What Is an ESA Letter?

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter is an official document written by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) that certifies a person's need for an emotional support animal as part of their mental health treatment. Unlike service animals, ESAs are not required to perform specific tasks — their presence alone provides therapeutic benefit.

An ESA letter is commonly used to:

• Secure housing accommodations under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), allowing tenants to keep their ESA in no-pet housing or waive pet fees.
• Support travel arrangements by notifying airlines or accommodations of your emotional support needs.
• Document your mental health needs for employers, landlords, or other relevant parties.

A valid ESA letter typically includes:

• The LMHP's license number, type, and state of issuance
• Confirmation of the patient's diagnosis qualifying them for an ESA
• A statement that the ESA is part of the treatment plan
• The date and signature of the LMHP

How to Create Your ESA Letter on Zendocs

Zendocs makes it simple to build a professional ESA letter with no legal background required. Here's how it works:

1. Start the Agreement Wizard — Navigate to the ESA Letter template on Zendocs.com.
2. Answer a few guided questions — The wizard walks you through the relevant details: your name, your animal's information, your therapist's credentials, and other key fields.
3. Get your document instantly — Based on your answers, the Agreement Wizard generates a fully personalized ESA letter with the correct structure and language.
4. Download, print, or share — Export your letter in PDF format, ready to submit to your landlord, airline, or any other party.

No templates to fill in manually. No confusing legal jargon. Just answer the questions and get your document.