Minnesota Emotional Support Animal Registration

Register Your Emotional Support Animal in Minnesota

For ESA owners in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester or Duluth: 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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Minnesota ESA Laws at a Glance

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

In Minnesota, keeping an emotional support animal is a housing question, decided as a reasonable-accommodation request under the federal Fair Housing Act and Minn. Stat. § 504B.113. Since May 22, 2026, HUD reviews requests for untrained ESAs case by case, so Minnesota's own rules below matter.

State housing lawMinn. Stat. § 504B.113Minnesota Human Rights Act; landlord-tenant support animal statute
ESA letter rulesDocumentation must come from a MN-licensed professional, or an out-of-state licensee with an existing treatment relationship. Providers whose main business is certifying animals don't count.Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, subd. 2
ESA misrepresentation penaltyLandlord may deny the application or the animal request; lease-breach eviction not barred. No fine.Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, subd. 4-5
Where to file a housing complaintMinnesota Department of Human RightsFile within 1 year of the incident.

Enacted 2021, amended 2024; also bars extra fees or deposits for support animals. The criminal law in § 609.833 covers only service animals in public places.

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  1. 1Owner
  2. 2Animal
  3. 3Kit
  4. 4Add-ons
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Step 1. Owner’s Information

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Minnesota ESA FAQ

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

No. Neither federal nor Minnesota law requires or recognizes ESA registration; what counts is documentation that meets Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, subd. 2.

What does Minnesota require in an ESA letter?

Documentation must come from a MN-licensed professional, or an out-of-state licensee with an existing treatment relationship. Providers whose main business is certifying animals don't count. (Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, subd. 2).

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

The landlord must consider it as a reasonable-accommodation request under Minn. Stat. § 504B.113 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 Minnesota law. Minnesota bars extra pet fees or deposits for assistance animals, though you remain liable for damage.

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

Yes. Under Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, subd. 4-5: Landlord may deny the application or the animal request; lease-breach eviction not barred. No fine.

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

No. Minn. Stat. §§ 363A.19, 256C.02 and the ADA give access rights to trained service dogs only.

Can I fly with my ESA from Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP)?

Airlines at Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP) 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 Minnesota?

With the Minnesota 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. Minn. Stat. § 504B.113 — housing
  2. Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, subd. 2 — ESA documentation
  3. Minn. Stat. § 504B.113, subd. 4-5 — misrepresentation
  4. Minnesota Department of Human Rights — 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 Minn. Stat. §§ 363A.19, 256C.02.

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This summary of Minnesota 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.