North Dakota Emotional Support Animal Registration

Register Your Emotional Support Animal in North Dakota

For ESA owners in Fargo, Bismarck or Grand Forks: an ID card, certificate and digital ID in a few minutes.

  • ID card & certificate
  • Digital ID for your phone
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North Dakota ESA Laws at a Glance

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

In North Dakota, keeping an emotional support animal is a housing question, decided as a reasonable-accommodation request under the federal Fair Housing Act and N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5. Since May 22, 2026, HUD reviews requests for untrained ESAs case by case, so North Dakota's own rules below matter.

State housing lawN.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5Disability documentation for service or assistance animals in rental dwellings (plus ND Housing Discrimination Act, N.D.C.C. ch. 14-02.5)
ESA letter rulesIf need isn't obvious, a landlord may require reliable documentation from a physician or medical professional confirming the disability and need. A provider operating in ND solely to certify animals doesn't count.N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5
ESA misrepresentation penaltyInfraction; after conviction, landlord may evict and recover a damage fee up to $1,000.N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.6
Where to file a housing complaintNorth Dakota Department of Labor and Human RightsFile within 1 year of the incident.

2025 bills (SB 2193, SB 2222) to require in-state licensure, 2+ sessions and a 30-day relationship for ESA letters both failed; current law has no 30-day rule.

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North Dakota ESA FAQ

Do I need to register my emotional support animal in North Dakota?

No. Neither federal nor North Dakota law requires or recognizes ESA registration; what counts is documentation that meets N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5.

What does North Dakota require in an ESA letter?

If need isn't obvious, a landlord may require reliable documentation from a physician or medical professional confirming the disability and need. A provider operating in ND solely to certify animals doesn't count. (N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5).

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

The landlord must consider it as a reasonable-accommodation request under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota?

Yes. Under N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.6: Infraction; after conviction, landlord may evict and recover a damage fee up to $1,000.

Can I take my ESA into stores or restaurants in North Dakota?

No. N.D. Cent. Code § 25-13-02 and the ADA give access rights to trained service dogs only.

Can I fly with my ESA from Fargo (FAR)?

Airlines at Fargo (FAR) 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 North Dakota?

With the North Dakota Department of Labor and 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. N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.5 — housing
  2. N.D.C.C. § 47-16-07.6 — misrepresentation
  3. North Dakota Department of Labor and 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 N.D. Cent. Code § 25-13-02.

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This summary of North Dakota 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.