What Are The Emotional Support Animal Laws in California?

2019-08-05 2

California is the most populous state in the entire nation with around 4% of adults living with serious mental health conditions.

The following are topping the list of mental health conditions in this state.

Anxiety disorders
Depression
Eating disorders
Autistic spectrum disorders
Alzheimer’s

But, somehow, there are many gaps in terms of access to mental health services. Making it impossible for patients to receive the right kind of treatment on time.

So, the role of pets as a mental health aid for alleviating is becoming more prominent. As they are easily accessible.

Therefore, it is important to be thorough with ESA California law or emotional support animal laws in California that protect the interests of mentally disabled patients and their emotional support animals.

Below are the primary California laws for emotional support animals that you must be familiar with.

California Fair Employment and Housing Act
In this, landlords can not discriminate against potential tenants on the basis of their disability or by asking any additional pet fees or deposits.

Emotional support animal laws for housing in California also apply to landlords visiting their properties on short term vacation rental sites, such as Airbnb as these qualify as leasing of public accommodation.

And, the same goes for employers as well. Any company with more than five employees must allow disabled employees for assistive animals for emotional support.

Air Carrier Access Act
It states that any person with a mental disability must be allowed to fly with their ESA in-cabin at no extra cost.

But, the condition is that you can be denied your privileges any time in the state if your animal has offensive odors, is prone to showing bad behavior or can be a threat to the safety or health of others.