ESA Letters for Virginia Residents

Legally valid ESA letters compliant with Virginia state law. Speak to a licensed therapist today.

This is some text inside of a div block.
  • Licensed Virginia professionals
  • AB 468 Law Compliant
  • Fast Digital Delivery
Full refund if your letter doesn’t work.
4.9 stars
Trusted by 300,000+ customers
FREE PRE-SCREENING
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters for California Residents
An ESA letter guarantees your pet will always be welcome in your home
Get Your Official Letter
4.9 stars
Trusted by 300,000+ customers
mb
I am in California so the law here is a little different with a 30 day period and 2 therapy sessions but it was extremely worth it
January 23, 2025
mb
I am in California so the law here is a little different with a 30 day period and 2 therapy sessions but it was extremely worth it
January 23, 2025
DL
As California becomes less ESA friendly, this really helped me keep my EAS pets.
January 23, 2025
GC
Thank you Pettable I appreciate the smooth process and quick response. You guys are awesome.
January 23, 2025
FREE PRE-SCREENING
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters for Texas Residents
An ESA letter guarantees your pet will always be welcome in your home
Get Your Official Letter
4.9 stars
Trusted by 300,000+ customers
Very easy thorough process. Kya Miller, LICSW, LCSW was very helpful. I would recommend the services of Pettable to anyone!
May 19, 2025 - Texas
The process was very simple and the people are very kind and understanding
May 16, 2025 - Texas
Received my call on time, had a forthright conversation with a licensed clinician and received my ESA letter within 24 hours. Straightforward process.
May 06, 2025 - Texas

Pettable is Fully Compliant with Virginia Law.

Our licensed Virginia clinicians adhere strictly to both State & Federal law, ensuring your ESA letter is valid and recognized statewide.

Learn more about Virginia ESA laws
Cassy,
Cat Parent
Verified Pettable Customer
An image of 5 stars

"I would give my experience 10000/5 stars! I have already recommended your company to another friend. It was a straightforward no gimmicks service, and the doctor was genuinely concerned.

My new rescue cat Marston really appreciates that he is able to live with me now!

Cruz,
Dog Parent
Verified Pettable Customer
An image of 5 stars

"I would definitely say a 5/5 star rating! It was the best service I have ever received. They were quick, and knew what was needed for the time being!"

Aaron,
Cat Parent
Verified Pettable Customer
An image of 5 stars

"They are five stars all the way! The site helped set me up with a professional therapist, who is licensed in my state. It was very easy to setup calls or opportunities to communicate with them that worked for both of us.

Most of all they allowed me to keep my cats Mew and Espurr. ā€œ

Verified Pettable Customer
An image of 5 stars

Verified Pettable Customer
An image of 5 stars

Verified Pettable Customer
An image of 5 stars

Read More Reviews →

How to obtain your ESA letter in Virginia.

Take our 3-minute assessment
Answer a few questions about your ESA needs.
Consult with a California-Licensed Therapist.
We’ll match you with a professional in your area.
Receive your ESA Letter
Get your letter within 24-48 hours after approval.
Take our 3-minute assessment
Answer a few questions about your ESA needs.
Consult with a California-Licensed Therapist.
We’ll match you with a professional in your area.
Have a second consultation after 30 days.
Receive your ESA Letter
If approved, get your ESA letter within 24-48 hours after your second consultation.
Choose your city
Don’t see your city! No worries! We’re able to serve all cities in Virginia.
No items found.

Why choose an ESA in Virginia?

Virginia law supports the use of Emotional Support Animals for individuals with mental or emotional disablities. With a valid ESA letter you can.

  • Live in housing with ā€œno petsā€ policies without additional fees.
  • Have your ESA recognized as part of your mental health treatment.
  • Benefit from protections under the Fair Housing Act.

How to Get an ESA Letter in Virginia Online

Getting an emotional support animal (ESA) letter online is a straightforward process for Virginia residents, especially with the help of Pettable. You can start by taking our online ESA letter assessment to determine your eligibility; the easy questionnaire only takes a few minutes, so you won’t waste a moment. Next, you’ll need to consult with a licensed mental health professional (LMPH) who is certified in Virginia; this could be your own licensed therapist or an LMHP from Pettable’s network of professionals certified by your state.

Emotional Support Animal Laws in Virginia

Virginia emotional support animal laws largely mirror those at the federal level. The state is also quite pet-friendly and even has many laws in place to prevent animal cruelty. In addition, an individual in Virginia could face hefty fines for misrepresenting an animal as an assistance animal when it is not.Ā 

Below, we'll cover specifics on Virginia's ESA laws for public access, travel, work environment, and housing. This information will give you additional insight into the rights, protections, and benefits available to you as the owner of an emotional support animal in Virginia.

Emotional Support Animals in Virginia

In Virginia, and the rest of the U.S., an emotional support animal is defined as any domesticated animal that helps alleviate the symptoms of an individual’s mental health disorder by providing affection, attention, and companionship. The comfort and support they provide for their owners can ease some of the effects of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health challenges.

Unlike physical or psychiatric service dogs (PSDs), ESAs are not recognized as working animals and are not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, they still have some rights when it comes to housing accommodations thanks to the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), and for Virginians, there are regulations specific to the commonwealth that support disabled individuals and their ESAs.

Virginia Emotional Support Animal Travel Laws

When it comes to air travel, Virginia doesn’t have any specific legislation to protect ESAs, relying on the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to define how different assistance animals are allowed to fly with their owners. While most service dogs are allowed to accompany their owners in the cabin during flights, ESAs are not automatically granted the same guarantee. It’s up to individual air carriers to determine if an ESA can travel in the cabin and to define their own rules and requirements.Ā 

While they are not required to honor an ESA letter, some airlines may make exceptions; otherwise, ESAs are considered pets and must adhere to the carrier's pet travel rules.

Virginia Fair Housing Act and Employment

Thanks to the Virginia Fair Housing Act (and the federal FHA), landlords, property managers, and housing administrators must allow ESAs and service dogs to live with disabled individuals regardless of any ā€œno petā€ policies. These tenants are also exempt from any fees that would be charged for standard pets.Ā 

However, when it comes to employment, companies are not required to allow assistance animals in the workplace. While the ADA mandates that employers must provide reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals, any ESA or service dog is subject to employers’ assistance animal policies. However, an ESA letter may help you persuade your employer to allow your ESA to accompany you in their space, as long as it doesn’t pose a threat to your coworkers or cause hardship for the business.

An image of a woman and her dog

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

To qualify for an ESA in Virginia, you must be officially diagnosed with a mental health disability that is alleviated by the comfort, companionship, or affection of your assistance animal. Applicable mental health conditions include:

  • Depression
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Anxiety or panic disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Schizophrenia
  • Autism

The diagnosis of your disability must come from a health professional who is specifically licensed in Virginia, who has consulted with you, evaluated your condition, and determined that you would benefit from having an ESA. In many cases, a legitimate ESA letter is required to verify your needs in the Commonwealth, but you are not required to register your assistance animal.

Get your official ESA Letter
An image of an arrow

Benefits of an Emotional Support Animal for Virginia Residents

You Can Live Anywhere With Your ESA

When you have an ESA letter, Virginia housing providers must allow emotional service animals to live with their owners without any fees, even if they have a ā€œno petsā€ policy. No matter where you move, your beloved assistance animal can stay by your side.

They Provide Companionship

For many people living with mental health struggles, loneliness can be a chronic condition that negatively affects their overall health. The companionship of an ESA is often a natural way to relieve loneliness and promote an active lifestyle.Ā 

They Support Your Mental Health

Many mental health conditions can be relieved in some part by an ESA, especially for animal lovers. ESAs can provide comfort and affection that relieves anxiety or depression or reduces the stress levels associated with PTSD. Whether it’s a furry friend or a cold-blooded companion, an ESA can be a crucial component of ongoing treatment, as well.

How to Get a Psychiatric Service Dog in Virginia

To get a psychiatric service dog in Virginia, you’ll need to get diagnosed with a mental health disorder by a Virginia-certified LMHP, who can issue you a PSD letter. However, you also need to train your service dog to perform specific tasks that benefit your disorder. Pettable’s online PSD training program is a great way to train your PSD from home at a pace that fits your needs. We’re your one-stop shop for everything PSD and ESA-related in the Old Dominion state.

An image of a woman and her dog
Get your official ESA Letter
An image of an arrow

Why Pettable is the Best Online ESA Provider in Virginia

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 experienced mental health professionals in the ESA 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 and a commitment to making sure you have an incredible experience.Ā 

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

Money Back
Guarantee*
Live
Consultations
Transparent
Team
Reviews

How to Get an ESA Letter in Virginia Online

Getting an emotional support animal (ESA) letter online is a straightforward process for Virginia residents, especially with the help of Pettable. You can start by taking our online ESA letter assessment to determine your eligibility; the easy questionnaire only takes a few minutes, so you won’t waste a moment. Next, you’ll need to consult with a licensed mental health professional (LMPH) who is certified in Virginia; this could be your own licensed therapist or an LMHP from Pettable’s network of professionals certified by your state.

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 yourĀ 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 IĀ get my ESAĀ 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 ESAĀ Letter let me do?
How does the Money Back Guarantee work?
Are there scams out there I need to be aware of?