ESA Letter in Texas From a Licensed Therapist

No. Texas has no statute that sets special requirements for ESA letters, unlike states such as California or Florida. ESA housing requests in Texas are handled under the federal Fair Housing Act and the Texas Fair Housing Act (Texas Property Code, Chapter 301), which both treat a request to keep an assistance animal as a reasonable-accommodation request.

A licensed health care professional who has evaluated you and knows your disability-related need, such as a licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), psychologist, psychiatrist or physician. A professional providing care to someone located in Texas generally needs to be licensed to practice there.

A landlord must consider your request as a reasonable accommodation. Since May 22, 2026, HUD presumes these requests reasonable only for individually trained animals and reviews requests for untrained ESAs case by case, so a Texas landlord may weigh your documentation and the specific facts. A request can also be denied if the animal poses a direct threat or would cause substantial damage. The Fair Housing Act itself has not changed.

Texas law has no ESA-specific rule on pet fees. If your accommodation request is granted, ask in writing whether pet deposits, pet rent and breed or weight limits will be waived. You remain responsible for any damage your animal causes.

Texas has no ESA-specific misrepresentation penalty. Its fake-service-animal law (Human Resources Code § 121.006) covers service animals in public places, not ESAs in housing. Giving false information to a landlord can still lead to a denied request, a lease violation or a fraud claim.

No. Public-access rights under the ADA and Texas Human Resources Code Chapter 121 belong to trained service animals. Texas businesses may apply their own pet policies to emotional support animals.

Under the U.S. Department of Transportation's rules (14 CFR Part 382), airlines may treat emotional support animals as pets, so expect pet fees, carrier size limits and cabin caps. Check your airline's pet policy before booking. A trained psychiatric service dog is still accepted as a service animal.

University housing is covered by the Fair Housing Act, and schools that receive federal funding must also follow Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Most Texas universities handle ESA requests through their disability services or housing office, so contact them early, before move-in.

With the Texas Workforce Commission's Civil Rights Division, or with HUD, within one year of the incident. A private Fair Housing Act lawsuit can be filed within two years.

Texas law sets no expiration date. Many landlords ask for documentation that is current, often within the last 12 months, so plan to renew when you sign or renew a lease.

No. The licensed therapist decides, based on your individual evaluation, whether an ESA recommendation is appropriate. If it isn't, no letter is issued.