Pets in Condos: New HUD Rules re Training Emotional Support Animals

New HUD rules strike down Emotional Support Animal (ESA) training provisions. Pet unfriendly condos and HOAs may have no choice but to turn pet-friendly.

The new HUD rules in “no pet” housing are as follows:

1. Specialized task training of ESAs is unnecessary – “emotional support animals do not need training to ameliorate the effects of a person’s mental and emotional disabilities. Emotional support animals by their very nature, and without training, may relieve depression and anxiety, and/or help reduce stress-induced pain in persons with certain medical conditions affected by stress.” (This includes emotional support emotional support dogs and emotional support cats.)

2. Documentation of the need for an ESA may come from a “physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other mental health professional.” In Florida, “other mental health professionals” refers to the following health care professionals duly licensed by the Florida Department of Health:

* licensed mental health counselors
* licensed clinical psychologists
* licensed clinical social workers
* licensed marriage and family therapists.

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READ THE RULING HERE!
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