Illinois Emotional Support Animal Registration

Register Your Emotional Support Animal in Illinois

For ESA owners in Chicago, Aurora, Naperville or Springfield: 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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Illinois ESA Laws at a Glance

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

In Illinois, keeping an emotional support animal is a housing question, decided as a reasonable-accommodation request under the federal Fair Housing Act and 310 ILCS 120. Since May 22, 2026, HUD reviews requests for untrained ESAs case by case, so Illinois's own rules below matter.

State housing law310 ILCS 120Assistance Animal Integrity Act (housing)
ESA letter rulesIf need isn't apparent, landlord may ask for written documentation from someone with a therapeutic relationship with you; online certificate sellers that do no meaningful assessment don't qualify.310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10
ESA misrepresentation penaltyNo ESA-specific state penalty
Where to file a housing complaintIllinois Department of Human RightsFile within 1 year of the incident.

Act (P.A. 101-518, eff. Jan. 1, 2020) bars pet fees/deposits for assistance animals but sets no penalty for misrepresentation.

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  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

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Illinois ESA FAQ

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

No. Neither federal nor Illinois law requires or recognizes ESA registration; what counts is documentation that meets 310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10.

What does Illinois require in an ESA letter?

If need isn't apparent, landlord may ask for written documentation from someone with a therapeutic relationship with you; online certificate sellers that do no meaningful assessment don't qualify. (310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10).

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

The landlord must consider it as a reasonable-accommodation request under 310 ILCS 120 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 Illinois law. Illinois bars extra pet fees or deposits for assistance animals, though you remain liable for damage.

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

No. 775 ILCS 30/3 and the ADA give access rights to trained service dogs only.

Can I fly with my ESA from Chicago O'Hare (ORD)?

Airlines at Chicago O'Hare (ORD) 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 Illinois?

With the Illinois Department of Human Rights 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. 310 ILCS 120 — housing
  2. 310 ILCS 120/5, 120/10 — ESA documentation
  3. Illinois Department of Human Rights — 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 775 ILCS 30/3.

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This summary of Illinois 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.