Tennessee Emotional Support Animal Registration

Register Your Emotional Support Animal in Tennessee

For ESA owners in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville or Chattanooga: an ID card, certificate and digital ID in a few minutes.

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  • Digital ID for your phone
  • Online lookup by ID number
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Tennessee ESA Laws at a Glance

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

In Tennessee, keeping an emotional support animal is a housing question, decided as a reasonable-accommodation request under the federal Fair Housing Act and Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111. Since May 22, 2026, HUD reviews requests for untrained ESAs case by case, so Tennessee's own rules below matter.

State housing lawTenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111Tennessee Human Rights Act (housing); service/support animal exception to no-pet policies
ESA letter rulesLandlord may request 'reliable documentation' from a provider licensed in any state (or other reliable source) with actual knowledge of the disability. Certificates from websites that sell them for a fee don't qualify.Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111(a)(3)-(4), (c)-(e)
ESA misrepresentation penaltyClass B misdemeanor. It is also a lease default, so the landlord may end the tenancy and recover damages and fees.Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-304; § 66-7-111(f)
Where to file a housing complaintTennessee Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement DivisionFile within 180 days of the incident.

The Tennessee Human Rights Commission was dissolved in 2025. Housing complaints now go to the Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division.

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Tennessee ESA FAQ

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

No. Neither federal nor Tennessee law requires or recognizes ESA registration; what counts is documentation that meets Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111(a)(3)-(4), (c)-(e).

What does Tennessee require in an ESA letter?

Landlord may request 'reliable documentation' from a provider licensed in any state (or other reliable source) with actual knowledge of the disability. Certificates from websites that sell them for a fee don't qualify. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111(a)(3)-(4), (c)-(e)).

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

The landlord must consider it as a reasonable-accommodation request under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?

Yes. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-304; § 66-7-111(f): Class B misdemeanor. It is also a lease default, so the landlord may end the tenancy and recover damages and fees.

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

No. Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-7-112 and the ADA give access rights to trained service dogs only.

Can I fly with my ESA from Nashville (BNA)?

Airlines at Nashville (BNA) 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 Tennessee?

With the Tennessee Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division within 180 days 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. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111 — housing
  2. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-7-111(a)(3)-(4), (c)-(e) — ESA documentation
  3. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-304; § 66-7-111(f) — misrepresentation
  4. Tennessee Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Division — 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 Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-7-112.

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This summary of Tennessee 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.