Emotional Support Dog Laws Illinois

Violation of the white cane law is a class a misdemeanor.

Emotional support dog laws illinois.

Illinois law the service animal access act and white cane law are state criminal laws that guarantee the right of a person with a disability to be accompanied by a service animal in public. Although emotional support animals do not have the same rights as service dogs under ada they are protected under the fair housing amendment act fhaa and the air carrier access act acaa. The emotional support animal laws in il protect from discrimination them. These laws help protect emotional support animals and their owners when attempting to rent a living space or travel by air.

If you meet the criteria of these provisions you are entitled to an emotional support animal in the air and in your housing unit. In illinois as with other states the fair housing act and the air carriers access act both cover the legal definitions of emotional support animals. Violation of the service animal access act is a class c misdemeanor. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual s disability.

Although emotional support animals are not permitted in most public places the laws are different when it comes to rental units. As long as the therapist has diagnosed these animals to help alleviate at least one of their patient s symptoms it is allowed. Other species of animals whether wild or domestic trained or untrained are not considered service animals either. The tenant is allowed under federal law to have more than one emotional support animal.

Illinois enacts law to evaluate emotional support animal requests. An emotional support animal esa is a dog or other common domesticated animal that provides support to its disabled handler through companionship non judgmental regard affection and or being a distraction from the issues of daily life. Emotional support animals comfort animals and therapy dogs are not service animals under title ii and title iii of the ada. The illinois assistance animal integrity act helps clarify what is required to establish a disability and disability related need for an assistance animal.

Department of housing and urban development fair housing act. Illinois residents are subject to the u s. Illinois laws on service dogs and emotional support animals illinois and federal law protect the right to have service dogs in public places and may cover other service animals in housing. While typically dogs or cats emotional support animals may include other species.

However before any animal can be determined to be an esa their owner. To have an emotional support animal people should prove their disability to a licensed mental health doctor that can write an esa letter.