- Price
- $149 for up to 2 dogs; $229 for up to 3
- Delivery
- Signed letter emailed within 24 hours after approval
- State law
- S.C. Code 43-33: access and housing without extra fees
- Where to complain
- South Carolina Human Affairs Commission
How South Carolina PSD Letter works
Book a telehealth evaluation and explain your symptoms and the tasks your dog is trained to do. If you qualify, your signed letter with the clinician's license type, number and state is emailed within 24 hours after approval. If you don't, no letter is issued.
Who it’s for, and who it isn’t
May be a fit
- South Carolinians with a mental health disability whose dog performs trained tasks
- Tenants who need to document that need for a landlord
- Handlers with up to 3 trained dogs
Usually not a fit
- Comfort-only animals; those are ESAs
- Animals other than dogs and miniature horses, which South Carolina doesn't count as service animals
- Anyone under 18
What’s included
- Telehealth evaluation with a licensed clinician
- Signed letter with the clinician's license type, number and state
- Up to 2 dogs for $149, or up to 3 for $229
- Letter emailed within 24 hours after approval
Possible side effects
- No medical side effects
- Misrepresenting a pet as a service animal carries escalating civil fines in South Carolina
- You remain responsible for your dog and any 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
HUD's May 2026 enforcement guidance presumes housing requests for task-trained animals, including psychiatric service dogs, are reasonable. The ADA allows businesses only two questions and no documentation demands. South Carolina's Title 43, Chapter 33 adds access rights in transport, lodging, public accommodations and housing.
South Carolina service animal law
Two parts of the South Carolina Code protect handlers: Title 43, Chapter 33, and Article 15 of Title 47, Chapter 3. Section 43-33-20 lets a person with a disability bring an assistance dog into transportation, lodging and public accommodations with no extra charge.
Only dogs and miniature horses count as service animals under state law. Under 43-33-20(d), people training assistance or guide dogs get similar access and are liable for damage the dog causes.
Housing in South Carolina
Section 43-33-70 protects tenants with assistance dogs in covered housing: they get full and equal access, and the landlord can't add rent or fees because of the dog. Complaints go to the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, or to HUD.
Public places under the ADA
Staff may ask only whether your dog is needed for a disability and which task it performs. They can't ask for a letter.
Penalties in South Carolina
- Under 47-3-980, knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service animal carries civil fines of up to $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 after that
- Under 43-33-20, refusing a handler access or interfering with it is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine, up to three years in prison, or both
Prescription treatments are available only to eligible patients after a clinical evaluation by an independently licensed clinician.
South Carolina PSD Letter: common questions
Can a South Carolina landlord charge pet rent for my PSD?
No. Section 43-33-70 bars extra rent or fees for an assistance dog in covered housing.
What animals count as service animals in South Carolina?
Dogs and miniature horses only.
What is the fine for a fake service animal in South Carolina?
Up to $250 for a first offense, then $500, then $1,000 for later offenses.
Do I need the letter in South Carolina stores?
No. Under the ADA staff can't require documentation.
How much is the PSD letter?
$149 covers 1 or 2 dogs and $229 covers up to 3.
Sources
We cite government agencies, professional societies and peer-reviewed research. See our editorial policy.
- S.C. Code Title 43, Chapter 33South Carolina Legislature
- Housing discrimination complaints and civil rights informationSouth Carolina Human Affairs Commission
- 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)