Florida Emotional Support Animal Registration

Register Your Emotional Support Animal in Florida

For ESA owners in Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa or Orlando: an ID card, certificate and digital ID in a few minutes.

  • ID card & certificate
  • Digital ID for your phone
  • Online lookup by ID number
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Florida ESA Laws at a Glance

Written by: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-MHSP)
Medically Reviewed by Evelyn Daley MSW, LCSW
Published: Last updated:

In Florida, keeping an emotional support animal is a housing question, decided as a reasonable-accommodation request under the federal Fair Housing Act and Fla. Stat. § 760.27. Since May 22, 2026, HUD reviews requests for untrained ESAs case by case, so Florida's own rules below matter.

State housing lawFla. Stat. § 760.27Florida Fair Housing Act: emotional support animals
ESA letter rulesThe letter writer needs personal knowledge of the disability. An out-of-state provider counts only after seeing the tenant in person at least once. Online registrations or certificates alone are not enough.Fla. Stat. § 760.27
ESA misrepresentation penaltySecond-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days jail, $500 fine) plus 30 hours of community service.Fla. Stat. § 817.265
Where to file a housing complaintFlorida Commission on Human RelationsFile within 1 year of the incident.

Enacted in 2020 (SB 1084). Landlords may not ask for a diagnosis or medical records, or require a specific form or a notarized statement.

Start Your Florida ESA Registration

  1. 1Owner
  2. 2Animal
  3. 3Kit
  4. 4Add-ons
Need an ESA letter for housing? Online evaluation by a licensed mental health professional Licensed in your state · approval not guaranteed Book Appointment
Step 1. Owner’s Information

We’ll send your registration confirmation and digital materials to your email.

Florida ESA FAQ

Do I need to register my emotional support animal in Florida?

No. Neither federal nor Florida law requires or recognizes ESA registration; what counts is documentation that meets Fla. Stat. § 760.27.

What does Florida require in an ESA letter?

The letter writer needs personal knowledge of the disability. An out-of-state provider counts only after seeing the tenant in person at least once. Online registrations or certificates alone are not enough. (Fla. Stat. § 760.27).

Can my landlord in Florida refuse my ESA or charge a pet fee?

The landlord must consider it as a reasonable-accommodation request under Fla. Stat. § 760.27 and the federal Fair Housing Act. Since May 2026, HUD no longer treats untrained ESAs as presumptively reasonable, so the outcome depends on your facts and Florida law. If it's granted, ask in writing whether pet fees or deposits are waived.

Is it illegal to misrepresent an emotional support animal in Florida?

Yes. Under Fla. Stat. § 817.265: Second-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days jail, $500 fine) plus 30 hours of community service.

Can I take my ESA into stores or restaurants in Florida?

No. Fla. Stat. § 413.08 and the ADA give access rights to trained service dogs only.

Can I fly with my ESA from Orlando (MCO)?

Airlines at Orlando (MCO) may treat an ESA as a pet under 14 CFR Part 382, so check your airline's pet rules before booking.

Where can I file a housing complaint in Florida?

With the Florida Commission on Human Relations within 1 year of the incident, or with HUD within 1 year. Private Fair Housing Act lawsuits can be filed within 2 years.

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Official Sources

  1. Fla. Stat. § 760.27 — housing
  2. Fla. Stat. § 817.265 — misrepresentation
  3. Florida Commission on Human Relations — housing complaints
  4. Report Housing Discrimination (HUD) — federal complaints
  5. 14 CFR Part 382 (U.S. DOT air travel rules) — flying with animals
  6. ADA Requirements: Service Animals (U.S. Department of Justice) — why ESAs lack public access

Need a Service Dog Registration Instead?

A task-trained dog, including a psychiatric service dog, is covered by Fla. Stat. § 413.08.

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This summary of Florida law was last reviewed in October 2026 and is general information, not legal advice. United States Service Dogs is a private registration service, does not issue ESA letters, and is not a government agency.