Maryland ESA Letter Questions, Answered

There’s no fixed expiration date, yet in practice Maryland landlords look for a letter dated within the last year. An annual renewal keeps your paperwork fresh, which matters most right before you sign or renew a lease.

An ESA housing letter is $149, or $199 with an optional convenience ID card. Psychiatric service dog letters are priced the same, and each additional animal is $60. You complete a free pre-screening first and are only charged if a Maryland-licensed mental health professional approves you.

It is, as long as a Maryland-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 Maryland as an in-person one.

They can check that the licensed mental health professional who signed it holds an active license, but that’s the limit. A Maryland landlord may not ask for your diagnosis or medical records — only confirmation that a licensed provider issued the documentation.

A licensed mental health professional may consider conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic disorder, phobias, and other diagnoses that meaningfully affect daily life. General stress or simply wanting a pet doesn’t qualify — the licensed mental health professional makes an independent determination.

Generally no. A Maryland housing provider expects a letter from a mental health professional licensed in Maryland, so an out-of-state provider can create problems. We match you with a Maryland-licensed mental health professional for that reason.

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.

Yes — your evaluation is confidential, and a landlord can verify only the professional’s license, never your diagnosis or records.

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.

Airlines now treat ESAs as pets, so standard pet policies and fees apply. Task-trained psychiatric service dogs retain cabin access with the DOT form.

Once a licensed mental health professional approves you, your signed letter is typically delivered in 10–15 minutes.

The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights investigates housing discrimination in parallel with HUD’s Region III office. Either way, keep dated copies of your letter and all correspondence.