$ USD South Dakota ESA Letter Online
Emotional support animal evaluations for Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, Mitchell and Spearfish
South Dakota’s rental law names emotional support animals directly. SDCL § 43-32-33 includes them, and § 43-32-35 says documentation must come from a licensed health care provider, not a certificate-only business.
Answer a short pre-screening, then talk with a licensed provider by video about whether an ESA is right for you.
- SDCL 43-32 Explained
- Licensed Providers
- No Waiting Period
- Individual Decision
Pre-screening does not guarantee approval. A licensed provider decides after evaluating you.
South Dakota ESA Laws at a Glance
Last reviewed November 2026 against official South Dakota and federal sources.
A 2018 law added four sections to South Dakota’s landlord-tenant chapter. They sit alongside the state Human Relations Act and the federal Fair Housing Act.
ESA definition
For rentals, “service animal” includes emotional support, therapy and assistance animals.Documentation
Confirms disability and need, from a licensed provider not solely in the certification business.Fraud remedy
Knowingly false claims or papers: eviction and a damage fee up to $1,000.Where to file a complaint
Within 180 days after the harm, or with HUD within 1 year.One word, two meanings: in South Dakota rental law, “service animal” includes ESAs. In stores and restaurants, it still means a trained dog under SDCL § 20-13-23.2. Your ESA letter helps with housing, not public access.
2026 federal change: since May 22, 2026, HUD has reviewed untrained ESAs case by case. South Dakota’s 2018 rental sections still expressly cover emotional support animals and the documentation landlords may request.
How to Get an ESA Letter in South Dakota
East River or West River, the process happens online.
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1
Pre-Screening
Walk us through how you’ve been feeling, what animal you have and where you rent.
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2
Video Evaluation
A licensed health care provider who can treat South Dakota patients evaluates you.
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3
Provider Decision
They decide whether your disability relates to a need for the animal. No pre-approval.
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4
Give It to Your Landlord
If approved, provide the documentation and a written request for the accommodation.
South Dakota ESA Letter Pricing
A single fee for the evaluation itself.
Where a South Dakota ESA Letter Helps — and Where It Doesn’t
Rental Housing
Yes. SDCL 43-32-33 to -36 govern ESA documentation in rentals.
SDSU, USD & Mines
Usually. Campus housing reviews ESA requests through disability services; apply ahead of the term.
Flights
No. Airlines at FSD, RAP, ABR and PIR may treat an ESA as a pet.
Stores & Restaurants
No. § 20-13-23.2 public access is for trained service animals.
South Dakota Documentation Checklist
To satisfy § 43-32-35, documentation should:
- Confirm that you have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity
- Explain the relationship between your disability and your need for the animal
- Come from a licensed health care provider
- Not come from a business that exists solely to certify animals
- Include license type, number and state, plus signature and date
- Rest on honest answers you gave during the evaluation
Who may qualify: South Dakotans with a mental or emotional disability, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD or seasonal affective disorder, when an animal serves a role in managing it.
Near Ellsworth AFB? On-base housing near Box Elder sets its own animal rules, so ask the base housing office in addition to your private landlord, if you have one.
South Dakota ESA Letter FAQ
Does South Dakota have an emotional support animal law?
Yes. SDCL §§ 43-32-33 to 43-32-36, enacted in 2018, cover service and assistance animals in rental housing. For these sections, South Dakota uses "service animal" broadly to include any emotional support animal, therapy animal or assistance animal that serves a role for a person with a disability.
Why does South Dakota call ESAs "service animals" in rentals?
Section 43-32-33 defines the term that way only for the landlord-tenant sections that follow it. Under the ADA and South Dakota's public-access law, a service animal is still a trained dog, so an ESA does not gain public-access rights.
What documentation can a South Dakota landlord request?
Reliable documentation when you claim a disability that requires an animal, unless the disability or need is readily apparent or already known to the landlord (§ 43-32-34). Under § 43-32-35, it must confirm your disability and the relationship between the disability and your need for the animal.
Who can write a South Dakota ESA letter?
A licensed health care provider who does not operate in South Dakota solely to provide certification for service or assistance animals (§ 43-32-35). The statute doesn't require a South Dakota license or a minimum relationship length.
What happens if someone fakes an ESA in a South Dakota rental?
South Dakota handles it through the lease rather than criminal court. Section 43-32-36 lets the landlord remove a tenant who is found to have knowingly lied about a disability-related need or turned in fake paperwork, and to charge that tenant as much as $1,000 in damages.
Can I get a South Dakota ESA letter through telehealth?
Yes. Nothing in SDCL 43-32 requires an office visit. What the law cares about is the source: a licensed health care provider whose practice is more than selling animal certifications. A video evaluation with a provider who can see South Dakota patients meets that description.
Can a South Dakota landlord charge a pet fee for my ESA?
South Dakota's rental animal sections don't address fees. Ask in writing for pet rent, fees and deposits to be waived as part of your accommodation. You remain responsible for damage.
How did HUD's 2026 change affect South Dakota?
Since HUD's May 22, 2026 policy change, untrained ESAs are reviewed case by case for federal enforcement. South Dakota's § 43-32-33 still expressly includes emotional support animals in its rental documentation rules, and the federal Fair Housing Act's accommodation duty is unchanged in text.
Can I take my ESA into stores or restaurants in South Dakota?
No. Public-access rights under SDCL § 20-13-23.2 apply to trained service animals. Maliciously interfering with a service animal is a Class 1 misdemeanor (§ 40-1-38).
Can I fly with my ESA from Sioux Falls or Rapid City?
Under 14 CFR Part 382, airlines at Sioux Falls (FSD), Rapid City (RAP), Aberdeen (ABR) and Pierre (PIR) may treat an ESA as a pet. A trained psychiatric service dog still flies as a service animal.
Where do I file a housing complaint in South Dakota?
With the South Dakota Division of Human Rights within 180 days after the harm, 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 may conclude that an ESA isn't appropriate.
More for South Dakota Animal Owners
Official Sources
- SDCL § 43-32-33 (definitions, including emotional support animals)
- SDCL § 43-32-34 (landlord may request documentation)
- SDCL § 43-32-35 (documentation requirements)
- SDCL § 43-32-36 (eviction and damages for false claims)
- SDCL § 20-13-20 (Human Relations Act, housing)
- 42 U.S.C. § 3604 (Fair Housing Act, reasonable accommodations)
- SDCL § 20-13-23.2 (service animals in public accommodations)
- South Dakota Division of Human Rights — Forms
- 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 South Dakota ESA Evaluation?
Take the free pre-screening. If it fits, a licensed health care provider evaluates you online and decides whether ESA documentation is appropriate.
Licensed providers. SDCL 43-32. Individual decision.
START YOUR SOUTH DAKOTA ESA EVALUATIONUnited States Service Dogs
ESA Letter Evaluations for South Dakota
This page is general information about South 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.