Can Your Landlord Verify Your ESA Letter? What Florida Landlords Can and Can’t Check

Why Florida Landlords Verify ESA Letters

Florida landlords and HOA boards see a lot of letters from online “letter mills” and registration websites. Florida takes this seriously: under Florida Statute 817.265, knowingly submitting false information to obtain an ESA accommodation is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Because of this, many property managers now have a standard verification step. It’s not a sign they doubt you personally.

What Your Landlord Can Check

• The provider’s license. Anyone can look up a Florida health care license through the Florida Department of Health’s online license verification. Your landlord can confirm the license is active and in good standing.
• That the provider wrote the letter. A landlord may contact the provider’s office to confirm the letter is authentic.
• Where the provider is licensed. Under Florida law, a letter from an out-of-state provider is only reliable if that provider has seen you in person at least once. See our guide to moving to Florida with your ESA.
• The letter’s date. Most housing providers expect a letter written within the last 12 months.
• Vaccination and licensing records. Florida law lets housing providers ask for proof your animal meets local requirements.

What Your Landlord Can’t Ask For

• Your diagnosis or the severity of your condition
• Your medical or therapy records
• Details of what you discussed with your provider
• An ESA “registration,” ID card, or certificate (these have no legal value)
• Extra fees or deposits to keep your ESA

Your provider also won’t share private information without your permission. Confirming they wrote a letter is very different from discussing your health.

What Happens If a Letter Fails Verification

If the provider can’t be reached, the license isn’t valid, or the letter came from an out-of-state provider who never saw you in person, a landlord can treat the letter as unreliable and deny the request. That’s why a letter from a website that only uses a quiz can cost you more in the long run.

Checklist: Will Your Letter Pass Verification?

Check	What to look for
Licensed professional	A Florida license number you can look up yourself
Reachable provider	A real phone number or email on the letter
Florida compliant	Florida-licensed, or out-of-state with at least one in-person visit
Current	Dated within the last 12 months
Real evaluation	Based on an actual conversation, not just an online quiz
No registration	No certificate, ID card, or registry number required

Why Florida Pet ESA Letters Verify Easily

Every Florida Pet ESA letter is written by Jay Charboneau, MS, LMHC, a Florida-licensed mental health counselor (license MH15843). Landlords can look up his license on the Florida Department of Health website, and his phone number and email are on every letter, so verification is quick and simple.

Start your free screening or call (727) 344-9930.

This article is for general information and isn’t legal advice.