Indiana Emotional Support Animal Registration

Register Your Emotional Support Animal in Indiana

For ESA owners in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne or Evansville: an ID card, certificate and digital ID in a few minutes.

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Indiana ESA Laws at a Glance

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

In Indiana, keeping an emotional support animal is a housing question, decided as a reasonable-accommodation request under the federal Fair Housing Act and Ind. Code § 22-9-7. Since May 22, 2026, HUD reviews requests for untrained ESAs case by case, so Indiana's own rules below matter.

State housing lawInd. Code § 22-9-7Emotional Support Animals in Housing (with Indiana Fair Housing Act, IC 22-9.5)
ESA letter rulesVerification must come from an Indiana-licensed physician, psychologist, counselor/social worker or APRN treating you; new residents may use a prior-state provider. Fee-only letter writers excluded.Ind. Code §§ 22-9-7-4, 22-9-7-9, 22-9-7-10
ESA misrepresentation penaltyClass A infraction (fine up to $10,000) for misrepresenting an ESA or need to a landlord, or false verification.Ind. Code § 22-9-7-12
Where to file a housing complaintIndiana Civil Rights CommissionFile within 1 year of the incident.

Enacted by P.L.162-2018; the $10,000 maximum comes from Indiana's general Class A infraction rule (IC 34-28-5-4).

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Indiana ESA FAQ

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

No. Neither federal nor Indiana law requires or recognizes ESA registration; what counts is documentation that meets Ind. Code §§ 22-9-7-4, 22-9-7-9, 22-9-7-10.

What does Indiana require in an ESA letter?

Verification must come from an Indiana-licensed physician, psychologist, counselor/social worker or APRN treating you; new residents may use a prior-state provider. Fee-only letter writers excluded. (Ind. Code §§ 22-9-7-4, 22-9-7-9, 22-9-7-10).

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

The landlord must consider it as a reasonable-accommodation request under Ind. Code § 22-9-7 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 Indiana 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 Indiana?

Yes. Under Ind. Code § 22-9-7-12: Class A infraction (fine up to $10,000) for misrepresenting an ESA or need to a landlord, or false verification.

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

No. Ind. Code § 16-32-3-2 and the ADA give access rights to trained service dogs only.

Can I fly with my ESA from Indianapolis (IND)?

Airlines at Indianapolis (IND) 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 Indiana?

With the Indiana Civil Rights Commission 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. Ind. Code § 22-9-7 — housing
  2. Ind. Code §§ 22-9-7-4, 22-9-7-9, 22-9-7-10 — ESA documentation
  3. Ind. Code § 22-9-7-12 — misrepresentation
  4. Indiana Civil Rights Commission — housing complaints
  5. Report Housing Discrimination (HUD) — federal complaints
  6. 14 CFR Part 382 (U.S. DOT air travel rules) — flying with animals
  7. 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 Ind. Code § 16-32-3-2.

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This summary of Indiana 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.