- Price
- $149 for up to 2 dogs; $229 for up to 3
- Delivery
- Emailed within 24 hours after approval
- State law
- c. 272, § 98A: fine up to $300 for refusing a dog guide
- Where to complain
- Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
How Massachusetts PSD Letter works
Book a telehealth evaluation. The clinician asks about your symptoms and the specific tasks your dog has been trained to perform. If you qualify, a signed letter is emailed within 24 hours after approval, and you can give it to a Massachusetts landlord or property manager with your request. If you don't qualify, no letter is issued.
Who it’s for, and who it isn’t
May be a fit
- Massachusetts renters whose dog is trained to do specific tasks for a psychiatric condition
- Handlers who need to document that need for a landlord or condo board
- People whose dog performs tasks such as interrupting panic, grounding during dissociation or waking them from nightmares
- Handlers with up to 3 trained dogs
Usually not a fit
- Dogs that help through companionship only; an ESA letter is the honest fit
- Anyone hoping a letter will turn an untrained dog into a service dog
- Getting past a business door; the ADA does not let staff demand paperwork
- Anyone under 18
What’s included
- Telehealth evaluation with a licensed clinician
- Signed letter showing the clinician's license type, number and state
- One or two dogs, $149; three dogs, $229
- Emailed within 24 hours after approval
Possible side effects
- No medical side effects
- Section 98A is silent on dogs in training, so whether a business admits one is its own call
- You are responsible for your dog's behaviour and for any damage it causes
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
HUD's May 2026 enforcement guidance treats requests for animals trained to perform disability-related tasks as presumptively reasonable, which covers psychiatric service dogs in housing. Massachusetts handles the same request under Chapter 151B. In public places, the ADA limits staff to two questions, and M.G.L. c. 272, § 98A adds a state fine for turning away a person with a disability who is accompanied by a dog guide.
Massachusetts law on service dogs in public
Chapter 272, Section 98A shields a person with a disability who arrives with a dog guide. Turning that person away can cost a business a fine of up to $300, and Chapter 151B, Section 5 lets the person seek damages as well.
The ADA is what clearly covers psychiatric service dogs that are trained to perform specific tasks. Section 98A does not address trainers or dogs in training, so a dog that is still learning may be turned away depending on the business.
Public places under the ADA
Staff at a shop, restaurant or hotel may ask only two things: is the dog needed for a disability, and which task has it learned to do. They can't ask for a letter, an ID or a demonstration. You do not need our letter for public access.
Massachusetts housing and your PSD
When you rent, a trained psychiatric service dog is a reasonable accommodation request under Chapter 151B and the Fair Housing Act. A landlord may ask for reliable information if your need isn't obvious, which is where a clinician's letter helps.
If a request is refused, MCAD takes state complaints and HUD takes federal ones.
Prices
- $149 for up to 2 dogs
- $229 for up to 3 dogs
Prescription treatments are available only to eligible patients after a clinical evaluation by an independently licensed clinician.
Massachusetts PSD Letter: common questions
What happens if a Massachusetts business refuses my service dog?
Under Section 98A, a business that turns away a disabled person and their dog guide faces a fine of up to $300, and damages may be available under Chapter 151B, Section 5.
Can I bring my dog in training into stores?
Section 98A does not mention dogs in training, so it depends on the business. The ADA protects only dogs that are already trained.
Do I need the letter for a Massachusetts apartment?
It is the most useful place for it. Your landlord may ask for reliable information about your need when it is not obvious.
How much is a PSD letter?
One or two dogs: $149. Three dogs: $229.
Where do I complain about a housing denial?
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) for state claims, or HUD for federal fair housing claims.
Sources
We cite government agencies, professional societies and peer-reviewed research. See our editorial policy.
- M.G.L. c. 272, § 98AMassachusetts Legislature
- Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Enforcement guidance on requests to use an animal as a reasonable accommodation (May 2026)U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- ADA requirements: service animalsADA.gov (U.S. Department of Justice)