**** This is not legal advice. Always consult your own attorney/lawyer.

🐾 What Makes an ESA Letter Valid in Ohio

Ohio follows federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) rules for ESAs, and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) enforces them. The validity of an ESA letter depends on the credentials of the provider and the quality of the assessment, not on registration, certification, or online “licenses.”
Below are the requirements supported by Ohio’s professional board guidance and federal housing rules.

✅ A Valid ESA Letter in Ohio Must Include:
1. Written by a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP)
Examples include:
• Psychologists
• Licensed professional clinical counselors
• Licensed social workers
• Psychiatrists
• Other clinicians with appropriate scope of practice
Ohio’s Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage and Family Therapist Board states that providers must have education, training, and experience to assess ESA needs ohio.gov.

2. An Established Therapeutic Relationship
The provider must have:
• Conducted a face‑to‑face assessment (in person or telehealth)
• Evaluated the client’s mental health condition
• Determined the ESA is part of treatment
Ohio explicitly warns against letters issued without a therapeutic relationship or based only on client self‑report ohio.gov.

3. A Disability‑Related Need
The letter must state that:
• The individual has a mental or emotional disability
• The ESA helps alleviate symptoms or effects of that disability
The letter does not need to disclose the diagnosis.

4. Provider’s Licensing Information
A valid letter includes:
• Provider’s full name
• License type and number
• Licensing state
• Contact information
• Signature and date

5. Current and Relevant
Most housing providers expect the letter to be:
• Dated within the past 12 months
• On official letterhead

🚫 What Makes an ESA Letter NOT Valid in Ohio
Ohio’s regulatory board is very clear about what invalidates an ESA letter.

❌ Automatically Invalid or Rejected Letters:
1. Letters from Online “Instant ESA” Websites
If the provider:
• Never evaluated the person
• Never met the person
• Is not licensed in the client’s state
→ The letter is invalid under Ohio guidance and FHA standards.
Ohio warns that relying on disclosures without assessment can lead to discipline for clinicians ohio.gov.

2. Letters from Unlicensed Individuals
Invalid sources include:
• Life coaches
• Clergy
• Friends or family
• Unlicensed “ESA evaluators”
• Anyone without mental‑health licensure

3. No Assessment or Diagnosis
If the letter is based only on:
• A questionnaire
• A self‑reported condition
• A brief phone call with no evaluation
→ It is not valid.

4. Letters Missing Required Provider Information
Invalid if missing:
• License number
• Licensing state
• Provider identity
• Contact information
• Signature

5. Letters That Are Clearly Boilerplate
Housing providers can reject letters that:
• Look copy‑pasted
• Do not reference the individual
• Do not connect the ESA to a disability‑related need

6. Letters for Animals That Are Not ESAs
Ohio law distinguishes:
• Service animals (trained)
• ESAs (untrained)

If the letter incorrectly claims public‑access rights (restaurants, stores, etc.), it may be rejected because ESAs do not have public‑access rights under Ohio law ESA Doctors.

🏡 How Housing Providers Evaluate ESA Letters in Ohio
Under the FHA and OCRC Technical Policy T‑31:
• Landlords must accept valid ESA letters
• They cannot charge pet fees
• They cannot impose breed or weight restrictions
• They can verify the letter’s legitimacy (not the diagnosis)

If the letter is questionable, they may:
• Request verification of the provider’s license
• Request confirmation that the provider has a therapeutic relationship
• Request clarification if the letter is incomplete