ESA letter in Arkansas

How Arkansas ESA Letter works

Book a telehealth evaluation and talk through your symptoms and what your animal does for you. For an emotional support dog, Arkansas requires a client relationship of at least 30 days plus a clinical evaluation, so the signed letter can only follow once that time has passed, unless you are verified as homeless. The clinician must also be licensed where the letter is issued, so ask our care team about this before you book. For animals other than dogs, an approved letter is emailed within 24 hours. If you don't qualify, no letter is issued.

Who it’s for, and who it isn’t

What’s included

• Telehealth evaluation with a licensed clinician
• Signed letter on letterhead with the clinician's license type, number and state, plus the other details Arkansas requires
• $129 for 1 or 2 pets; $199 for 3 or more
• For an emotional support dog, the final letter after the 30-day relationship
• No letter if you don't qualify

Possible side effects

• In Arkansas, presenting an emotional support dog as a service animal is fined $500, then $1,000, then $2,500
• The letter must be renewed after a yearly re-evaluation
• HUD reviews untrained ESAs case by case, so a landlord may still decline

This isn’t a complete list. Your clinician reviews risks, interactions and warnings with you before prescribing. In an emergency, call 911.

What the evidence says

Federally, the Fair Housing Act and 24 CFR 100.204 require reasonable accommodations, and HUD's May 22, 2026 guidance weighs untrained ESAs case by case. Arkansas adds rules about the letter itself: who may write it, after how long, what it must show and how often it is renewed. A letter that meets both sets of rules gives a landlord the clearest picture.

Arkansas rules for emotional support dog letters

• The clinician needs an active license, a client relationship with you of at least 30 days and a completed clinical evaluation (Ark. Code 20-14-1003).
• The letter must list the clinician's license type and number, the jurisdiction that issued it and when it took effect. The clinician must be licensed where the letter is issued.
• The 30-day rule doesn't apply to someone verified as homeless, for example by a local Continuum of Care or homeless services provider.
• Before renewing, the clinician must re-evaluate the need each year, and must tell you that there is a civil penalty for misrepresenting a service animal.

Penalties and business rules

• Presenting an emotional support dog as a service animal: $500 the first time, $1,000 the second and $2,500 for any later violation (Ark. Code 20-14-1004).
• Since 2025, Ark. Code 20-14-1005 allows business owners to bar ESAs, except where the Fair Housing Act or other federal law requires otherwise.

What an Arkansas landlord can and can't ask

If your need isn't obvious, a landlord can ask for reliable documentation, and an Arkansas dog letter should carry the license details listed above. A landlord can't demand your diagnosis or medical records.

If your request is denied in Arkansas

Contact the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission in Little Rock, or file a federal complaint with HUD. Keep copies of your request, your letter and the replies.