Published September 03, 2026 · Delaware

Sample Delaware ESA Accommodation Request Letter for Landlords (2026 Template)

Asking a landlord to waive a no-pets policy or pet fee for an emotional support animal can feel intimidating, especially if you're not sure what the letter needs to say or who is allowed to write it. This guide walks Delaware renters through the exact components of a compliant ESA accommodation request, shows a sample letter structure you can adapt, and explains how the request fits into the protections outlined under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Delaware's own fair housing law. The goal is to help you present a clear, professional, and legally sound request to your landlord or property manager.

What You'll Need

Before you begin drafting or requesting your letter, gather the following:

• A licensed mental health professional (LMHP). Only a psychologist, psychiatrist, LCSW, LMFT, LPCMH, or other mental health provider licensed in Delaware (or otherwise permitted to treat Delaware clients under state law) can determine whether an ESA is therapeutically appropriate for you and issue the letter. A letter from a non-clinician, an online quiz result, or a pet-store certificate does not satisfy federal or Delaware housing requirements.
• Your current lease agreement. Have a copy on hand so you can reference the specific no-pets clause or pet-fee section you're requesting a waiver for.
• Landlord or property manager contact information. Know exactly who receives housing accommodation requests at your property (this is sometimes a corporate office rather than the on-site manager).
• Basic information about your animal. Species and, if relevant, a general description are usually sufficient. Landlords are not entitled to your diagnosis, your therapy notes, or invasive detail about your condition.
• A calm, direct cover note or email to accompany the letter when you submit your request in writing.

Step-by-Step: Requesting Your ESA Accommodation

1. Step 1: Confirm an ESA may be appropriate for you

   Start with an honest conversation with a licensed mental health professional. Many people managing anxiety, depression, PTSD, or similar conditions find that a support animal is a meaningful part of their treatment plan, but that determination has to come from an individualized clinical evaluation, not a one-size-fits-all form. A licensed clinician will determine whether an ESA is therapeutically appropriate for your specific circumstances.

2. Step 2: Obtain a letter from a Delaware-appropriate LMHP

   Once your clinician determines an ESA may be appropriate, they will draft a letter on professional letterhead. The letter should be signed and dated, and should include the clinician's license type and license number. Delaware does not currently impose a mandatory minimum-length therapeutic relationship before an ESA letter can be issued (unlike states such as California, Montana, Arkansas, Iowa, and Louisiana, which require at least 30 days of established care first), but a legitimate letter still reflects a real clinical evaluation, not an instant form-fill.

3. Step 3: Review what the letter should (and shouldn't) contain

   Under HUD's guidance memo FHEO-2020-01, "Assessing a Person's Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act," a sufficient letter generally confirms: (1) that you are a person with a disability as defined by the FHA, (2) that the clinician has a professional relationship with you sufficient to make that determination, and (3) that the animal provides emotional support that alleviates one or more symptoms of your condition. It does not need to name your specific diagnosis.

4. Step 4: Draft your written accommodation request

   Put your request in writing (email is fine, but keep a copy) rather than relying on a verbal conversation. Reference the specific lease provision you're asking to be waived and attach your clinician's letter. For a deeper walkthrough of what belongs in the request itself and how it ties to federal protections, see our guide on the Delaware ESA housing letter and FHA requirements.

5. Step 5: Use the sample structure below to format your letter

   You can adapt the following outline. This is a general structure, not a fill-in-the-blank legal form; your clinician will phrase the clinical portion in their own words.

   [Clinician Name, Credentials, License Number]
   [Practice Name and Address]
   [Date]

   To Whom It May Concern:

   I am writing on behalf of my client, [Client Name], who is under my care and is a person with a disability as defined by the Fair Housing Act. As part of this client's treatment, I have determined that an emotional support animal is medically or therapeutically appropriate, as the animal provides support that helps alleviate one or more symptoms associated with this client's condition.

   I am requesting a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act to permit this client to keep their support animal, a [species], in their residence, including in housing that otherwise restricts pets, without additional pet fees or deposits typically charged for pets.

   Please feel free to contact me at [phone/email] if you require additional information consistent with HUD guidance under FHEO-2020-01.

   Sincerely,
   [Clinician Signature]
   [License Type and Number, State of Delaware or applicable jurisdiction]

6. Step 6: Submit the request and allow reasonable processing time

   Deliver the letter and your written request to the correct contact, and keep dated copies of everything you send. Landlords are permitted a reasonable period to review the request, and in some cases may follow up with narrow, permitted questions if the letter's disability-related basis is not obvious. They are not entitled to interrogate your medical history further.

7. Step 7: Know your options if the request is denied or ignored

   If your landlord denies the request outright, imposes conditions the FHA doesn't allow (like breed or weight restrictions applied to ESAs, or pet rent), or simply doesn't respond, you have paths forward. Review our breakdown of how Delaware no-pets policies interact with ESA accommodation requests, and if you've already been turned down, see our guide on what to do after an ESA letter is denied in Delaware, including when to loop in a Delaware-licensed attorney.

Tips for a Smoother Process

• Keep it simple. A one-page letter that hits the required elements is more effective than a lengthy document padded with unnecessary personal detail.
• Submit in writing, every time. A text message or hallway conversation is much harder to enforce than a dated written request with an attached letter.
• Don't wait until move-in day. Property managers often need time to update records or notify staff; requesting the accommodation early avoids last-minute friction.
• Understand this letter is for housing, not air travel. Since 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation no longer requires airlines to accommodate ESAs under the Air Carrier Access Act; most airlines now treat emotional support animals as ordinary pets subject to standard pet policies and fees. If travel accommodation matters to you, ask your clinician whether a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) pathway, which involves specific task-trained requirements, might be relevant to your situation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using an online "ESA registry" or certificate mill. HUD has explicitly stated that no legitimate national ESA registry or certification database exists. Registries, ID cards, and vests do not carry legal weight; only a letter from a licensed mental health professional does.
• Assuming any letter, from any provider, works everywhere. A letter should come from an LMHP licensed to serve you in your state. If you live in Delaware but a provider is licensed only elsewhere and has no relationship with you, your letter may face additional scrutiny.
• Providing more medical detail than required. You are not obligated to disclose your specific diagnosis to your landlord.
• Expecting instant results. A landlord may take a reasonable amount of time to process the request, and approval is never automatic or guaranteed; each request is evaluated on its own facts.

What to Expect

Many renters find that a well-documented, properly submitted request results in a smoother conversation with their landlord than they anticipated, particularly when the letter clearly reflects HUD's FHEO-2020-01 framework and the request is submitted in writing with reasonable notice. That said, outcomes vary by property, lease terms, and individual landlord policies, and a letter alone does not eliminate every possible dispute. If a disagreement does arise, understanding your rights under both federal law and Delaware's own fair housing protections puts you in a stronger position to resolve it.

Delaware Legal Context

At the federal level, the Fair Housing Act protects individuals with disabilities from housing discrimination and requires covered housing providers to make reasonable accommodations, including waiving no-pets rules for assistance animals, when supported by appropriate documentation. HUD's FHEO-2020-01 notice is the operative federal guidance landlords and housing providers are expected to follow when evaluating these requests.

Delaware also maintains its own state fair housing protections, enforced through the Delaware Division of Human Relations, which parallel and reinforce federal FHA obligations for housing providers operating in the state. Because state and local rules can shift and enforcement details matter, this article is general information only, not legal advice; for a dispute specific to your lease or property, consult a Delaware-licensed attorney or your local legal aid office.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, or legal advice. It is not a substitute for an individualized evaluation by a licensed mental health professional or for guidance from a Delaware-licensed attorney regarding a specific housing dispute. Whether an emotional support animal is appropriate for you can only be determined by a licensed clinician who evaluates your individual circumstances, and whether a specific accommodation request will be granted depends on the facts of your situation. If you are facing a housing denial or dispute, consider consulting a Delaware-licensed attorney or your local legal aid office.