Student Disability and Accessibility Center

What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?

An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability. The person seeking the emotional support animal must have a verifiable disability related to the need for the ESA (the reason cannot be solely a need for companionship).

What is the difference between a Service Animal and an ESA?

Service animals are defined as dogs or miniature horses that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. These tasks can include things like pulling a wheelchair, guiding a person who is visually impaired, alerting a person who is having a seizure, or even calming a person who suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The tasks a service dog can perform are not limited to this list. However, the work or task a service dog does must be directly related to the person's disability. Service dogs may accompany persons with disabilities into places that the public normally goes. The law that allows a trained service dog to accompany a person with a disability is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

An emotional support animal provides emotional support to help mitigate symptoms of a psychiatric disability or other mental impairment. An ESA is not specifically trained to perform tasks for a person who suffers from emotional disabilities.

What do I need to qualify to have an Emotional Support Animal in university housing?

• You must have a qualifying disability that is confirmed by the Student Disability and Accessibility Center (SDAC)
• Must demonstrate an established, ongoing relationship with a licensed treating provider related to your disability
• Have a letter from your treating provider (therapist or doctor) indicating that the ESA is part of your treatment plan dated within approximately the last 30 days

What are the requirements/documents necessary for ESA requests at CSUMB?

• Must have evidence supporting the ESA as an accommodation.
  • ESA Letter or SDAC ESA form are acceptable, completed within approximately 30 days of the request
  • Following CSU policy, SDAC does not accept ESA registration sites or online certificates. 
• All necessary vaccinations and licenses.
  • Per the Monterey County Health Department, if you live in unincorporated Monterey County, City of Salinas and all other cities within, your dog must be licensed after it is 4 months old. Cat licensing is voluntary but a rabies vaccination is required once the cat is 4 months old.

What information does my doctor need to provide in the ESA letter?

• Include evidence of qualifying disability
• Explain the support the ESA provides to your condition
• Include name and description of ESA
  
• Timeframe for accommodation (date of letter and date of expiration -up to 1 year)
• Must be signed by the provider 
• Must include licensure information of the provider
• Must be written on the official letterhead of the provider or the practice

What do I need to bring my ESA with me to CSUMB Housing?

1. Fill out the SDAC Application for Housing Accommodations
2. Gather documentation from a current licensed professional; an ESA Letter within 30 days or SDAC ESA form are acceptable.
3. Schedule an appointment with SDAC to discuss documentation and the need for the ESA
4. If approved, fill out and sign the ESA Agreement that will be sent to Student Housing and Residential Life for their records.

SDAC Recommends students begin the request/renewal process for an ESA before moving in to ensure implementation of accommodation.

When can I bring my ESA to CSUMB Housing?

Once you have met with SDAC for your Housing intake appointment, have submitted all required documentation and signed the ESA Agreement for the AY you are applying for, and received written confirmation from SDAC and Housing that your ESA has been confirmed as an accommodation.

ESA’s may NOT be brought to campus prior to the above, or you may risk an unapproved pet fine and possible loss of ability for approval to have the ESA on campus.

Do ESA requests need to be renewed?

Yes, ESA requests are to be renewed every academic year with recent medical documentation. SDAC recommends students renew their ESA requests once they have submitted their SDAC housing request/application for the AY they are applying for.

What if I am not established with a licensed professional to provide me with an ESA letter?

If you are not established with a licensed treating provider, please consult with SDAC for resources.

Can I get a letter from an ESA Verification site?

Following CSU ESA policy, SDAC does not accept ESA sites; however, online professional therapy sites are accepted.

Where can I bring my ESA on campus?

Please consult the animals on campus policy

A service or emotional support animal can be asked to leave or not allowed participation on campus if:

• The animal is found by the University to be out of control or disruptive and the animal’s owner does not take immediate and effective action to control it
• The animal is not leashed and/or is roaming freely
• The animal is not housebroken
• The animal is found to be neglected or mistreated and prompt corrective action is not taken

Disability Rights California, Fact Sheet: Rights to Assistance Animals in Housing:

Disability Rights California, Fact Sheet: Service Animals in Business and Public Spaces:

Monterey County Animal Services, dog licensing: