- Price
- $129 for up to 2 pets; $199 for 3 or more
- Delivery
- Signed letter emailed within 24 hours after approval
- State law
- R.C. 4112.02(H) reasonable accommodation; no ESA-only law
- Where to complain
- Ohio Civil Rights Commission
How Ohio ESA Letter works
Book a telehealth evaluation and tell the clinician what your symptoms are like and how your animal helps. If you qualify, your signed letter on letterhead, showing the clinician's license type, number and state, 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
- Ohio renters whose building bans pets or limits them
- Tenants who need their animal with them in hallways, yards and other shared spaces
- People whose mental health condition is eased by their animal
- Households with more than one support animal
Usually not a fit
- Public places; Ohio's assistance dog law, R.C. 955.43, doesn't extend to ESAs in rentals or stores
- Flights; airlines may treat an ESA as a pet
- Anyone looking for a registry or ID card
- 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 up to 2 animals, or $199 for 3 or more
- Letter emailed within 24 hours after approval
Possible side effects
- No medical side effects; the risk is relying on the letter for something it doesn't cover
- Untrained ESAs are reviewed case by case under HUD's May 2026 guidance
- You can still be charged for damage
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 for tenants with disabilities, and HUD's May 2026 guidance reviews untrained ESAs case by case. Ohio Revised Code 4112.02(H) mirrors that duty, covering rules, policies, practices and services, so a clinician's letter is how you show your need under both.
Ohio law on emotional support animals
Ohio relies on general fair housing law rather than an ESA statute. Under Revised Code 4112.02(H), it is unlawful to turn down a reasonable accommodation in a rule, policy, practice or service that a disabled person needs to use and enjoy their home.
That section applies to a building's shared spaces as well as your apartment. So an accommodation can matter in the lobby, the hallways or the yard, not only behind your own door.
Ohio's assistance dog statute, R.C. 955.43, deals with public places and lodging. ESA disputes in rentals are decided under fair housing law instead.
What an Ohio landlord can and can't ask
- They can ask for reliable information about your disability-related need if it isn't obvious
- They can't require your diagnosis or your medical records
- They can review an untrained ESA request case by case under HUD's 2026 guidance
- They can hold you responsible for damage
If your request is denied in Ohio
Housing charges are investigated by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, which also handles employment, credit and public accommodation complaints. You can also file with HUD.
Prescription treatments are available only to eligible patients after a clinical evaluation by an independently licensed clinician.
Ohio ESA Letter: common questions
Is there an Ohio ESA law?
Not a dedicated one. ESA requests fall under Ohio Revised Code 4112.02(H) and the federal Fair Housing Act.
Does my ESA accommodation cover shared areas of my building?
Yes. Section 4112.02(H) reaches common spaces such as hallways and yards, not just your unit.
Does R.C. 955.43 protect my ESA?
No. That law covers assistance dogs in public places and lodging, not ESAs in rental housing.
Where do I file a complaint in Ohio?
With the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, or with HUD for a federal complaint.
What does it cost?
$129 covers 1 or 2 pets and $199 covers 3 or more.
Sources
We cite government agencies, professional societies and peer-reviewed research. See our editorial policy.
- Ohio Revised Code 4112.02Ohio Laws (Legislative Service Commission)
- Housing discrimination complaints and civil rights informationOhio Civil Rights Commission
- Enforcement guidance on requests to use an animal as a reasonable accommodation (May 2026)U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development