Emotional support animals (ESAs) are incredibly valuable companions that can help you go about your day with greater ease, help you establish a routine, and provide you with the support you need to overcome symptoms of certain mental health conditions.
Understanding emotional support animals and laws that pertain to them in Ohio is essential if you want to add one of these companions to your life. Both state and federal laws apply, and while that can seem confusing, we’re here to help.
Below, we give you the details on everything you need to know about emotional support animal laws in Ohio.
What Is an Emotional Support Animal in Ohio?
Emotional support animals are companion animals that benefit their owners through their presence. ESAs are not trained to complete tasks for their owners. Instead, the companionship, comfort, and support they provide allow owners to have a greater sense of peace, a sense of routine, and support as they deal with the symptoms of a mental health condition or disability.
Emotional support animals can be any kind of animal, though they are often cats and dogs; you may choose rabbits, birds, fish, and reptiles as your ESA, among many other animals, if you feel that they would provide you with support and benefits.
What’s the Difference Between an ESA and a Service Dog in Ohio?
Service dogs and emotional support animals are similar in that they provide their owners with companionship. However, these two types of animal assistants are protected differently under federal law and Ohio law due to their different abilities.
First and foremost, a service dog is trained to help someone by learning a specific task related to the handler’s disability. These tasks can include things like fetching medication, providing alerts in the case of blood sugar drops or other medical issues, or interrupting self-harming behavior. The needs of the owner dictate the types of tasks the service dog learns to perform.
Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This federal legislation allows service dogs fairly wide-reaching public access rights due to the many tasks they help their owners with throughout the day.
Emotional support animals are not trained to complete disability-related tasks for their owners, and they are not protected by this act. This means that your ESA cannot accompany you into private spaces and public areas that are not pet-friendly like a service dog would be able to.
The difference in public access rights, and the fact that ESAs can be any type of animal, while service animals must be dogs, are the main differences between these two classifications of assistance animals.
Who Qualifies for an ESA in Ohio?
Anyone with a qualifying mental health condition or another disability may be eligible to add an emotional support animal to their treatment plan in Ohio. In general, your mental healthcare provider licensed in the state will evaluate your condition and determine if an ESA will benefit your life, in addition to making sure you are physically and mentally fit to care for your animal.
You can speak with your Ohio provider to learn more about how an ESA can benefit you specifically.
What Are the Emotional Support Animal Laws in Ohio?
Several federal and state-level laws define your emotional support animal rights in Ohio. We discuss these laws below so you know the essentials of your ESA rights.
Emotional Support Animal Housing Laws in Ohio
Like other states in the US, emotional support animals in Ohio are protected by housing laws that fall under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The FHA protects people who have disabilities from being discriminated against when looking into housing. This applies to renting apartments, townhouses, and other rental situations.
The Fair Housing Act states that people who have verified ESAs can have their pets on properties that are otherwise not pet-friendly. This means that if you have an ESA letter, you can bring your animal into an apartment or home that does not allow pets. You will also not be required to pay any pet rent, pet fees, or pet security deposits.
However, if your emotional support animal is destructive and damages rental property, you will be liable for the damages. A destructive or dangerous ESA can also be grounds for your landlord to deny your housing accommodations, so it’s important to only have ESAs you can properly care for and control.
Public Access Emotional Support Animal Laws in Ohio
Public access laws in Ohio cover places that the public can visit freely. In Ohio, this includes the following places:
- Public parks
- Museums
- Arboretums
- Some businesses
- Sidewalks
- Parking lots
- Roadways
- Entertainment venues (theaters, amphitheaters, sports stadiums)
Under the ADA, service dogs have public access rights. This means service animals have unique privileges that allow them to visit and stay at the above locations, even if pets aren’t normally allowed. There may be some exceptions, like some places of worship, but for the most part, service dogs are allowed wide-reaching public access rights.
However, emotional support animals do not have these same public access rights. Your ESA is not legally permitted into public and private spaces, and you can only take your ESA into a space that is pet-friendly towards your specific type of emotional support animal.
Failure to abide by laws and restrictions for your emotional support animal in public and private spaces can result in ejection and banning; call ahead and look into rules if you are confused or want to be sure your ESA can accompany you into a public or private space.
Emotional Support Animal Travel Laws in Ohio
When getting an emotional support animal in Ohio, you also have to consider travel laws, such as federal regulations for traveling on airplanes or state regulations for traveling on Ohio public transportation. Ohio public transportation only allows service animals access, so you cannot bring your ESA unless your chosen transport is explicitly pet-friendly; you can call and check if you have concerns.
Another thing to note is the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). This act applies to air travel for service dogs, and it also used to grant ESAs permissions to travel as service animals in the airplane’s cabin, but recent changes to the act in 2020 amended this.
Airlines are now allowed to treat ESAs as pets at their discretion, and you will need to adhere to all airline restrictions for pets in addition to paying pet fees. Some animals are also not allowed in the airplane cabin, so it’s important to check ESA and pet rules for your chosen airline before booking tickets.
Emotional Support Animal Employment Laws in Ohio
Ohio doesn’t have unique protections in place for ESAs in the workplace; only service animals have the protected right under the ADA to accompany their owner into a workplace, as safety allows.
Emotional support animals may be considered by some employers, however, and it’s important to request an accommodation from your employer as soon as you know you need one. In many cases, if your animal is well-behaved and doesn’t present a major safety issue in the workplace, your employer may be willing to let you bring your ESA to work.
How to Get an Emotional Support Animal in Ohio
Obtaining an emotional support animal doesn’t need to be difficult in Ohio. You will need to make an appointment to speak with a mental healthcare provider licensed in the state to receive a valid ESA letter; this letter is your key to requesting housing accommodations for your ESA.
We give you some more important details about this process below.
ESA Letters in Ohio
An emotional support animal letter (ESA letter) is a document signed by a licensed mental health professional and attesting to your need for an ESA.
A valid ESA letter must be provided to landlords if you want to live alongside your support animal without paying pet rent, pet fees, and pet security deposits; you can also bring your ESA into housing that doesn’t typically allow pets or restricts certain breeds and types of animals.
Speaking With a Licensed Mental Health Professional
The most important part of the ESA letter process is speaking with a qualified mental health professional. Some therapists or counselors have a license to practice therapy or medicine.
They must have a license or else they can’t prescribe you an emotional support animal as a type of treatment for your condition. The best way to get in touch with one is online, but it’s also possible to visit a therapist’s office in person or call to make an appointment.
When it comes to contacting a licensed mental health professional, many websites have networks with people who reach out and give the calls. So, you answer some questions online, schedule a call with a licensed mental health professional, and jump on the call.
During your appointment, you’ll be asked questions about your background, the issues you are struggling with, and how an ESA might benefit you. Based on your answers and the provider’s evaluation, your request for an emotional support animal may be approved or denied. You
The same process happens when you go through these steps in person, but you’re sitting face-to-face with a therapist. This is the best method for some people but too much pressure for others. Both options are viable, so it comes down to preference in most cases.
Receiving Your ESA Letter
After your ESA has been approved, it can take several days to a week or more for your therapist to write your ESA letter. Your provider will either email it to you or mail it to you, and as soon as you receive your documentation, you can use it to request housing accommodation.
Make sure to always keep a copy of this letter on file and keep an eye on the expiration date. You will need to renew your ESA letter when your current one expires.
Some websites allow you to download your ESA letter online. This can help you print the letter on the same day once you’re approved. Make sure you go through a reputable agency, like ours, that’s known for expediting the ESA letter process.
How Much Does an ESA Letter Cost?
Emotional support animals can range in price depending on your health insurance and the provider you utilize. In general, the letter does not have a cost, but an appointment to see your provider who will prescribe you the letter does.
An ESA letter varies in price depending on where you get it from. If you don’t go through a resource that specializes in providing people with ESA letters, the cost can be high. Plus, with our ESA consultation form, we can let you know in advance whether or not you can qualify.
Most people end up paying between $0 and $150 for an appointment with their licensed mental healthcare provider, and you can consult your health insurance or provider’s fee scale for more details. Keep in mind that it may take more than one appointment before you are officially approved for your ESA.
Get an Emotional Support Animal in Ohio Today
Emotional support animals can be a valuable part of your treatment plan, and if you are interested in obtaining an ESA in Ohio, understanding your ESA rights is a vital first step. Once you know what you can and cannot do with your emotional support animal, you can consult a licensed mental healthcare provider in your state to discuss your needs.
After your ESA is approved and you have your valid ESA letter, you’re free to request reasonable accommodations at your desired housing location. Make sure your ESA letter stays up to date to ensure you can always keep your companion at your side.