Minnesota ESA Letter for Tenants

Yes. Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, enacted in 2021 and amended in 2024, governs service and support animal documentation for tenants. It defines a "support animal" as one that provides emotional support alleviating one or more identified symptoms or effects of a disability and that needs no task training.

A "licensed professional" under § 504B.113: a physician licensed by the Board of Medical Practice, physician assistant, nurse, psychologist, licensed mental health professional (ch. 148B), social worker or licensed counselor (ch. 148F). Someone with an out-of-state license qualifies only if they have an existing treatment relationship with you.

No. The statute excludes anyone who "operates primarily to provide certification for a service or support animal." The documentation must come from a licensed professional providing genuine care.

It must confirm your disability and the relationship between your disability and your need for the animal. A separate letter or line should cover each animal, since landlords may request documentation for each one.

Section 504B.113 doesn't restrict how the evaluation happens. For most people, the practical requirement is a Minnesota-licensed professional; an out-of-state provider works only if you already have a treatment relationship with them.

Supporting documentation from a licensed professional, unless your disability and need are readily apparent or already known. A landlord may not require your medical records, access to your providers, or other information about your disability.

No. Under § 504B.113, subd. 3, a landlord can't charge an additional fee, charge or deposit for an approved support animal. Leases with pet fees must disclose that service and support animals are exempt, and a tenant who paid pet fees because that disclosure was missing may be able to sue to recover them. You remain liable for damage.

Knowingly misrepresenting a disability or providing fraudulent documentation lets the landlord deny the rental application or the animal request, and doesn't prevent eviction for a lease breach. Separately, Minn. Stat. § 609.833 makes misrepresenting a service animal in public a petty misdemeanor.

Since HUD's May 22, 2026 policy change, untrained ESAs are reviewed case by case at the federal level. Minnesota's § 504B.113 still recognizes support animals by name and bans fees for approved ones, so Minnesota renters keep a state-law framework.

No. Public-access rights under the Minnesota Human Rights Act (§ 363A.19) and the ADA belong to service animals.

Under 14 CFR Part 382, airlines at Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP), Duluth (DLH) and Rochester (RST) may treat an ESA as a pet. A psychiatric service dog trained to perform tasks can still fly as a service animal.

With the Minnesota Department of Human Rights within one year, or with HUD within one year. A private Fair Housing Act lawsuit can be filed within two years.