Florida · ESA Letter
Florida ESA Housing Accommodation Request
Florida residents with emotional support animals have both federal FHA rights and state protection under the Florida Fair Housing Act (§ 760.23). Florida enacted a specific ESA law in 2020 (§ 760.27) that: (1) creates a process for landlords to verify ESA letters, (2) makes fraudulent misrepresentation of an ESA a second-degree misdemeanor, and (3) clarifies what a valid ESA healthcare provider letter must include, legitimizing the process for genuine ESA holders.
Florida's 2020 ESA law (§ 760.27) created a process to verify ESA letters and made it a second-degree misdemeanor to fraudulently misrepresent an ESA, protecting legitimate ESA holders from increased scrutiny.
Governing law
42 U.S.C. § 3604 (FHA) + Fla. Stat. § 760.23 (Florida Fair Housing Act) + Fla. Stat. § 760.27 (ESA fraud law, 2020)
Start Your Florida ESA Housing Letter
Cites 42 U.S.C. § 3604 (FHA) + Fla. Stat. § 760.23 (Florida Fair Housing Act) + Fla. Stat. § 760.27 (ESA fraud law, 2020). Formatted for USPS Certified Mail. Instant PDF.
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Florida ESA Letter FAQs
What does a valid ESA letter look like in Florida?▾
Under Fla. Stat. § 760.27, a valid Florida ESA letter must be from a healthcare practitioner with an established patient relationship, include the practitioner's license number and state, and describe the patient's disability-related need for the ESA. Letters from online services that don't involve an actual clinical relationship are invalid under Florida law.
Can my Florida landlord deny my ESA?▾
A landlord can deny an ESA if the specific animal poses a direct threat that cannot be mitigated, if the ESA letter is fraudulent or from a non-established clinical relationship, or if the animal would cause substantial property damage. Denials for blanket no-pet policies or breed/weight restrictions are not valid reasons under the FHA or Florida FHA.
Can a Florida landlord charge a pet deposit for my ESA?▾
No. A valid ESA request under the FHA and Florida FHA means the animal is not treated as a pet. Pet deposits, additional security deposits, and monthly pet fees are prohibited for a verified ESA. Landlords who charge these fees are violating fair housing law.
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