- Price
- $129 for up to 2 pets; $199 for 3 or more
- Delivery
- Emailed within 24 hours after approval
- State law
- 5 M.R.S. 4582-A: no fee or deposit
- Where to complain
- Maine Human Rights Commission
How Maine ESA Letter works
Book a telehealth evaluation with a licensed clinician, who asks about your symptoms and the role your animal plays. If they find the animal necessary for your disability, they sign your letter and it is emailed within 24 hours after approval. If not, no letter is issued.
Who it’s for, and who it isn’t
May be a fit
- Renters in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston or rural Maine with a no-pets lease
- People with a mental health condition whose animal helps them function
- Tenants whose landlord has asked for documentation from a licensed professional
- Households with more than one support animal
Usually not a fit
- Anyone wanting to bring an ESA into shops or restaurants
- Air travel; airlines may treat ESAs as pets
- Anyone seeking a document that misstates their need; false assistance animal papers are fined in Maine
- Anyone under 18
What’s included
- Telehealth evaluation with a licensed clinician
- Signed letter on letterhead with the clinician's license type, number and state
- $129 for 1 or 2 animals; $199 for 3 or more
- Emailed within 24 hours after approval
Possible side effects
- No medical side effects; the risk is relying on the letter outside housing
- A Maine landlord may still refuse a specific animal that is a direct threat or would cause substantial damage or interference
- You remain responsible for damage to the unit or shared areas
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
Under the Fair Housing Act and 24 CFR 100.204, landlords must consider reasonable accommodations, and HUD's May 2026 guidance reviews untrained ESAs case by case. Maine's state rule is firmer than that baseline: 5 M.R.S. 4553 defines assistance animals to include those a licensed professional finds necessary, while 5 M.R.S. 4582-A stops a housing provider from turning such an animal away, or charging for it, except on narrow grounds.
Maine law on assistance animals in housing
- Documentation can come from a range of licensed professionals, among them physicians, physician associates, nurse practitioners, psychologists, licensed professional counselors and licensed social workers
- No fee or deposit may be charged for the animal
- Refusal is limited to cases where the landlord shows that this particular animal poses a direct threat, or would cause substantial damage or substantial interference with other residents
What a Maine landlord can and can't ask
A landlord may ask for documentation from a licensed professional when your need isn't apparent. Concerns must be about the particular animal, not animals in general. You stay responsible for damage to your unit or common areas.
False documents in Maine
Under 17 M.R.S. 1314-A, making or providing false paperwork that labels an animal an assistance animal is a civil violation, fined up to $1,000 per instance.
If your request is denied in Maine
The Maine Human Rights Commission investigates housing discrimination complaints. Federal complaints can go to HUD.
Prescription treatments are available only to eligible patients after a clinical evaluation by an independently licensed clinician.
Maine ESA Letter: common questions
Does Maine law cover emotional support animals?
Yes, though not by that name. The Human Rights Act's assistance animal definition includes animals a licensed professional finds necessary for a mental disability.
Who can write a Maine ESA letter?
Maine's list includes physicians, physician associates, nurse practitioners, psychologists, licensed professional counselors and licensed social workers.
When can a Maine landlord say no?
Only on narrow grounds: the particular animal poses a direct threat, or it would substantially damage property or substantially disrupt other residents.
Can I be charged a pet deposit in Maine?
No. 5 M.R.S. 4582-A bars fees and deposits for an assistance animal.
What does the letter cost?
$129 for one or two pets and $199 for three or more.
Sources
We cite government agencies, professional societies and peer-reviewed research. See our editorial policy.
- 5 M.R.S. § 4582-A (assistance animals in housing)Maine Legislature
- Maine Human Rights CommissionMaine Human Rights Commission
- Enforcement guidance on requests to use an animal as a reasonable accommodation (May 2026)U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development