$ USD Maryland ESA Letter for Housing
Emotional support animal evaluations for Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Germantown, Frederick, Rockville and Annapolis
After HUD’s 2026 policy shift, Maryland’s civil rights agency was direct: state law still protects emotional support animals, trained or not. The Maryland Fair Housing Act requires reasonable accommodations, and an ESA can be one.
See if you qualify with a free pre-screening, then meet a licensed professional online.
- Protected Under Maryland Law
- Licensed Professionals
- Telehealth Evaluation
- Individual Decision
Pre-screening does not guarantee approval. Every decision is made by a licensed professional after an evaluation.
Maryland ESA Laws at a Glance
Last reviewed November 2026 against official Maryland and federal sources.
Maryland has no stand-alone ESA statute. ESA rights flow from the reasonable accommodation duty in the Maryland Fair Housing Act, as interpreted by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR).
Housing rights
Refusing reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services is unlawful.2026 state guidance
ESAs can be a reasonable accommodation without task training. No blanket bans.Service dogs
Public access is for trained service animals. Emotional-support-only dogs aren’t service dogs.Where to file a complaint
Housing complaints within 1 year, or with HUD within 1 year. Phone 410-767-8600.2026 federal change, Maryland response: HUD announced on May 22, 2026 that it will generally pursue charges only for animals individually trained to provide disability-related assistance. On September 8, 2026, MCCR answered that this “does not eliminate protections provided under Maryland law.”
What that means for you: if a Maryland landlord turns down your ESA because of the HUD memo, the state commission is the place to turn. Keep your letter, your written request and the landlord’s reply.
How to Get an ESA Letter in Maryland
From the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland, it all happens online.
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1
Begin the Pre-Screening
Tell us about your symptoms, your animal and your Maryland rental.
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2
Video Evaluation
A licensed professional who can see Maryland patients reviews your history and needs.
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Professional Decision
They decide whether an ESA relates to your disability. Nothing is pre-approved.
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Make Your Request
If approved, send the letter with a written accommodation request and save every reply.
Maryland ESA Letter Pricing
Clear pricing, charged once per evaluation.
Where a Maryland ESA Letter Helps — and Where It Doesn’t
Apartments & Condos
Yes. § 20-706 requires landlords to consider ESA accommodations individually.
UMD, Johns Hopkins & Towson
Usually. Campus housing handles ESA requests through accessibility offices. Allow review time.
Flights
No. Airlines at BWI, DCA and IAD may treat an ESA as a pet.
Stores & Restaurants
No. Human Services § 7-704 access rights are for service animals.
Building a Strong Maryland ESA Request
With federal enforcement narrowed, a well-documented request matters. Make sure you have:
- A letter from a licensed health professional who evaluated you
- The professional’s license type, number and state, signature and date
- A statement of disability and disability-related need, without your diagnosis
- A written accommodation request naming each animal
- A copy of MCCR’s September 2026 ESA guidance, if your landlord cites HUD
- Records of every response, in case you need to file with MCCR
Who may qualify: Marylanders with a mental or emotional disability, for example anxiety, depression, PTSD or OCD, when the animal helps with symptoms that limit major life activities.
Military families: privatized housing at Fort Meade, Joint Base Andrews and Aberdeen Proving Ground has its own pet policies, so ask the housing office too.
Maryland ESA Letter FAQ
Are emotional support animals still protected in Maryland after HUD's 2026 change?
Yes, according to the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. In guidance published September 8, 2026, MCCR said that "a change in federal enforcement policy does not eliminate protections provided under Maryland law," and that under the Maryland Fair Housing Act a reasonable accommodation may include an ESA even if the animal has not been individually trained to perform a specific task.
What Maryland law covers ESAs in housing?
State Government Article § 20-706(b)(4) makes it unlawful to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services when they may be necessary to give a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. Maryland has no separate ESA statute; ESA requests are reasonable accommodation requests under this section.
Does Maryland have rules for ESA letters?
No. Maryland sets no ESA letter format, waiting period or provider list. A credible letter comes from a licensed health professional who has evaluated you, confirms a disability and a disability-related need for the animal, and leaves out your diagnosis.
Can I get a Maryland ESA letter through telehealth?
Maryland's fair housing law doesn't address how the evaluation is done. A telehealth evaluation can support your request when the professional is licensed to treat patients in Maryland and conducts a genuine assessment.
Can my Maryland landlord reject all ESAs under a new policy?
MCCR's guidance tells housing providers not to adopt blanket policies rejecting ESAs, and to assess each request individually under Maryland law. A landlord may still deny a specific request on individual grounds, such as an animal that poses a direct threat.
Can a Maryland landlord charge a pet fee for my ESA?
Maryland's statute expressly bars extra rent or fees for service dogs, and MCCR's full ESA guidance addresses fees and deposits for emotional support animals. Ask your landlord in writing to waive pet fees as part of your accommodation request. You can be held responsible for damage your animal causes.
Are service dogs and ESAs treated the same in Maryland?
No. Maryland law defines a service dog as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks, and says dogs that provide only emotional support or comfort are not service dogs. Service dogs get public-access rights under Human Services Article § 7-704; ESAs are protected in housing through reasonable accommodations.
Can I take my ESA into stores or restaurants in Maryland?
No. Public-access rights belong to service animals, not ESAs. Maryland separately makes it a crime to interfere with or injure a service animal (Criminal Law § 10-626).
Can I fly with my ESA from BWI?
Under 14 CFR Part 382, airlines at Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Hagerstown (HGR), and at nearby Reagan National and Dulles, may treat an ESA as a pet. A psychiatric service dog trained to perform tasks can still fly as a service animal.
Where do I file an ESA housing complaint in Maryland?
File with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, which enforces the Maryland Fair Housing Act and offers an online Start a Complaint form. Housing complaints generally must be filed within one year of the discrimination. You can also contact HUD within one year, or file a private Fair Housing Act lawsuit within two years.
Does an evaluation guarantee an ESA letter?
No. A licensed professional decides after evaluating you and may conclude an ESA isn't appropriate.
More for Maryland Animal Owners
Official Sources
- Md. Code, State Gov’t § 20-706 (Maryland Fair Housing Act, disability)
- MCCR — Emotional Support Animal Guidance Following Change in Federal Fair Housing Enforcement (Sept. 8, 2026)
- Md. Code, Human Servs. § 7-704 (service animals in public places)
- Maryland Commission on Civil Rights — Start a Complaint
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — Report Housing Discrimination
- 14 CFR Part 382 — U.S. DOT air travel rules
Ready to Start Your Maryland ESA Evaluation?
Take the free pre-screening. If it fits, a licensed professional evaluates you by telehealth and decides whether an emotional support animal letter is appropriate.
Licensed professionals. Maryland fair housing rights. Individual decision.
START YOUR MARYLAND ESA EVALUATIONUnited States Service Dogs
ESA Letter Evaluations for Maryland
This page is general information about Maryland and federal law as of November 2026, not legal or medical advice. Completing a pre-screening does not guarantee eligibility, an appointment, an ESA letter, a housing accommodation or any particular outcome. ESA recommendations are made by independent licensed professionals based on individual evaluations. United States Service Dogs is not a government agency.