- Price
- $129 for up to 2 pets; $199 for 3 or more
- Delivery
- Signed letter emailed within 24 hours after approval
- State law
- Minn. Stat. 363A.09 bars disability bias in renting
- Where to complain
- Minnesota Department of Human Rights
How Minnesota ESA Letter works
Start with a telehealth evaluation. The clinician asks about your mental health and the role your animal plays. If you qualify, they sign a letter that is emailed within 24 hours after approval, so you can include it when you ask your Minnesota landlord for an accommodation. No letter is issued if you don't qualify.
Who it’s for, and who it isn’t
May be a fit
- Minnesota renters facing a no-pets policy or a cap on animals
- People with a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, whose animal eases symptoms
- Tenants moving to a new Twin Cities apartment who need documentation before signing
- Households with more than one support animal
Usually not a fit
- Public places; Minnesota's misrepresentation law is about fake service animals, and ESAs have no public access
- Flights, since airlines may classify ESAs as pets
- Anyone looking for an official certificate or registry
- 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
- Pricing: $129 for up to 2 pets, $199 for 3 or more
- Letter emailed within 24 hours after approval
Possible side effects
- No medical side effects; the main limit is that the letter covers housing only
- HUD's May 2026 guidance reviews untrained ESAs case by case, so approval in Minnesota isn't automatic
- Damage your animal causes is still your cost
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
The Fair Housing Act and 24 CFR 100.204 require reasonable accommodations, and HUD's May 2026 enforcement guidance says untrained ESAs are assessed case by case. Minnesota adds Minn. Stat. 363A.09, which stops a landlord from refusing to rent, or altering lease terms, because a tenant has a disability. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights enforces it.
Minnesota law on emotional support animals
Minnesota has no ESA-only statute. Section 363A.09 of the Human Rights Act forbids refusing to rent, or setting different lease terms, because of a tenant's disability, and the federal Fair Housing Act supplies the duty to consider an accommodation such as an ESA.
Minnesota's law against faking a service animal, section 609.833, applies to public places. It does not say anything about housing or ESAs.
What a Minnesota landlord can and can't ask
- Can ask what the animal does for you if your need isn't obvious
- Can expect you to pay for damage
- Can't require you to disclose a diagnosis or your treatment history
If your request is denied in Minnesota
Report it to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. You have one year from the incident, which gives you more time than many states. You can also file a federal complaint with HUD.
ESA or psychiatric service dog
If your dog performs trained tasks for a psychiatric condition, Minnesota service animal law and the ADA may apply instead. See our Minnesota PSD letter page.
Prescription treatments are available only to eligible patients after a clinical evaluation by an independently licensed clinician.
Minnesota ESA Letter: common questions
How long do I have to report housing discrimination in Minnesota?
One year from the incident, filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. HUD is another option.
Does Minnesota's fake service animal law affect my ESA?
No. Section 609.833 is about public places and doesn't mention housing or ESAs.
Can a Minnesota landlord ask about my diagnosis?
No. They may ask what the animal does for you, but not for your diagnosis or treatment history.
Is my ESA allowed in Minnesota stores?
No. ESAs have no public access rights.
What does the ESA letter cost?
$129 covers 1 or 2 pets. For 3 or more, it's $199.
Sources
We cite government agencies, professional societies and peer-reviewed research. See our editorial policy.
- Minn. Stat. § 363A.09 (real property)Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Minnesota Department of Human RightsState of Minnesota
- Enforcement guidance on requests to use an animal as a reasonable accommodation (May 2026)U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development