governed under the Fair Housing Act (FHA)).
This law gives individuals with an emotional support animal the right to live with that animal regardless of any rules or policies enacted by landlords. The reason this law exists is to help support people who suffer from a mental or emotional disability to live with their pet as they are a critical component of their mental health treatment.
California has also adopted regulations that allow individuals to bring their pets to work if they qualify as an emotional support animal.
California is unique in this respect compared to other states as most other places it is at the employer's discretion whether or not an ESA gets accepted.
This state specific law that California has enacted prevents employers from discriminating against the employee based on the disability and must make reasonable efforts to acclimatize a person's emotional support animal in the workplace.
As long as an individual has a valid ESA letter they are protected under California's Fair Housing & Employment Act.
In order to qualify for an emotional support animal in California you need to connect with a mental health professional licensed in the state of California and establish a client-provider relationship for at least 30 days prior to providing documentation.
One of the ways you can do this is through a telehealth marketplace like Pettable, which can connect you to professionals in your state with experience conducting mental health evaluations for support animals.
There are a variety of benefits that come with having an Emotional Support Animal Letter. HUD created these benefits so people with disabilities can always have the support they need. In this case it means ensuring you can always have your pet by your side and includes the following benefits:
The ADA wants to make sure that people that need support are never prevented from accessing the help they need. As a result, buildings, airlines, or other services that charge fees for you to bring your pet with you cannot legally charge you a pet fee if you have an ESA. The reason being is to make sure everyone can always have their pet that needs it.
Emotional Support Animals are protected by HUD. As a result, with a PSD letter you can ensure your pet is always accepted at any housing unit or apartment complex you ever move to. Much like the ADA regulations, HUD wants to ensure that people who need support from their pets can always have access to their treatment, regardless of where they live.
In California, you have the added benefit of being able to bring your pet to work.
AirBnBs recognize emotional support animals as a critical component of someone's mental health treatment. As a result, you can legally bring your pet to any AirBnB regardless of their pet policy.
In March of 2021 the DOT release a new set of rules whereby ESAs are no longer federally protected and airlines are allowed to decide whether or not they accept ESAs. Most domestic carriers have decided that they will no longer accept ESAs. There are still many airlines that will honor an ESA and allow you to bring them in the cabin with you and not pay pet fees (Aeromexico, LATAM, Volaris, Westjet, etc). Please read our article on Which Airlines Allow Emotional Support Animals To Travel To Learn More. Before flying with an ESA we always encourage you to call in order to learn more about an airlines specific policy.
1. We Guarantee Our Letters Will Work For You
We believe you should not have to worry about your letter working or not. That's why at Pettable we offer a satisfaction guarantee - meaning your letter works or you get your money back.
2. World Class Mental Health Professionals
We have built a team of world class mental health professionals who can write you a PSD Letter prescription guaranteed to work anywhere you go.
3. Unparalleled Customer Support
We know getting your animal approved to travel or live with you can be stressful, which is why we invest so much in our team of dedicated support specialists to make sure you are always taken care of and have the support you need!
4. Licensed in all 50 states
Our network of mental health professionals is deep and spans across the entire country. Additionally, we have a deep team of mental health professionals to make sure we can meet any timeline.
5. Best In Class Legal Support
We are here to make sure your housing and travel needs are taken care of so you don't worry. Our legal team is dedicated to having your back should you need it!
6. Human Connection & Legitimate Evaluations
In order for your letter to work you need to have a live consultation with a mental health professional. At Pettable we make sure our clinicians adhered to HUD standards and conduct consultations over the phone to get to know you and your mental health situation well.
Pettable is the best provider because we're committed to making sure the process works for you. That means working with the best and most experience mental health professionals in the psychiatric service dog letter space, as well as providing a guarantee that your letter will work for you. We back all of this up with outstanding customer support, a renowned legal team, and a commitment to making sure you have an increidble experience.
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Bolutife "Bolu", LCSW-S, MPA
Licensed Therapist
Equipped with over 13 years, Bolu has worked with various populations (adolescents, couples, families, and adults), but finds passion in working with the BIPOC community suffering from trauma.
Shaunae, M.S., LPC
Licensed Therapist
I have worked in the mental health field for 10 years with experience across diverse populations and communities. I’m dedicated to ensuring the best care possible.
Michael, LPC, LCDC
Licensed Therapist
I graduated from UT Dallas with my BA in Psychology, University of the Southwest with my MS in counseling, and California Southern University with my PsyD in Psychology, but have been an LPC and LCDC since 2011.
Jasmine, LCMHC
Licensed Therapist
I graduated with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. I completed my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Since graduating, I have been working in private practice.
Rhiana, MA, LPC, LAC
Licensed Professional Counselor
I primarily work with people experiencing homelessness. I began doing emotional support evaluations to increase housing access to all.
Melissa, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. I graduated from the Catholic University's National Catholic School of Social Service with a Master of Social Work.
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