An ESA letter in Maine is a document authenticating a person’s need for an emotional support animal and the animal’s special ESA status. An emotional support animal (ESA) is any animal whose presence benefits the owner’s health.
ESA letters grant protection under federal laws, primarily the Federal Housing Act (FHA). The Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) do not cover ESAs, and state-specific Maine emotional support animal laws do not exist. Only a licensed mental health professional, psychiatrist, therapist, or physician is authorized to write and sign an ESA letter in Maine. ESA owners must renew their letters every 12 months and are responsible for their ESA’s conduct.
What are the Specific Emotional Support Animal Laws in Maine?
Maine passed legislation in 2015 (updated 2016) establishing clear distinctions between service animals and assistance animals. The state defines “assistance animals” as a separate category that includes emotional support animals for housing purposes, while “service animals” (dogs trained for specific tasks) receive public access rights. Maine’s misrepresentation law (17 M.R.S.A. § 1314-A) penalizes fake service or assistance animals with civil fines up to $1,000 per occurrence. Maine does not require a 30-day therapeutic relationship or ESA registration, and relies primarily on federal Fair Housing Act protections for ESA housing rights.
Maine ESA Housing Laws
Maine’s emotional support animal housing protections come from both federal Fair Housing Act requirements and state law provisions under the Maine Human Rights Act (5 M.R.S.A. § 4582-A).
Your Rights as a Tenant with an ESA in Maine:
Under the Fair Housing Act and Maine Human Rights Act, if you have a disability and need an emotional support animal, you can request a reasonable accommodation from your landlord. This means:
- Landlords must allow your ESA even in buildings with no-pet policies
- You cannot be charged pet fees, pet deposits, or monthly pet rent
- Breed, size, and weight restrictions don’t apply to ESAs
- Your landlord cannot discriminate against you because of your ESA
Maine’s “Assistance Animal” Definition:
Maine law (5 M.R.S.A. § 4553(1-H)) defines “assistance animal” for housing purposes as an animal that is either:
Option A: Any animal determined necessary for a person with a physical or mental disability by:
- A physician
- A psychologist
- A physician assistant
- A nurse practitioner
- A licensed social worker
Option B: Any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for someone with a physical or mental disability (this would be a service animal)
For ESAs, you’ll typically qualify under Option A: where a licensed professional determines your animal is necessary to mitigate the effects of your disability.
What Documentation Does Your Landlord Need?
Your landlord can request documentation if your disability or need isn’t obvious.
Maine requires:
- A letter from one of the licensed professionals listed above
- The letter should explain that you have a disability
- The letter should state the animal is necessary to mitigate effects of your disability
No 30-Day Waiting Period in Maine:
Good news: Maine does NOT require a 30-day therapeutic relationship before a provider can write your ESA letter. You simply need documentation from a qualified professional who has determined your need.
Important: ESA Registrations Are NOT Required
Maine law does not require ESA registration or certification. Online ESA registries and certificates have no legal weight. All you need is a legitimate letter from a licensed professional.
What Your Landlord Can (and Can’t) Do:
Your landlord CAN:
- Request documentation from a licensed professional
- Verify the legitimacy of your documentation
- Deny your ESA if it poses a direct threat to others’ health or safety
- Deny your ESA if it would cause substantial property damage
- Hold you financially responsible for any damage your ESA causes
- Deny your ESA if it would create an undue financial burden
Your landlord CANNOT:
- Ask for your medical records or detailed diagnosis
- Require ESA registration or certification
- Charge you pet fees, deposits, or rent for your ESA
- Enforce breed, size, or weight restrictions on your ESA
- Retaliate against you for requesting an ESA accommodation
Your Responsibilities as an ESA Owner:
- Obtain proper documentation from a licensed professional
- Keep your ESA well-behaved and under control
- Clean up after your ESA
- You’re liable for any property damage your ESA causes
- Your ESA must be housebroken
When Can Your Landlord Legally Deny Your ESA?
A landlord can refuse your ESA in these situations:
- Your ESA poses a direct threat to others’ health or safety
- Your ESA would cause substantial physical damage to the property
- Your ESA threatens other tenants or staff
- Accommodating your ESA would create an undue financial or administrative burden
- You don’t provide proper documentation from a qualified professional
- The landlord qualifies for FHA exemptions (owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units, single-family homes rented without brokers)
Where to File a Complaint:
If your landlord unlawfully denies your ESA request, contact:
- Maine Human Rights Commission
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Maine ESA Employment Laws
Maine does not require employers to allow emotional support animals in the workplace. Only service dogs trained to perform specific disability-related tasks receive workplace protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
However, employees may request reasonable accommodations under the ADA, and some employers voluntarily allow ESAs on a case-by-case basis.
Maine ESA Laws for Public Places
Emotional support animals have no public access rights in Maine.
Maine law (5 M.R.S.A. § 4592) grants people with disabilities the right to be accompanied by service animals in public places. This means ESAs don’t get public access unless they’re also trained service animals (which is rare).
ESAs are NOT allowed in:
- Restaurants and food establishments
- Retail stores and shopping malls
- Hotels (unless they’re pet-friendly)
- Public transportation (except as regular pets under pet policies)
- Government buildings
- Healthcare facilities
- Schools and universities (except in housing)
Maine ESA Travel Laws
Since 2021, airlines no longer recognize ESAs as service animals for air travel.
Maine residents traveling through airports like Portland International Jetport (PWM) or Bangor International (BGR) must follow individual airline pet policies. Your ESA will be treated as a regular pet, meaning:
- You’ll pay pet fees (typically $95-$125 each way)
- Your ESA must fit in an airline-approved carrier under the seat
- Size and breed restrictions apply
- You must follow all standard pet travel rules
Only psychiatric service dogs trained to perform specific tasks retain cabin access protections.
Faking an ESA or Service Animal in Maine: Penalties and Consequences
Maine’s 2015 law (17 M.R.S.A. § 1314-A) makes it illegal to fake a service animal or assistance animal. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s Illegal in Maine:
You commit a civil violation if you knowingly misrepresent an animal as a service animal or assistance animal. This includes:
- Creating fake documents that falsely claim an animal is a service or assistance animal
- Giving fake documents to others (like your landlord or a business)
- Using fake vests, harnesses, collars, or signs on an animal that isn’t actually a service or assistance animal
The Penalty:
Civil fine up to $1,000 for each occurrence
- No jail time (it’s a civil violation, not a criminal charge)
- Each instance counts separately (lying to your landlord is one violation; using a fake vest in a store is another)
What Else Can Happen:
Beyond the $1,000 fine, you can face:
- Eviction from your apartment for fraudulent documentation
- Lawsuits from your landlord for damages and legal fees
- Housing denials when future landlords check your record
- Loss of credibility that makes it harder to rent in the future
Why Maine’s Law Matters:
Maine was one of the earlier states to address this issue (2015), and the law was strengthened in 2016 to increase penalties from $100 to $1,000. The state takes service and assistance animal fraud seriously because it:
- Harms people with legitimate disabilities who need these animals
- Creates confusion about what service animals actually do
- Makes businesses and landlords skeptical of real assistance animals
The Bottom Line:
Don’t fake an ESA or service animal in Maine. With $1,000 fines per occurrence, potential eviction, and lawsuits, it’s not worth the risk. Get legitimate documentation from a licensed professional (physician, psychologist, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or licensed social worker) who has actually evaluated your need.
Is Getting an ESA Letter Online Legal in Maine?
Yes, getting an ESA letter online is legal in Maine. Acquiring a valid ESA letter is a condition to having an ESA. Whether the ESA was obtained in person or online does not matter.
The state does not imply the manner in which prospective ESA owners get their letters. Maine residents have the right to choose between making an in-person visit to a mental health professional or having an online ESA provider find one for them and initiate contact.
Using an online service is much more convenient. Potential ESA candidates, however, must be cautious and research the service thoroughly, as many online providers are fake.
Can you have Multiple Emotional Support Animals in Maine?
Yes, you can have multiple emotional support animals in Maine. The state does not restrict the number of ESAs per owner.
Maine residents are permitted to have as many emotional support animals as needed. The only condition is that each ESA has its individual ESA letter.
Healthcare providers can recommend multiple ESAs for people suffering from various mental or emotional disabilities at the same time because each animal can help with specific symptoms or aspects of a condition.
The FHA permits landlords to reject ESAs if they pose undue burdens. Some landlords perceive multiple ESAs as such, especially if their number is unreasonably high.
Is there an Official Registration for ESAs in Maine?
No, there is no official registration for ESAs in Maine. The sole requirement for having an ESA in the state is obtaining a valid ESA letter.
LMHPs issue the letters after thorough assessments with clients. The ESA letters are valid for 12 months and then must be renewed.
ESA registration and certification are neither necessary nor legally valid steps. National ESA registries and databases do not exist. Websites and companies offering free ESA registration or certification are likely to be scams.
How to Get an ESA Letter in Maine?
To get an ESA letter in Maine, applicants must consult a mental health professional. The consultation is done in person or online. The goal of the consultation is for the doctor to determine whether an ESA is beneficial for the patient.
The indicative instructions on how to get an ESA letter in Maine are given below. If a person is already seeing a therapist, they can talk to them about requesting an ESA letter. Physicians and physician assistants can also issue an ESA letter.
- Consult a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP). Only qualified professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists, are allowed to issue valid ESA letters in Maine.
- Schedule a Mental Health Assessment. The LMHP evaluates the person’s treatment plan to determine if an ESA is beneficial. The assessment is done either in person or virtually, using video or phone calls.
- Receive a Hard or Soft Copy of the ESA Letter. Get the ESA letter in a printable form immediately after approval or request a mailed copy to a specified address. Hard copies of the ESA letter are typically received within several business days.
- Update and Renew the ESA Letter Annually. Renew the ESA letter Maine regularly to keep all information up-to-date and to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. ESA letters must be renewed annually.
You can use compliant and safe online platforms to obtain your Maine ESA letter. Apply for an ESA letter in Maine through CertaPet in three steps. First, complete the pre-screening test. Second, start communicating with an LMHP. Third, receive a soft or hard copy of the ESA letter in two to three business days.
What are the Advantages of Getting an ESA Letter in Maine through CertaPet?
The advantages of getting an ESA letter in Maine through CertaPet are listed below.
- Hassle-Free Procedure: Getting an ESA through CertaPet is simple and completed in three steps: pre-screening, LMHP consultation, and receiving the letter.
- Fast Turnaround: CertaPet’s healthcare providers contact ESA applicants within two business days to schedule appointments, which is reasonably fast.
- Legitimate Documents: All ESA letters obtained via CertaPet are legitimate, issued by licensed mental health professionals in Maine, and in sync with regulations.
- Budget-Friendly Price: CertaPet’s ESA letters are reasonably priced. The price is made to cover the costs of issuance but without being too high and restrictive.
- Guaranteed Benefits: Get an ESA letter online and enjoy law-mandated benefits, such as living in properties with no-pet policies and without paying pet-related expenses.
Do ESA Letters in Maine need to be Renewed Annually?
Yes, ESA letters in Maine need to be renewed annually. ESA letters are considered outdated 12 months after issuance. Landlords, airlines, and employers have the right to request updated and current ESA letters.
Maine ESA owners are allowed to renew their ESA letters by scheduling an in-person visit with an LMHP or an online appointment.
Online ESA services offer hassle-free ESA letter renewals. The entire process is completed via their tele-health platforms, and ESA owners can apply for renewal one month in advance.
What are the Requirements for Getting an ESA Letter in Maine?
The requirements for getting an ESA letter in Maine are having a mental or emotional disability and consulting a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) about the condition.
Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, schizophrenia, autism, PTSD, ADHD, and cognitive deficits are among the conditions eligible for an ESA.
People suffering from these disabilities must get in touch with a licensed professional. The professional evaluates the person and, if necessary, prescribes an ESA as part of their treatment plan.
Are ESA Letters Valid in Maine only if Issued by a Licensed Professional within the State?
Yes, ESA letters in Maine are valid only if issued by a licensed professional within the state. Therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists with active licenses in the state are allowed to write and sign emotional support animals.
Individuals who have just moved to Maine are permitted to keep and use ESA letters issued in other states, but only until they are valid. Once expired, ESA letters from other states must be renewed in Maine.
How to Avoid ESA Letter Scams in Maine?
Using a reliable ESA service, especially when working with online providers, is critical. The instructions on how to avoid scams in ESA letters in Maine are given below.
- Research the Provider. Thoroughly research the ESA provider and read reviews and feedback from previous clients to understand its reputation and transparency.
- Understand the Process. A meeting with a healthcare provider is mandatory. Websites offering letters without this step are scams.
- Have Reasonable Expectations. Getting an ESA letter takes a couple of days and ESA letters last for one year. Companies claiming otherwise are fake.
- Reject Gifts and Free Offers. Fake ESA services often offer gifts (ID tags or vests for ESAs) and unnecessary free services, like ESA registration or certification.
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