Residents of the Golden State are lucky to have some of the most progressive state laws regarding emotional support animals (ESA). Both federal and state laws protect ESA owners, allowing emotional support animals to reside with their owners.
Get Familiar with California ESA Laws
Getting an ESA for the first time and living in California? If so, know that new laws were implemented on January 1, 2022. These new laws require healthcare professionals to enter a 30-days waiting period prior to issuing an ESA letter to new clients.
California holds landlords who fail to adhere to ESA laws accountable and will fine them accordingly. Unfortunately, complaints still remain about landlords who continue to discriminate against owners of ESA. Because landlords must follow ESA laws, California residents can file a complaint at the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
What is an Emotional Support Animal in California?
According to California laws, an ESA is a small, domesticated animal like a rabbit, dog, gerbil, cat, or fish. The ESA helps people with mental health disorders by alleviating their symptoms. The individual with the ESA must have a diagnosed mental or emotional health condition.
A few examples of qualifying conditions:
- Depression
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Autism
An ESA provides comfort and companionship to its owners just by being near them. Therefore, it’s essential for someone with a valid ESA to have their emotional support animal in their home.
Want to know if you qualify for an ESA? We can connect you with a licensed therapist online for your ESA letter consultation.
Start your 2 minute assessmentWhat California Laws Protect the Rights of ESA Owners?
The laws pertaining to the disabled and emotional support animals in California include:
- The Unruh Civil Rights Act
- The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The California Disabled Persons Act (CDPA)
Landlords and housing providers who discriminate against individuals with ESA will find winning their case difficult because the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and California law protect valid ESA owners. For example, the FEHA mandates housing providers to accommodate people with disabilities, whether physical or mental.
Since an ESA is not considered a pet, rules and fees for pets do not apply to ESA. ESAs are exempt from any building policies that involve pets.
Getting an ESA Letter in California
For an animal to be a valid emotional support animal, the owner must have a legitimate ESA letter from a licensed health professional, like a psychiatrist, social worker, psychologist, advanced practice nurse, or doctor. You can choose to see a licensed healthcare professional in person or online.
How to Get a California ESA Letter Online
Having a healthcare professional who is licensed in the state of California complete an ESA letter is essential because it’s this letter that proves the ESA is necessary for a person’s symptom reduction — allowing the animal to fall under ESA laws.
You can apply to qualify for an ESA letter online in three simple steps:
- Complete the 2 minute assessment.
Fill out the online assessment with ESA Letters where you’ll provide information regarding qualifying for an ESA.
- Consult with a healthcare professional.
To be authorized for an ESA and receive a letter, California residents must consult with a licensed healthcare professional in California. ESA Letters match individuals with a licensed healthcare professional within the same state. These professionals are well informed about ESAs and the disabilities that may benefit from the presence of one.
- Receive your ESA letter!
The licensed healthcare professional, suggested by ESA Letters, determines whether a person’s mental or emotional condition would benefit from an ESA. If an individual qualifies, the authorized healthcare professional issues a legitimate signed ESA letter on their letterhead, along with their license number.
Remember that California law demands a 30-day minimum waiting period for ESA letters for all new clients of a licensed healthcare professional. Technology makes it easy for individuals with transportation limitations or whose illness prevents them from traveling outside the home to receive an assessment for an ESA letter. The Fair Housing guidelines allow individuals to obtain an ESA letter from a licensed professional through telehealth.
Make Sure Your ESA Letter is Legitimate
When obtaining your ESA letter, especially online, you’ll want to ensure that you’re connected to a healthcare professional with an active license for California.
An ESA letter that is found to be invalid may result in the denial of any requests for accommodation regarding your ESA. Furthermore, false ESA letters erode the credibility of all ESA owners. Therefore, ensure your ESA letter is from a legitimate source that collaborates with knowledgeable and licensed health professionals.
Finding Relief Through an ESA
Keep in mind that an ESA is not a trained service dog. It is, however, a comforting companion necessary for many people with a mental or emotional disability. If you’re looking for an ESA letter in California, get started with ESA Letters by taking a 2 minute assessment or please read more about us so that we may earn your business.
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