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Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters for Florida Residents

An ESA letter guarantees your pet will always be welcome in your home
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How To Get An ESA Letter In Florida Online

The most effective way to figure out if you are eligible for an emotional support animal is to have a consultation with a qualified mental health professional who is licensed in your state. At Pettable we facilitate these consultations by connecting you with someone for a telehealth consultation via phone, which is easy and extremely convenient. This eliminates the challenge of having to see a clinician in person physically and avoids long lines. Connect with experienced mental health professionals from the comfort of your own home to find out if you qualify for an ESA in Florida.

After undergoing a clinical evaluation and meeting your licensed mental health professional, if they determine you can benefit from an ESA, they will write an ESA letter for housing, travel, or a combination of both. In certain circumstances, you can request to receive your letter within 24 hours of your consultation.

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Our fast and simple process:

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3-minute assessment

Answer a few questions about your ESA needs

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Consult with a therapist

We'll match you to a professional in your state

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Get your ESA letter

Receive it within 24 hours of getting approved *

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We'll help with any extra forms you need signed and our therapists are available to talk to your landlord anytime, for an additional fee.

* 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.

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If your ESA Letter is not approved, we will refund 100% of your payment.

Emotional Support Animals In Florida

Anyone with a mental or emotional disability is eligible to get an ESA in Florida.

Florida recognizes the difficulties of having a mental or emotional disability. Due to this recognition, Florida supports and endorses the use of emotional support animals as a part of someone's mental health treatment.

There is no official ESA registration process in any state, including Florida. The only way to legally recognize an emotional support animal is to obtain an ESA letter from a mental health professional licensed in Florida or whichever state you seek accommodations in. Emotional support animals are welcomed into most housing situations, some airlines, and public areas where pets are allowed. 

That said, for people who need and depend on ESAs, Florida has friendly policies, laws, and approaches toward emotional support animals. The best way to find out if you qualify for an emotional support animal in Florida is to connect with a mental health professional licensed in Florida.

Emotional Support Animal Laws in Florida

In Florida, you need to know about a couple of important federal laws that govern emotional support animals. The two laws that you need to know are the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act.

The Fair Housing Act (or FHA) is a law that protects individuals with mental or physical disabilities from discrimination in housing accommodations. The FHA provides protections for those who need emotional support animals to aid their mental health condition. Under the Fair Housing Act, anyone with a mental or emotional condition that is alleviated by the presence of an emotional support animal is entitled to keep their ESA in their home. The only stipulation is that these individuals must have their disability recorded by a licensed mental health professional and receive written proof that their ESA helps with their condition (an ESA letter). Landlords who receive an ESA letter must provide reasonable accommodation for the tenant and their emotional support animal.

The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) dictates whether service animals and emotional support animals are allowed onto flights. Emotional support animals used to be protected under this law and would fly for free, but that changed in 2021. Emotional support animal owners are now required to pay a fee and travel with their animals as if they were a standard pet. Psychiatric service dogs are still protected under the ACAA however, and must be accepted free of charge by all airlines.

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Florida's Fair Housing & Employment Act

Florida's regulation on this can be a bit confusing, but ultimately it appears that employers can determine whether or not to allow emotional support animals into the workplace. 

Florida has no specific ESA housing or employment laws, but the state follows federal regulations outlined under the FHA and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the 2022 Florida Statutes, discrimination is prohibited in housing provided to persons with a disability or disability-related need for an emotional support animal. According to the ADA, employers are only required to allow service animals, and emotional support animals lack the same protection. 

That said, employers are also not allowed to discriminate based on a disability. If having your emotional support animal with you is critical to your ability to function within your workplace, we recommend chatting with your HR team about it to see if they can make a reasonable accommodation. An ESA letter can help show why having your support animal is necessary for your mental or emotional help.

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Florida Emotional Support Animal Registration and Certification Myths

When it comes to emotional support animals (ESAs), there are some prevalent myths to dispel about registration and documentation. There are no Florida or federal laws that require an ESA to be added to a registry of any kind, and there is no governmental certification needed for an assistance animal of any type. All you need is a Florida-certified LMHP to diagnose your condition and write you an official ESA letter; it simply provides medical verification for anyone whose disability is not readily apparent.

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How Do You Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal in Florida?

To qualify for an ESA in the Sunshine State, you must be diagnosed with a mental health condition that is relieved in some way by having this type of assistance animal in your rental home. Qualifying conditions include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • PTSD
  • ADHD
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Phobias

The easiest way to find out if you qualify is by working with a telehealth marketplace like Pettable. What's great about the process is we can connect you to professionals in your state who have extensive experience conducting mental health evaluations for support animals.

They will closely work with you and determine your needs, and in particular circumstances, you may qualify for and receive your ESA letter within 24 hours of the consultation.

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Benefits of an Emotional Support Animal for Florida Residents

They Provide a Healthy Routine

When you have an ESA to care for, it can create a reliable routine for you to follow every day, which can have a stabilizing effect on many mental health conditions. Whether it’s a daily dog walk or scheduled snake feeding, these responsibilities can also boost your confidence.

They Provide Companionship and Support

Loneliness is common for many people suffering from a mental health disorder, especially if they live alone. An ESA can be the perfect roommate, providing well-needed affection and bringing joy with their sheer presence.

ESAs are Exempt from Pet Fees, Rent, and Deposits in Florida

The biggest bonus associated with owning an ESA is the money you could save. In Florida, anyone with an ESA letter is exempt from pet rent, deposits, or fees for their support animal. Consider it your ESA’s way of contributing to your rent.

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How To Get a Psychiatric Service Dog Letter in Florida

Psychiatric service dogs (PSD) and ESAs share many similarities. Still, the former must have the training to complete a specific task for their handler, like retrieving medication or performing some act during anxiety attacks. 

Despite the assistance animals' differences from each other, the qualifying conditions to obtain a letter are remarkably similar. These conditions include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD, bipolar disorder, phobias, and PTSD. 

If you think you need more assistance and want to get a psychiatric service dog (PSD) in Florida, Pettable can help. Just take our quick assessment and we’ll connect you to a mental health practitioner licensed specifically in the Sunshine State. Once the LMHP diagnoses your mental health disorder, you can move on to the most important step: training. Pettable’s online PSD training program will give your dog all the tools it needs to perform tasks that specifically aid your disorder. We’ll also issue your official PSD letter, which while optional, can give you added peace of mind. Contact us today to get started!

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Why Choose Pettable?

Pettable boasts a robust network of seasoned mental health experts ready to assist you no matter where you are. They can furnish you with an ESA letter that holds validity both within and beyond your home state. Whether it's addressing inquiries from a landlord or a travel organization demanding additional documentation, your dedicated Pettable mental health specialist has your back. Wherever you're located, Pettable's legal team stands by to provide unwavering support.

1. Rest Assured with Our Effective Letters

We firmly believe that you shouldn't have to second-guess the efficacy of your letter. That's why, at Pettable, we back our services with a satisfaction guarantee – if your letter doesn't work, you'll get your money back.

2. Top-tier Mental Health Professionals

Our elite team of mental health professionals is primed to craft an ESA Letter prescription that's a surefire solution for wherever you live.

3. Unmatched Customer Support

We understand that navigating the approval process for your furry companion's travel or housing can be nerve-wracking. That's why we invest substantially in our team of dedicated support specialists to ensure your needs are met and your worries are eased.

4. Licensed Across All 50 States

Our expansive network of mental health professionals spans the entire nation, and we have a robust team to ensure we can meet any timeline with ease.

5. Premier Legal Support

We're here to ensure your housing and travel requirements are met without any hassle. Our legal team is fully committed to having your back whenever the need arises.

6. Human Connection and Thorough Evaluations

To ensure the effectiveness of your letter, it's important to have a live consultation with a mental health professional. At Pettable, we ensure that our clinicians adhere to HUD standards and conduct thorough phone consultations to truly understand you and your mental health situation.

Why Pettable?


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.

Why Pettable Is The Best Online ESA Provider?

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.

We broke down the different services offered by every ESA service. And we looked for unbiased reviews from 3rd party sites.

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Reviews

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Verified Reviews: 4.8/5
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Trust Pilot: 4.7/5
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Facebook: 4.6/5
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What our pet parents are saying

Verified customers. Real reviews.
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I had an incredible experience with Pettable. I had just moved and was looking for a new therapist, but knew an ESA would really help me with the transition, so I came to Pettable to get documentation so I didn’t have to wait months to get approval from my landlord to bring a pet home. The process was straightforward, timely, and made me feel so valid in my journey. Now I am raising a puppy and never been happier and healthier! I can’t recommend Pettable enough! 
“The process was straightforward, timely, and made me feel so valid in my journey.
Maddee W. Dog parent
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5.0
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My pup provides relief in stressful situations, particularly when I'm away on necessary travel. Pettable was an amazing resource, connecting me with a therapist who listened to my situation and provided advice above and beyond. I could hear Rhiana's compassion over our call and appreciated her patience. Grateful for this service!"
“I could hear Rhiana's compassion over our call and appreciated her patience.
Austin K. Dog parent
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5.0
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You were very attentive and I’m very satisfied with the provider I was assigned with, thank you again for helping relieve the stress of not being able to take my furry baby to our new home."
“Thank you again for helping relieve the stress.
Lauren M. Cat parent
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5.0
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Meet Our Top Licensed Clinicians

Jennifer Bronsnick

MSW, LCSW

Jennifer Bronsnick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Anxiety Treatment Specialist, & Heartmath Certified Trainer. She provides customized workshops and trainings to working professionals and teams to help build resilience and reduce stress with practical strategies.

Emilie Kay

MSW, LCSW

I graduated with a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before obtaining my Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2021. I have eight years of experience in the mental health field working in and with various populations, including case management, intake coordination, and residential, inpatient, and outpatient programs. I am certified in Brainspotting to help individuals deeply process negative emotions and trauma/significant life events. Additionally, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and safety planning in sessions/groups.

Kassie Claughton

LCSW, Clinical Social Work/Therapist

I offer extensive experience supporting individuals in both outpatient and residential settings in the fields of social work and mental health. I am also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor-II, Substance Abuse Professional, Certified First Responder Counselor, and Board-Certified Telemental Health Provider.

Marvy Beckman

LCSW

As a clinical social worker, I have been able to work within multiple types of settings, such as hospitals, community centers, and family welfare. I enjoy having the clinical and administrative experience to holistically serve those I work with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Emotional Support Animal Overview
What would count as an emotional support animal?
How do I know if I qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?
What does the ESA process look like at Pettable?
How do I know my letter will work?
Can you confirm that this is legal?
What makes your ESA Letters legitimate?
What happens if my landlord wants to validate that my letter is legitimate?
How long does the process take from start to finish and how quickly will I get my ESA letter?
If I qualify, how would I go about getting an emotional support animal?
Are there benefits to having an Emotional Support Animal?
What is on your ESA letter?
I'm not familiar with the Fair Housing Act – what is it?
Do I need to renew my ESA letter?
How do your consultations work?
To get an ESA Letter, do I have to talk with a mental health professional?
Would an existing pet qualify as an Emotional Support Animal?
Can I qualify multiple pets with the same ESA letter?
My landlord says I can't keep my pet despite having a legitimate ESA letter. What do I do?
What does an ESA Letter let me do?
How does the Money Back Guarantee work?
Are there scams out there I need to be aware of?
Where are emotional support animals allowed in Florida?

Life feels so much better with an emotional support animal.

At Pettable, we understand at a personal level the positive impact an animal can have on your life.

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