No-pet policy

Legal basis for an exception

The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to refuse reasonable accommodations in rules and policies when needed for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a home. HUD's regulation uses a no-pets building as its example: refusing a blind applicant with a guide dog is a violation.

The HUD and DOJ joint statement gives a similar example involving a deaf tenant and an assistance dog, concluding that the provider must make an exception to its no-pets policy.

How to request an exception

There's no special form required by federal law. A clear written request usually works best. The process generally looks like this:

• Tell the provider you have a disability and need your dog as an accommodation
• If your disability or need isn't obvious, provide reliable documentation, such as a letter from a licensed clinician
• Don't share your diagnosis or medical records unless you choose to
• Keep copies of everything you send and receive

Limits on the exception

An exception can be denied for a specific animal that poses a direct threat, or a request that would create an undue financial and administrative burden or fundamentally change the provider's operations. Those decisions must be individualized, not based on breed or general fear.

Some housing is exempt from the Fair Housing Act in limited circumstances, and state or local laws may add protections.

Handler responsibilities in housing

An approved accommodation comes with responsibilities. Keep your dog under control in shared spaces, clean up promptly and follow rules that apply to every resident, such as leash rules in common areas. You remain responsible for any damage the animal causes.

These habits protect your accommodation and help build goodwill for other assistance animal users in your building.

Current federal guidance

In September 2025, HUD withdrew its 2020 assistance animal notice (FHEO-2020-01) and its 2013 notice, saying they should not be relied on as authoritative. The Fair Housing Act and HUD's reasonable accommodation regulation were not withdrawn. HUD's May 22, 2026 enforcement guidance treats requests for animals individually trained to perform disability-related tasks, such as psychiatric service dogs, as presumptively reasonable, while untrained emotional support animals are reviewed case by case.

A PSD letter is designed for exactly this situation: explaining your disability-related need to a housing provider. It isn't needed for public access under the ADA. We can't promise any landlord will approve a request.