Texas ESA Letter Questions, Answered

An ESA letter doesn’t expire automatically, but most Texas housing providers prefer documentation from within the past 12 months. Renewing annually — especially before a move or lease renewal — keeps your letter current and avoids last-minute questions.

Pricing in Texas is straightforward: $149 for the ESA housing letter or $199 with the optional ID card, with PSD letters at the same rates and +$60 per additional animal. The pre-screening is free and you pay only if a licensed mental health professional approves you.

It is, as long as a Texas-licensed mental health professional actually evaluates you. The law cares about licensure and a real assessment, not the format, so a telehealth visit produces a letter that’s just as valid in Texas as an in-person one.

In most cases, yes. The Fair Housing Act requires Texas housing providers to grant a reasonable accommodation for a valid ESA, even where pets are banned, and they can’t add pet fees or breed limits. A few narrow exemptions exist, such as small owner-occupied buildings.

For housing in Texas, your letter should come from a mental health professional licensed in Texas. That’s what landlords and property managers look for, and it’s exactly who we match you with.

It’s possible. If a Texas-licensed mental health professional finds that a second animal provides its own distinct support, the documentation can reflect that. Additional animals are $60 each.

No. Once your accommodation is approved, pet rent, pet fees, and pet deposits don’t apply — an ESA isn’t legally a pet. You remain responsible for any actual damage your animal causes.

No — you can complete the evaluation first and present the letter whenever you’re ready, before or during a tenancy.

Generally no — the Fair Housing Act covers HOAs, condos, and co-ops, so community pet bans must yield to a valid accommodation.

It is. The visit is a private clinical consultation, and fair-housing law keeps your medical details out of a landlord’s reach.

Yes — campus housing is generally covered by the Fair Housing Act, so a valid letter supports an accommodation request in dorms and student apartments alike.

Only under your airline’s pet policy — the 2021 DOT rule change ended mandatory ESA accommodation. Task-trained psychiatric service dogs still fly in the cabin with the DOT form.

Quickly — approved letters are usually delivered within 10–15 minutes of your evaluation.

The Texas Workforce Commission’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Texas Fair Housing Act in parallel with HUD’s Region VI office in Fort Worth. Either way, keep dated copies of your letter and all correspondence.