District of Columbia Emotional Support Animal Housing Request
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMAL HOUSING REQUEST
Before you use this: Use this letter to request a change to a housing rule for an animal that provides disability-related emotional support. D.C. Code § 2-1402.21(d)(3)(B) calls for an individualized reasonable-accommodation decision. For an animal specially trained to assist with disability-related tasks, use the separate service-animal housing access request.
Date: [__/__/____]
To housing provider or manager: [NAME]
Delivery address or email: [ADDRESS OR EMAIL]
From resident or applicant: [FULL NAME]
Dwelling or application: [STREET ADDRESS, UNIT, WASHINGTON, DC ZIP]
Private response address or email: [CONTACT INFORMATION]
Request
I request a reasonable accommodation under D.C. Code § 2-1402.21(d)(3)(B) so that I may keep the animal described below at this dwelling. The animal helps address a disability-related need and helps me use and enjoy the home.
Animal name and species: [________________________________]
Housing rule or charge for which I request an exception: [NO-ANIMAL RULE / PET CHARGE / OTHER RULE]
Specific change requested: [________________________________]
How this animal helps with my disability-related need, without a diagnosis: [____________________________________________________________]
How the requested change helps me use and enjoy this dwelling: [____________________________________________________________]
Information supporting this request:
☐ The disability-related need is apparent or already known to the housing provider.
☐ I enclose relevant supporting information. Attachment: [____________________________].
☐ Please tell me what additional information you need and a private way to provide it.
Please respond in writing to [PRIVATE CONTACT METHOD] by [REQUESTED DATE]. If you propose a different accommodation, please describe it so I can respond. I will discuss ordinary care of the animal and any specific concern about the animal with you.
Sincerely,
Requester signature: [________________________________] Date signed: [__/__/____]
Printed name: [________________________________]
Delivery record
Delivered to: [NAME OR OFFICE]
Method: ☐ Email ☐ Mail ☐ Hand delivery ☐ Housing portal
Date delivered: [__/__/____] Confirmation or tracking: [________________________________]
Official sources
About this template
- Last updated
- November 4, 2026
- Citations checked
- November 4, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Landlord & Tenant
Legal authority
- D.C. Code § 2-1402.21(d)(1)-(3)(B)
- D.C. Code § 7-1009(5)
Landlord-tenant paperwork governs who can stay in a property, on what terms, and what happens when something goes wrong. Leases, notices to quit, security deposit demands, and habitability complaints all have state and often city-specific requirements for timing, content, and service. Getting the paperwork right is what makes an eviction actually succeed or a security deposit actually come back, because judges regularly dismiss cases over small procedural mistakes.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on November 4, 2026.
D.C. Code § 2-1402.21(d)(3)(B) (checked November 4, 2026): "A refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services"
D.C. Code § 7-1009(5) (checked November 4, 2026): "specially trained to assist a person who meets the definition of persons with physical or mental disabilities"
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