$ USD North Dakota ESA Letter Online
Emotional support animal evaluations for Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo, Williston and Dickinson
North Dakota tells landlords exactly what they may ask for. Under § 47-16-07.5, documentation from a physician or medical professional confirming your disability and need is enough, and certificate-only businesses don’t count.
Complete a free pre-screening, then meet a licensed professional by video to see whether an ESA fits your needs.
- § 47-16-07.5 Explained
- Licensed Professionals
- No Waiting Period
- Individual Decision
Pre-screening does not guarantee approval. A licensed professional decides after evaluating you.
North Dakota ESA Laws at a Glance
Last reviewed November 2026 against official North Dakota and federal sources.
North Dakota pairs a documentation and fraud law in its landlord-tenant chapter with the accommodation duty in the Housing Discrimination Act.
Documentation
Physician or medical professional confirms disability and need. Certificate-only providers excluded.Housing rights
Refusing a reasonable accommodation in rules, policies, practices or services is prohibited.Fraud penalty
False claims or documents: an infraction, possible eviction and a damage fee up to $1,000.Where to file a complaint
Within 1 year of the last date of harm, or with HUD within 1 year.Stricter rules were rejected in 2025: SB 2193, a bill on assistance animal certification, failed in the House 12-81, and SB 2222 got a Do Not Pass recommendation. North Dakota still has no waiting period or in-state licensing rule for ESA letters.
2026 federal change: since May 22, 2026, HUD has reviewed untrained ESAs case by case. North Dakota’s Housing Discrimination Act still requires reasonable accommodations, so a letter that meets § 47-16-07.5 remains the foundation of your request.
How to Get an ESA Letter in North Dakota
From the Red River Valley to the Badlands, it’s all done online.
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1
Take the Pre-Screening
Let us know your symptoms, your animal and your rental situation.
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2
Online Visit
A licensed medical or mental health professional who can treat North Dakota patients evaluates you.
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3
Professional Opinion
They decide whether your disability and the animal are connected. No guaranteed letters.
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4
Give It to Your Landlord
If approved, provide the documentation with a written request for an exception to the no-pet rule.
North Dakota ESA Letter Pricing
Pay once per evaluation. No membership.
Where a North Dakota ESA Letter Helps — and Where It Doesn’t
No-Pet Rentals
Yes. § 47-16-07.5 and the Housing Discrimination Act apply to no-pet rentals.
NDSU, UND & Minot State
Usually. Residence life reviews ESA requests through disability services. Ask before move-in.
Flights
No. Airlines at FAR, BIS, GFK and MOT may treat an ESA as a pet.
Stores & Restaurants
No. Chapter 25-13 public access is for service animals.
North Dakota Documentation Checklist
To satisfy § 47-16-07.5, your letter should:
- Come from a physician or medical professional
- Not come from a business that exists solely to certify animals
- Confirm that you have a disability
- Explain the relationship between your disability and your need for the animal
- Include license type, number and state, with signature and date
- Be truthful in every detail, since fraud is an infraction
Who may qualify: North Dakotans with a mental or emotional disability, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD or seasonal affective disorder, when an animal supports them through its symptoms.
Military families: housing at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB has installation pet policies, so check with the housing office too.
North Dakota ESA Letter FAQ
Does North Dakota have an ESA law?
Partly. N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-07.5 sets documentation rules for service or assistance animals in rentals with no-pet policies, and § 47-16-07.6 penalizes fraudulent claims. Housing discrimination itself is covered by the North Dakota Housing Discrimination Act (chapter 14-02.5) and the federal Fair Housing Act.
What documentation can a North Dakota landlord require?
When the disability or need isn't readily apparent or already known, documentation from a physician or medical professional that confirms the tenant's disability and the relationship between the disability and the need for the animal. If the need is obvious or known, the landlord can't require documentation.
Who can't write a North Dakota ESA letter?
Section 47-16-07.5 excludes a provider that "operates in this state solely to provide certification for service or assistance animals." The letter should come from a physician or medical professional who actually provides care, not a certificate business.
Is there a 30-day rule in North Dakota?
No. In 2025, SB 2193 would have tightened assistance animal certification rules; it passed the Senate 44-2 but failed in the House 12-81 on March 18, 2025. A companion bill, SB 2222, received a Do Not Pass committee recommendation. Current law has no waiting period.
Can I get a North Dakota ESA letter through telehealth?
Yes. State law doesn't require an in-person visit. Choose a licensed medical or mental health professional who can treat patients in North Dakota.
What happens if someone fakes an ESA in North Dakota?
Knowingly making a false disability claim or providing fraudulent documentation to get a housing accommodation is an infraction under § 47-16-07.6. After a guilty plea or conviction, the landlord may evict the tenant and, for fraudulent documentation, collect a damage fee of up to $1,000.
Can a North Dakota landlord charge a pet fee for my ESA?
North Dakota statutes don't address ESA fees. Ask in writing for pet rent, fees and deposits to be waived as part of the accommodation. You remain responsible for damage the animal causes.
Did HUD's 2026 change affect North Dakota renters?
HUD announced on May 22, 2026 that it would review untrained ESAs case by case for federal enforcement. North Dakota's Housing Discrimination Act, § 14-02.5-06(3)(b), still prohibits refusing reasonable accommodations, and § 47-16-07.5 still describes the documentation landlords may request.
Can I bring my ESA into stores or restaurants in North Dakota?
No. Chapter 25-13 gives public-access rights to service animals. Misrepresenting a service animal is an infraction.
Can I fly with my ESA from Fargo or Bismarck?
Under 14 CFR Part 382, airlines at Fargo Hector (FAR), Bismarck (BIS), Grand Forks (GFK) and Minot (MOT) may treat an ESA as a pet. A psychiatric service dog trained for specific tasks still flies as a service animal.
Where do I file a housing complaint in North Dakota?
With the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights no later than one year from the last date of harm (§ 14-02.5-18), or with HUD within one year. A private Fair Housing Act lawsuit can be filed within two years.
Does an evaluation guarantee an ESA letter?
No. A licensed provider decides after evaluating you, and an ESA may not be the recommendation.
More for North Dakota Animal Owners
Official Sources
- N.D. Cent. Code ch. 47-16 (§§ 47-16-07.5 and 47-16-07.6, assistance animal documentation and fraud)
- N.D. Cent. Code ch. 14-02.5 (Housing Discrimination Act)
- North Dakota Legislative Assembly — SB 2193 (2025) bill overview
- N.D. Cent. Code ch. 25-13 (service animals)
- ND Department of Labor and Human Rights — Housing Discrimination
- 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 North Dakota ESA Evaluation?
Start with the free pre-screening. If you’re a fit, a licensed professional meets you online and decides whether ESA documentation is right for you.
Licensed professionals. § 47-16-07.5 documentation. Individual decision.
START YOUR NORTH DAKOTA ESA EVALUATIONUnited States Service Dogs
ESA Letter Evaluations for North Dakota
This page is general information about North Dakota 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.