Published September 01, 2026 · Maryland

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

Requesting reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal in a Maryland rental starts with one document: a clear, properly formatted letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP), submitted to your landlord or property manager. This guide walks through exactly what belongs in that request, provides a sample Maryland ESA accommodation request letter template you can adapt, and explains the process a landlord is required to follow once they receive it. It is written for tenants who already have, or are working with a clinician to obtain, an ESA letter and now need to formally present it to housing.

What Goes Into a Valid ESA Accommodation Request

A Maryland ESA letter to landlord is not a form you fill out yourself. Under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's FHEO-2020-01 guidance, "Assessing a Person's Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act," a valid request has two parts: a tenant's written statement that they have a disability-related need for the animal, and documentation from a licensed health care professional confirming that the animal provides support related to a disability. There is no national or Maryland ESA registry, certification, or ID card that substitutes for this, HUD has explicitly warned that online "registries" and instant certificates carry no legal weight. The only document that matters is a letter from an LMHP who is licensed in Maryland (or licensed in the client's state of residence) and has made an individualized determination that an ESA may be appropriate.

Maryland does not currently impose a separate state ESA statute layered on top of the federal Fair Housing Act, unlike states such as California or Montana that require a minimum 30-day clinician relationship before a letter can be issued. That makes the process comparatively straightforward here, but it also means Maryland tenants rely on the same core federal standard, a genuine clinical evaluation, rather than a faster loophole. For a deeper look at how the FHA applies specifically to Maryland renters, see our guide on the Maryland ESA housing letter and FHA protections.

Materials You'll Need

• A signed ESA letter from a Maryland-licensed mental health professional (LCSW-C, LCPC, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed primary care provider), on letterhead, dated within the last year
• Your landlord's or property management company's official accommodation request contact (leasing office email, portal, or mailing address)
• A copy of your current lease, so you can reference the no-pets or pet-fee clause you're asking to be waived
• A short written personal statement describing your need for a reasonable accommodation (some landlords request this in addition to the clinician letter)
• Basic identifying information about your animal (species, and if relevant, breed/size, for the landlord's records, this is optional and not legally required for approval)
• A dated cover letter or email (the template below) that formally submits the request

Step-by-Step: Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation in Maryland

1. Confirm your ESA letter meets HUD's standard. Before submitting anything, check that your letter is signed by a licensed clinician, includes their license number and state, and states that you have a disability and that the animal provides disability-related support. A letter missing any of these elements is one of the most common reasons Maryland landlords push back on a request.
2. Identify the correct recipient. Send the request to whoever handles reasonable accommodation requests, this may be a property manager, a leasing office, or a housing authority. For larger complexes, ask specifically for the accommodation or compliance contact rather than a general leasing agent, since accommodation requests often route differently than maintenance or lease questions.
3. Draft your written request letter. Use the sample template below as a starting point. Keep the tone factual and courteous, you are not required to disclose your specific diagnosis, only that a disability-related need exists and that your clinician has documented it.
4. Attach the clinician's ESA letter. Submit the clinician letter alongside your cover letter, either as a combined PDF or as two attachments in the same email or portal message.
5. Send the request in writing and keep a copy. Email or a tenant portal message is ideal because it creates a timestamped record. If you must submit in person or by mail, keep a copy of everything you send and get a delivery confirmation if possible.
6. Note the date and follow up if needed. HUD guidance calls for landlords to respond to accommodation requests promptly, though "prompt" is not a fixed number of days. If you haven't heard back within a couple of weeks, a polite written follow-up referencing your original submission date is reasonable.
7. Respond to reasonable follow-up questions only. A landlord may ask limited clarifying questions if your disability or disability-related need isn't obvious, but they cannot demand your full medical records, a specific diagnosis, or proof of ESA "registration." If a landlord's request for information goes beyond what HUD allows, that's a signal to consult a Maryland-licensed attorney.

Sample Maryland ESA Accommodation Request Letter Template

Below is a general-purpose ESA accommodation letter template Maryland tenants can adapt. Replace the bracketed sections with your own information, and always attach your clinician's signed letter separately.

[Your Name]
[Your Current Address, Unit Number]
[City, MD, ZIP]
[Date]

[Landlord or Property Manager Name]
[Property Management Company]
[Property Address]

Re: Request for Reasonable Accommodation, Assistance Animal

Dear [Landlord/Property Manager Name],

I am writing to formally request a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act to keep an emotional support animal in my residence at [unit address]. As documented in the enclosed letter from my licensed mental health professional, I have a disability-related need for this animal, which provides support that is directly related to my condition.

I understand this request falls under the reasonable accommodation standards described in HUD's FHEO-2020-01 guidance, and I am glad to provide any additional information permitted under that guidance if needed. My animal is a [species/breed if applicable], and I am requesting a waiver of the property's no-pets policy and any associated pet fees, consistent with FHA protections for assistance animals.

Please let me know if you require any further documentation permitted under HUD guidelines, or if you'd like to discuss this request directly. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]

Enclosure: ESA Letter from [Clinician Name, License Type, License Number]

If your building already has a strict no-pets policy in the lease itself, it may help to review how those clauses interact with accommodation requests before you send this letter, see our breakdown of how no-pets policies work with ESAs in Maryland.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending only the clinician letter with no cover note. A bare attachment with no formal request can get lost or misread as unrelated correspondence. Always pair it with a dated, explicit request.
• Disclosing more than necessary. You do not need to name your specific diagnosis in the letter. HUD guidance protects against overly invasive inquiries, and oversharing can invite questions a landlord isn't entitled to ask.
• Using a letter from an online-only registry or a clinician not licensed to serve Maryland residents. A generic ESA letter from a service that never conducted a real clinical evaluation carries little weight if challenged, and HUD has specifically flagged registry-based documentation as unreliable.
• Assuming the request also covers air travel. Since the Department of Transportation removed ESAs from the Air Carrier Access Act in 2021, airlines are no longer required to treat ESAs differently from ordinary pets. This letter addresses housing only.
• Waiting until after move-in to disclose an ESA that's already living with you. Submitting the request as early as possible, ideally before signing a lease or immediately after acquiring the animal, reduces friction and avoids the appearance of an after-the-fact justification.
• Not keeping records. Save copies of every email, letter, and any written response from your landlord. If a dispute arises later, this timeline matters.

What to Expect After You Submit

Many Maryland tenants who submit a complete, properly documented request find that landlords approve it without extensive back-and-forth, since federal law strongly favors granting accommodations that meet HUD's standard. That said, approval is never automatic or guaranteed, a landlord is permitted to ask limited follow-up questions in some circumstances, and outcomes vary by property, management company, and how the request is documented. A licensed clinician determines only whether an ESA may be therapeutically appropriate for you; the housing decision itself rests with your landlord within the bounds of the Fair Housing Act.

If your request is denied, delayed indefinitely, or met with demands that go beyond what HUD guidance allows, you have options. Our guide on what to do if your ESA letter is denied in Maryland walks through appeal steps and when to involve outside help.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, mental health, or legal advice. Whether an emotional support animal is appropriate for your situation is a clinical determination that only a licensed mental health professional can make after an individualized evaluation. If you are experiencing a housing dispute, no-pets policy conflict, or accommodation denial, consult a Maryland-licensed attorney or your local legal aid office for guidance specific to your circumstances.