- Price
- $129 for up to 2 pets; $199 for 3 or more
- Delivery
- Signed letter emailed within 24 hours after approval
- State law
- Law Against Discrimination plus the Fair Housing Act
- Where to complain
- New Jersey Division on Civil Rights
How New Jersey ESA Letter works
Book a telehealth evaluation and describe your symptoms and how your animal helps. If the clinician finds you qualify, the signed letter is emailed within 24 hours after approval, ready for a New Jersey property manager. If you don't qualify, no letter is issued.
Who it’s for, and who it isn’t
May be a fit
- New Jersey renters with a no-pets lease or pet limits
- Tenants in Jersey City, Newark or shore towns who need documentation for a property manager
- People with a mental health condition whose animal helps them function
- Households with more than one support animal
Usually not a fit
- Public places; an ESA has no public access rights
- Flights, where airlines may treat an ESA as a pet
- Anyone looking for an ESA registry or ID
- Anyone under 18
What’s included
- Telehealth evaluation with a licensed clinician
- Signed letter on letterhead with license type, number and state
- $129 covers 1 or 2 pets; $199 covers 3 or more
- Emailed within 24 hours after approval
Possible side effects
- No medical side effects; the letter is for housing only
- HUD's May 2026 guidance reviews untrained ESAs case by case, so approval isn't automatic
- The Division asks for complaints within 180 days, so waiting too long can limit your options
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. In New Jersey, the Law Against Discrimination covers most landlords too, and the Division on Civil Rights has treated refusals of ESAs as possible discrimination, issuing probable cause findings.
New Jersey law on emotional support animals
New Jersey doesn't have a law aimed only at ESAs. Instead, the Law Against Discrimination applies to most landlords in the state, and it sits alongside the federal Fair Housing Act.
The Division on Civil Rights has acted on this. It has issued probable cause findings against owners and managers who wouldn't accept an ESA as a reasonable accommodation. It also enforces the state's Fair Chance in Housing Act.
What a New Jersey landlord can and can't ask
- Can ask for a letter from a clinician that explains why your disability means you need the animal
- Can hold you responsible for damage
- Can't demand your diagnosis or medical records
If your request is denied in New Jersey
File online through the Division on Civil Rights bias reporting system. The Division asks you to file within 180 days of the incident. HUD also accepts federal complaints.
Prescription treatments are available only to eligible patients after a clinical evaluation by an independently licensed clinician.
New Jersey ESA Letter: common questions
Has New Jersey acted against landlords who refused ESAs?
Yes. The Division on Civil Rights has issued probable cause findings against property owners and managers in these cases.
How do I file a complaint in New Jersey?
Online through the Division on Civil Rights bias reporting system, ideally within 180 days. You can also file with HUD.
Does the Law Against Discrimination cover my landlord?
It applies to most New Jersey landlords.
What will my property manager want to see?
Usually a letter from a clinician describing your disability-related need for the animal.
How much is the letter?
$129 covers 1 or 2 pets; 3 or more is $199.
Sources
We cite government agencies, professional societies and peer-reviewed research. See our editorial policy.
- New Jersey Division on Civil RightsNew Jersey Office of the Attorney General
- Enforcement guidance on requests to use an animal as a reasonable accommodation (May 2026)U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- 24 CFR 100.204: Reasonable accommodationsLegal Information Institute (Cornell Law School)