Florida Emotional Support Animal Evaluations, Region by Region
Florida is one of the few states that wrote its own ESA documentation rules. That makes the quality of an evaluation especially important here. Use this page to understand the statute, then jump to the guide for your city or situation.
Statute 760.27 in the Law's Own Words
Enacted in 2020, the statute is short but specific. Three phrases matter most for anyone seeking documentation.
has personal knowledge of the person's disabilityThe practitioner must actually know your condition and act within the scope of their practice.
from a telehealth providerRemote care is accepted, under the same personal knowledge standard.
not, by itself, sufficient informationAn online registration or certificate alone does not establish a disability or need.
Florida Housing Providers: Allowed and Not Allowed
Statute 760.27 sets boundaries on both sides of the request.
Allowed
Asking for reliable supporting information when the disability or need is not apparent
Asking for proof of state and local licensing and vaccination compliance
Holding the resident liable for damage the animal causes
Not allowed
Requiring extra compensation for the emotional support animal
Asking for the diagnosis, its severity or medical records
Requiring a specific form or notarized statement
Two Florida Fraud Statutes
Florida treats fake documentation and fake service animals as crimes, not just policy violations.
Emotional support animal documentation
Falsifying information or written documentation for an ESA is a second-degree misdemeanor, plus 30 hours of community service.
Service animal misrepresentation
Knowingly posing as a service animal user or trainer is a second-degree misdemeanor, plus 30 hours of community service within six months.
Forty Florida Guides by Region and Topic
Pick a region or topic tab.
Condo Towers and Lakeside Rentals
Much of Florida's housing sits inside associations, where a board rather than a single landlord reviews the request.
The Florida Evaluation, Step by Step
Screening
A free questionnaire about symptoms and housing.
Assessment
A licensed clinician evaluates you directly, including by telehealth.
Clinical judgment
Documentation only when a disability-related need is found.
Housing request
You share the letter with your landlord or association.
Florida Commission on Human Relations
FCHR takes housing discrimination complaints within one year of the alleged violation. HUD accepts federal complaints on a similar timeline, now focused on trained animals, and private Fair Housing Act lawsuits generally have two years.
Florida Plans and Pricing
Every plan begins with the Free Screening. Prices below update from our live pricing system.
Florida ESA Questions and Straight Answers
What can a Florida landlord ask for with an ESA request?
Under Florida Statute 760.27, a housing provider may request reliable information that supports the disability and the need for the emotional support animal when these are not apparent, and may ask for proof that the animal meets state and local licensing and vaccination rules.
Are online ESA evaluations allowed in Florida?
Florida's statute accepts information from a telehealth provider, as long as the practitioner has personal knowledge of the person's disability and acts within the scope of practice. An online registration or certificate alone is not enough.
Can a Florida landlord charge a pet fee for an emotional support animal?
Statute 760.27 says the person may not be required to pay extra compensation for the animal. The resident remains liable for any damage the animal causes.
What is the penalty for fake ESA documentation in Florida?
Under Statute 817.265, falsifying information or documentation for an emotional support animal is a second-degree misdemeanor, and the court must also order 30 hours of community service.
How long do I have to file a housing complaint in Florida?
The Florida Commission on Human Relations accepts housing discrimination complaints within one year, or 365 days, of the alleged violation.
Did the 2026 HUD change affect Florida's ESA statute?
HUD's May 2026 change narrowed federal enforcement to trained animals, but it did not repeal Florida Statute 760.27. How state enforcement treats untrained ESAs going forward has not been widely tested, so confirm with the Florida Commission on Human Relations if a dispute arises.
More Florida Reading
General information for Florida residents, current as of September 2026, and not legal advice. A clinical evaluation does not guarantee documentation or approval by a landlord or association. In a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
Documentation That Meets Florida's Standard
Begin with a short screening before any clinical evaluation.
