No. Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), housing providers in New York — including landlords, property managers, and co-op boards — must make reasonable accommodations for tenants with a valid ESA letter. As long as your letter is issued by a licensed New York mental health professional and you qualify, your landlord or co-op board cannot legally deny your ESA, regardless of breed, size, or weight.

Yes. ESA letters are widely recognized throughout New York, from Manhattan high-rises and Brooklyn co-ops to student housing in Buffalo or family homes in Albany. A legitimate ESA letter ensures that your emotional support animal can live with you in housing that otherwise restricts or bans pets. Your housing provider may ask for documentation, but they cannot charge pet deposits or deny your ESA if your letter is valid.

Most New York residents receive their ESA letter the same day they complete their evaluation (if purchased before 5pm ET and a licensed clinician is available). If you choose our Same-Day Upgrade at checkout, your request is placed in priority review. In most cases, that means your letter is reviewed and delivered within just a few hours. If a licensed health professional is not available, your evaluation will be completed the next business day as the top priority.

Once you qualify, you’ll receive a digital copy of your letter right away through our secure portal. If you’d like a hard copy mailed, you can add that at checkout. This ensures you’ll have the documentation you need quickly for your landlord, co-op board, or housing office.

An ESA letter is written by a licensed mental health professional in New York and confirms your need for an emotional support animal. In New York, it allows you to live with your pet in housing that might otherwise ban certain animals or charge high deposits.

Yes. A legitimate ESA letter in New York must come from a licensed mental health provider — never a template or auto-approval. Your evaluation is reviewed by a clinician who ensures your letter meets federal housing requirements.

Yes. ESA letters obtained through secure telehealth platforms are legal in New York as long as they’re issued by a qualified licensed professional. What matters isn’t how you meet — it’s that the letter is signed by a qualified provider.

New Yorkers dealing with conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental or emotional challenges may qualify. A licensed provider will review your assessment and determine whether an ESA letter is appropriate.

Here’s how it works in New York:

1. Complete a short online wellness check.

2. Choose your plan and complete payment.

3. Get matched with a licensed New York provider.

4. Once you are approved, receive your ESA letter digitally and securely.

A Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) letter confirms that your dog is trained — or in training — to perform tasks that support your mental health. Unlike ESAs, PSDs are considered service animals under the ADA, giving them housing and travel protections.

An ESA letter allows you to live with your emotional support animal in housing across New York, even in “no-pet” rentals, but does not include travel rights. A PSD letter is for dogs only, and since service animals are recognized under the ADA, they are protected in housing, public places, and on flights.

Yes. A Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) must be trained to perform basic tasks. Training can be done by you or with a professional trainer, but the dog must be training or in training for you to qualify. During your evaluation, the mental health professional will simply ask you if your dog is trained. 

In New York, you may qualify for a PSD letter if you have a mental health condition such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression, and your dog is trained (or in training) to help manage it. A licensed provider will confirm eligibility after reviewing your situation.

The wellness assessment is a simple first step that helps you see if an ESA letter might be a good fit. It’s free because it’s not a diagnosis — it’s a screening tool designed to give you clarity before you decide to move forward with a licensed New York provider.

Once you complete the wellness check, you’ll choose a plan and submit payment. From there, you’ll be connected with a licensed provider in New York who will carefully review your answers and decide if you qualify. If approved, your ESA letter will be issued digitally.

If you don’t qualify, you won’t be charged. Our process is designed to be completely risk-free — no approval means no payment.

That’s exactly why the wellness check exists. It gives you an early indicator of your likelihood to qualify, and a licensed New York provider will make the final call.

Many websites advertise “instant letters,” but those rarely hold up if a landlord checks. At Just Big Dogs, every New York evaluation is reviewed by a licensed professional, never a bot. We focus on compliance, privacy, and making sure your ESA letter is valid and defensible and that’s why we guarantee it. 

In most cases, yes. Dogs and cats are most common, but your provider may also approve other animals such as rabbits or birds. It’s ultimately up to the licensed professional to decide what makes sense for your situation. PSDs are dogs only and only a single dog can qualify per letter. 

ESA letters must be renewed every 12 months to remain valid in New York. This ensures that your relationship with your provider stays current and your documentation is always up to date.

Landlords in New York: Yes. With a valid letter from a licensed provider, landlords are required under federal housing law to accept your ESA, even in “no-pet” rentals.

Airlines: Most airlines no longer recognize ESA letters for travel. If you need to fly with your dog, a PSD letter may be the right option.

Yes. Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords in New York must honor valid ESA letters. This means your landlord cannot charge pet deposits, deny your application, or enforce breed/size restrictions if you have a legitimate ESA letter.

Yes. With a valid ESA letter, landlords in New York cannot charge pet deposits or apply breed/size restrictions. This means even dogs like Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, or large breeds must be allowed without extra costs.

An ESA provides emotional comfort and housing protections but does not have public access rights. A service animal, such as a PSD, is specially trained to perform tasks that support a disability and is protected under the ADA, including in public spaces.

Once approved, most New Yorkers receive their ESA letter digitally within 24 hours. If you need it faster, same-day priority options may be available during checkout as long as you order before 5pm ET. If later, we still put you ‘ahead of the line’ for priority processing the next business morning. 

It means if you qualify, your ESA letter can be issued and emailed to you on the same day your provider completes the review as long as it is received before 5pm ET. This gives you documentation right away to show your landlord or property manager. If you order it later, the health professional may process it the next business day. 

Possibly. Some licensed providers may approve more than one animal if it’s clinically appropriate. For example, two cats or a bonded pair of dogs. This decision is always made by the provider after reviewing your needs.

Yes. ESA evaluations qualify as eligible medical expenses, so you can use your HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) card at checkout, just like a debit card.

It allows you to use pre-tax money already set aside for healthcare, reducing out-of-pocket costs. Many clients find this makes the evaluation more affordable and tax-efficient.

No. At this time, ESA evaluations are not covered under Medicare and Medicaid in New York. You’ll need to pay privately, but you can use HSA/FSA cards for payment.

No. Just Big Dogs is not the medical provider. We connect you with licensed professionals in New York who evaluate your case and, if appropriate, issue your ESA or PSD letter.