- Price
- $129 for up to 2 pets; $199 for 3 or more
- Delivery
- Emailed within 24 hours after approval; Montana's 30-day rule may apply
- State law
- MCA 70-24-114: Montana license and 30-day relationship
- Where to complain
- Montana Human Rights Bureau
How Montana ESA Letter works
Montana changes the usual process. A landlord may ask for information from a Montana-licensed mental health professional who has worked with you for at least 30 days and completed a clinical evaluation. Our telehealth evaluation and 24-hour delivery do not by themselves create a 30-day relationship, and we can't promise your clinician will hold a Montana license. Talk to our care team before you book so you know whether a HealifyMD letter fits your situation. If you don't qualify, no letter is issued.
Who it’s for, and who it isn’t
May be a fit
- Montana renters who want to understand the state's documentation rules before asking a landlord
- People with a mental or emotional health condition whose animal gives them real support
- Mobile home lot renters, who are covered by a matching rule in MCA 70-33-110
- Households with more than one animal, since Montana expects separate information for each
Usually not a fit
- Anyone who needs a letter that meets Montana's rules within days; the 30-day relationship can't be shortened
- Public places and flights; ESAs have no public access and airlines may treat them as pets
- Anyone relying on an online ID card or certificate, which Montana law says does not prove need
- Anyone under 18
What’s included
- Telehealth evaluation with a licensed clinician
- Signed letter on letterhead showing the clinician's license type, number and state
- $129 for 1 or 2 pets; $199 for 3 or more
- Emailed within 24 hours after approval
- Ask our care team first whether a letter will suit a Montana request
Possible side effects
- No medical side effects; the real risk is a letter that doesn't meet Montana's documentation rules
- A Montana landlord may decline information from a provider who isn't licensed in Montana or hasn't known you for 30 days
- HUD's May 2026 guidance also reviews untrained ESAs case by case, so approval is not automatic
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 reviewed case by case. Montana layers its own rules on top: MCA 70-24-114 sets out who may provide supporting information for an ESA and what it must contain, and MCA 70-33-110 applies the same approach to mobile home lot rentals.
Montana law on ESA documentation
- The provider should be a mental health professional licensed in Montana
- They should have had a client relationship with you for at least 30 days and completed a clinical evaluation
- The information should give the provider's license type, license number and the date the license took effect
- It should describe the support that particular animal gives you, and each animal needs its own information
- Once you've provided it, the landlord has to give you a decision in writing
What a Montana landlord can and can't ask
A Montana landlord can ask for the supporting information described above. They can't ask for your diagnosis, how severe it is, or your medical records.
An ID card or certificate bought online is not enough by itself to show need under Montana law.
If your request is denied in Montana
The Montana Human Rights Bureau handles housing discrimination complaints. In most cases you have 180 days from the incident to file. HUD also takes federal complaints.
Is a trained dog different?
Yes. Montana's ESA documentation rules don't apply to service animals. If your dog performs trained tasks for a psychiatric condition, see our Montana PSD page.
Prescription treatments are available only to eligible patients after a clinical evaluation by an independently licensed clinician.
Montana ESA Letter: common questions
Does my ESA provider need a Montana license?
Under MCA 70-24-114, a landlord may ask for information from a mental health professional licensed in Montana. Check with our care team before booking.
What is Montana's 30-day rule?
The provider should have had a client relationship with you for at least 30 days, and completed a clinical evaluation, before giving supporting information.
Can I get a Montana-compliant letter in 24 hours?
Not if your landlord applies the 30-day rule. Our letters are emailed within 24 hours after approval, but that doesn't replace a 30-day relationship.
Do I need separate paperwork for two animals in Montana?
Yes. Montana expects supporting information for each animal. Our price covers 1 or 2 pets for $129 and 3 or more for $199.
How long do I have to file a complaint?
Generally 180 days from the incident, with the Montana Human Rights Bureau.
Sources
We cite government agencies, professional societies and peer-reviewed research. See our editorial policy.
- MCA 70-24-114 (emotional support animals, documentation)Montana Legislature
- Montana Human Rights BureauMontana Department of Labor and Industry
- Enforcement guidance on requests to use an animal as a reasonable accommodation (May 2026)U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development