Massachusetts Assistance-Animal Accommodation Request and Decision Packet
MASSACHUSETTS ASSISTANCE-ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION REQUEST AND DECISION PACKET
MASSACHUSETTS OVERLAY
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, § 4(7A) treats refusal to make reasonable accommodations in housing rules, policies, practices, or services as disability discrimination when the accommodation may be necessary to afford equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. The section does not create an animal registry or a single mandatory request form.
Apply that state-law standard alongside the current federal framework. HUD withdrew its 2013 and 2020 animal guidance in September 2025, and its May 22, 2026 enforcement memorandum generally limits FHEO reasonable-cause findings to individually trained disability-related animals. The memorandum does not amend Massachusetts law.
REQUEST
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Tenant / applicant | [________________________________] |
| Housing provider / property | [________________________________] |
| Request date | [__/__/____] |
| Animal / species | [________________________________] |
| Rule, fee, or condition to change | [________________________________] |
Animal role: ☐ Trained disability-related work or tasks ☐ Untrained emotional support ☐ Unclear
Disability-related limitation, without diagnosis: [________________________________]
Why the accommodation may be necessary for equal use and enjoyment: [________________________________]
Supporting information attached, if reasonably needed: [________________________________]
Requester signature: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
PROVIDER REVIEW AND DECISION
☐ State, federal, local, and program coverage reviewed
☐ Necessity and disability-related connection evaluated
☐ Animal role classified from facts rather than labels or purchased credentials
☐ Only information genuinely needed for the decision was requested
☐ Alternatives and any case-specific limitation were considered
Decision: ☐ Approve ☐ Alternative ☐ Request limited information ☐ Deny ☐ Counsel review
Explanation and authority: [____________________________________________________________]
SOURCES AND REFERENCES
About This Template
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.
Important Notice
This template is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Last updated: July 2026
Get your Massachusetts Assistance-Animal Accommodation Request and Decision Packet, done and ready to use
Fill it in for your situation, adjust it for your state, and download the finished Word and PDF. Let the AI do it in about 5 minutes, or finish it yourself in the editor. $99 one time, or go Pro for access to every document and every Ezel app.