Step 1
Free screening, no card needed. You answer a few questions about your home, your animal and what it does for you. The screening only shows whether a consultation makes sense; it never produces a letter by itself.
South Carolina · SC
ESA letter South Carolina: an emotional support animal letter after a live evaluation
Yes. You can get an emotional support animal (ESA) letter in South Carolina after a live video evaluation, with no waiting period. A landlord may ask whether you have a disability and a disability-related need for the animal; documentation showing both is deemed sufficient (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)). Your evaluating clinician is licensed in South Carolina. If you qualify, the signed PDF usually arrives within 24 to 48 hours. The price is $99.
2questions
a landlord may ask about an animal that is not a service animal
S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(1)180days
to file a free complaint with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission
S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(B)1year
to sue in state circuit court, whether or not you went to SCHAC first
S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(A)30days
for the itemised deposit notice; wrongful withholding costs the landlord three times the amount
S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410South Carolina, with the capital marked
South Carolina at a glance
The 7 things a renter in South Carolina needs to know.
Each answer is one line, with the section of South Carolina law it comes from. The detail is further down the page.
- 01
Does South Carolina law mention emotional support animals in housing?
Yes, and few states go this far. For an animal that is not a service animal, a landlord may ask two questions and request documentation. That documentation "shall be deemed sufficient" if it shows a disability and that the animal will provide "disability-related assistance or emotional support" (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)). The rule arrived with 2019 Act No. 44. The same Act defines an emotional support animal as one "intended to provide companionship and reassurance" (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-920(6)).
S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N) - 02
What exactly can my landlord ask?
Two questions, and both are about you. First, whether you have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity. Second, whether you have "a disability-related need for the animal" (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(1)). The landlord may then request documentation to verify your answers. It may not ask about the nature or severity of your disability (S.C. Code Regs. 65-215(C)(3)). Neither question asks what work or task the animal performs; that test belongs to service animals.
S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N); S.C. Code Regs. 65-215(C)(3) - 03
Is there a waiting period or 30-day rule in South Carolina?
No. No statute or rule sets a relationship length, a session count, an in-person visit, an expiry date or an annual renewal. California's 30-day wait does not travel here. The telehealth chapter says the evaluation "need not be done in person" if it meets the in-person standard of care (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(C)(2)). The clinician must verify your identity and location, tell you their name, location and credentials, and make follow-up care available (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(C)(3)–(4)).
S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(C) - 04
Who can write an emotional support animal letter for a South Carolina renter?
The housing statute is silent; the licensing statutes decide. A clinician who treats someone located in the state by telehealth "must be licensed in this State" (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(A)(5)). Two lawful alternatives exist. An out-of-state clinical social worker, counsellor or marriage and family therapist may hold a behavioral-telehealth registration with the state board (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 40-63-35, 40-75-800). A psychologist may practise here under PSYPACT (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-55-340). The Counseling Compact and the Social Work Compact give no route in yet.
S.C. Code Ann. §§ 40-42-20(A)(5), 40-63-35, 40-75-800 - 05
Can my landlord charge a pet deposit or pet rent for my emotional support animal?
South Carolina law does not forbid it. The no-extra-charge rule covers trained assistance dogs of blind, visually handicapped and physically disabled people, not emotional support animals (S.C. Code Ann. § 43-33-70(d)). Ask for the charge to be waived as part of your reasonable-accommodation request (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(G)(2)). No statute caps deposits. The landlord must return yours with an itemised notice within 30 days, or owe three times what it wrongly kept (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410).
S.C. Code Ann. §§ 31-21-70(G)(2), 27-40-410, 43-33-70(d) - 06
How long do I have to complain?
Two clocks, and both are short. A complaint to the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission must be filed within 180 days of the act (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(B)). A suit in state circuit court must start within one year, whether or not you filed with SCHAC (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(A)). Filing with SCHAC is free and needs no attorney. If SCHAC dismisses your complaint, you have 90 days from the dismissal or one year from the act, whichever is later (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-130(B)).
S.C. Code Ann. §§ 31-21-120(B), 31-21-140(A) - 07
Does the Human Affairs Commission still take cases about untrained animals?
Yes. In a release dated 5 August 2026, SCHAC said it "continues to accept and investigate assistance-animal accommodation complaints". Its review "does not depend on whether the animal has received specialized training". That matches the statute, which treats documentation of emotional support as sufficient (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)). The release also warns landlords that taking back an accommodation already granted "carries its own risk of liability".
SCHAC release, 5 Aug 2026; S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)
South Carolina law
South Carolina law deems a letter showing a disability and emotional support sufficient for an animal that is not a service animal
South Carolina's Fair Housing Law speaks directly to animals that are not service animals, which few state codes do (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)). A landlord may ask two questions. Do you have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity? Do you have a disability-related need for the animal? It may also request documentation to verify your answers. That documentation "shall be deemed sufficient" if it shows a disability and that the animal provides disability-related assistance or emotional support (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)). Training is not part of the test. The request is a reasonable accommodation, which a covered landlord must consider (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(G)(2)). A refusal needs a lawful ground, such as a direct threat to other people's health or safety or substantial physical damage to their property (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(K)). The Fair Housing Law's own word is "handicap": an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, a record of one, or being regarded as having one (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-30(7)). An owner living in a building of four or fewer units, and some private owners of three or fewer houses, are exempt (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(A)–(C)). Complaints go to SCHAC within 180 days (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(B)).
Source: S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N) and (G)(2) (South Carolina Fair Housing Law; subsection (N) added by 2019 Act No. 44, S.281, eff. 16 May 2019). This is general information, not legal advice.
ComplaintsSouth Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAC) · (803) 737-7800, 711 Relay · online questionnaire, phone, mail or in person · 180 days from the act (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(B)); state court within one year (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(A))PenaltySouth Carolina has no offence for a false emotional support animal claim. Intentionally misrepresenting an animal as a service animal to obtain a disability right is a non-criminal violation, fined up to 250 dollars for a first violation, 500 dollars for a second and 1,000 dollars for a third or later (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-980).
The federal Fair Housing Act still recognises the accommodation, and you can still enforce it in court. Since May 2026, HUD itself has stopped pursuing complaints about untrained emotional support animals, so in practice your protection comes from South Carolina law and the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission.
“shall be deemed sufficient if it establishes that an individual has a disability”
Federal vs South Carolina
Where the federal Fair Housing Act stops and South Carolina law takes over.
| Topic | Federal (Fair Housing Act) | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Fees and deposits | The federal text and 24 C.F.R. § 100.204 hold no fee rule. HUD's former position against animal fees has been withdrawn since 17 September 2025, so the waiver is part of your request. | No statute bars an emotional support animal charge; the no-extra-charge rule is for trained assistance dogs (S.C. Code Ann. § 43-33-70(d)). Request a waiver under S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(G)(2). No deposit cap applies, but the itemised return is due within 30 days, with treble damages for wrongful withholding (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410). |
| Documentation | The accommodation must be one that may be necessary because of a disability (42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B)). No federal statute prescribes a letter. | Two statutory questions, then documentation that is "deemed sufficient" if it shows a disability and disability-related assistance or emotional support (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)). No statute sets a letter format, a licence-number rule or a validity period. |
| Timing | No federal waiting period, and no federal deadline for the landlord's reply. | No waiting period, 30-day rule or response deadline. A telehealth evaluation "need not be done in person" if it meets the in-person standard of care (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(C)(2)). |
| Who may write | Federal law names no particular writer. | The housing statute is silent. Telehealth to someone in the state needs a South Carolina licence (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(A)(5)), a behavioral-telehealth registration (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 40-63-35, 40-75-800) or, for a psychologist, PSYPACT authority (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-55-340). |
| Exemptions | An owner-occupied building of four or fewer units, and some single-family homes rented without a broker by an owner of three or fewer (42 U.S.C. § 3603(b)). | The same pair (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(A)–(C)). Here they switch off § 31-21-40 entirely, so an exempt landlord also falls outside the state accommodation duty. No SCHAC ruling has tested that reading. |
| Where to file | HUD, which since May 2026 pursues only trained-animal cases, or a federal court. | The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, the state's only HUD partner agency, online or by phone. Or go straight to state circuit court without filing anywhere first (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(A)). |
| Deadline | One year to HUD (42 U.S.C. § 3610(a)(1)(A)(i)); two years to sue in federal court (42 U.S.C. § 3613(a)(1)(A)). | 180 days to SCHAC (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(B)). One year to state court, with no statutory pause while SCHAC investigates (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(A)). |
Swipe sideways to see the whole table.
Your timeline in South Carolina
What actually happens, and when.
No statute here makes you wait, so the evaluation itself sets the pace. The telehealth chapter gives the clinician four duties: an evaluation to the in-person standard of care, checking who you are and where you are, telling you their name, location and credentials, and follow-up care if you need it (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(C)). The screening is free with no card. You pay at checkout before the consultation.
Step 2
You pay at checkout, then meet a clinician licensed in South Carolina on a live video call. Expect them to confirm your identity and that you are in the state, and to give you their name, location and credentials (S.C. Code Ann. § 40-42-20(C)(4)). This is a real evaluation, and some people do not qualify.
Step 3
If you qualify, the signed PDF usually arrives within 24 to 48 hours of the consultation. It states a disability and that the animal provides disability-related assistance or emotional support, the test in S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2). It carries the clinician's licence details for your landlord to check. If you do not qualify, ask for a refund within 7 days.
Housing
What your South Carolina landlord may and may not do.
Under the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B)) and South Carolina's own fair-housing law, a housing provider must consider a reasonable-accommodation request for an assistance animal, including where pets are prohibited. Each line below carries the section it comes from.
What they may do
Your landlord may
- Ask whether you have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity, and whether you have a disability-related need for the animal. S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(1)
- Request documentation that verifies your answers to those two questions. S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)
- Refuse if the animal would be a direct threat to other people's health or safety, or would cause substantial physical damage to their property. S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(K)
- Stay outside the state accommodation duty if it lives in a building of four or fewer units, or is a private owner of three or fewer houses renting without a broker. S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(A)–(C)
- Deduct damage the animal actually causes from your deposit, listed in a written notice sent within 30 days of move-out. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a)
What they may not do
Your landlord may not
- Refuse a reasonable accommodation in its rules, policies, practices or services when you may need it to use and enjoy your home on equal terms. S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(G)(2)
- Treat a letter as not enough when it shows a disability and that the animal gives disability-related assistance or emotional support. S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)
- Ask about the nature or severity of your disability, which is what a demand for your diagnosis amounts to. S.C. Code Regs. 65-215(C)(3)
- Coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with you for asking, or for helping another renter ask. S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-80
- Hold back your deposit without the itemised notice; wrongful withholding costs three times the amount plus reasonable attorney's fees. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(b)
Illustrative exchange
What a lawful conversation looks like.
Most refusals are not a flat no. They are a question the housing provider is not allowed to ask, or a fee they are not allowed to charge. Here is the shape of a typical exchange in South Carolina, with the rule beside each reply.
A made-up exchange to show the rules, not a real tenant or landlord.
Pet fees and deposits
No South Carolina statute bars a pet fee, pet deposit or pet rent for an emotional support animal. The state's no-extra-charge rule covers a trained assistance dog of a blind, visually handicapped or physically disabled person, who still pays for damage the dog does (S.C. Code Ann. § 43-33-70(d)). The Fair Housing Law itself says nothing about fees (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 31-21-10 to -150). So ask for the charge to be waived as part of your reasonable-accommodation request (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(G)(2); S.C. Code Regs. 65-215(E)). Whether a waiver is reasonable and necessary is decided case by case. Our research found no SCHAC ruling or state court decision on these fees, so treat the waiver as a request, not a right. The deposit rules are firmer. No statute caps a security deposit. The landlord must send an itemised written notice, with any refund, within 30 days after the tenancy ends, you hand back possession and you demand it, whichever is later (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(a)). Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing, or you can lose the damages remedy. Wrongful withholding costs three times the amount kept plus reasonable attorney's fees (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410(b)).
Small landlords
South Carolina copies the federal exemptions, and they reach disability claims. A building with living quarters for no more than four families is exempt when the owner actually lives in one of the units (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(A)). So is a single-family house rented by a private owner who holds no more than three such houses (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(B)). The house exemption is lost if the owner uses a broker, an agent or anyone in the business, or advertises in a discriminatory way. Someone with three or more transactions in 12 months, or who owns a dwelling for five or more families, is "in the business" and cannot claim it (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(C)). Because the exemptions switch off § 31-21-40 entirely, an exempt landlord also sits outside the state accommodation duty (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(G)). Neither SCHAC nor a court has tested that reading. Ask early which side your landlord falls on.
If your landlord says no
South Carolina Human Affairs Commission
Phone: (803) 737-7800 (711 Relay · toll-free 1-800-521-0725 (listed in SCHAC's August 2026 release) · information@schac.sc.gov) · File a complaint
Deadline: 180 days from the discriminatory act (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(B)). Use the online Fair Housing Complaint Questionnaire, call, write, or talk to a Housing Intake Investigator in person. Filing is free and you do not need an attorney. The investigation must finish within 100 days of receipt (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(E)).
Court: Sue in state circuit court within one year of the act, whether or not you filed with SCHAC (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(A)). A court can order an injunction and award actual and punitive damages and costs. Attorney's fees go to a winning party only if the court finds that party cannot afford them (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(B)). After a SCHAC dismissal, you have 90 days from it or one year from the act, whichever is later (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-130(B)). A federal suit stays open for two years (42 U.S.C. § 3613(a)(1)(A)).
Retaliation: No one may coerce, intimidate, threaten or interfere with you for using a fair-housing right, or for helping someone else use one (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-80). The landlord-tenant retaliation rule covers code complaints and complaints under that Act, not accommodation requests (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910).
SCHAC is the state's only HUD Fair Housing Assistance Program agency, and HUD lists no local agency anywhere in South Carolina. After HUD's May 2026 memo, SCHAC said it "continues to accept and investigate assistance-animal accommodation complaints" (SCHAC release, 5 Aug 2026). Use the online questionnaire or the phone rather than a street address, because SCHAC's own pages give two different mailing addresses.
Your envelope, item by item
- A short written request
- The clinician's letter
- What you can leave out
- What to expect back
Keep a dated copy of everything you send.
What to send your landlord
The request, the letter, and what happens next.
- 1
A short written request
Three or four sentences, dated. Say you have a disability and a disability-related need for the animal, which answers both questions S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(1) allows. Ask for a reasonable accommodation, say what kind of animal it is and give its name. Add a fee-waiver request if you want one. Keep a copy, because a refusal starts your 180-day clock.
- 2
The clinician's letter
Signed, on letterhead, from a clinician licensed in South Carolina. It states that you have a disability and that the animal provides disability-related assistance or emotional support, the two points S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2) treats as sufficient. It gives the clinician's credential, South Carolina licence number and the evaluation date. Your diagnosis stays off the page.
- 3
What you can leave out
Your diagnosis, your records, a registry number, a certificate, a vest or an ID card. The landlord may not ask about the nature or severity of your disability (S.C. Code Regs. 65-215(C)(3)). The state has no emotional support animal form, and no statute puts an expiry date on the letter.
- 4
What to expect back
No statute gives the landlord a deadline to answer, so ask for a written reply by a date you name. If the answer is no, or comes with conditions you think are unlawful, note the date. You then have 180 days to file with SCHAC (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-120(B)) and one year to sue in circuit court (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-140(A)).
If your housing provider questions the letter, your clinician responds directly at no extra cost.
South Carolina renters by city
The same rules from Columbia to Spartanburg.
The rules are the same in Columbia, Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Greenville, Rock Hill, Summerville and Spartanburg, because the right comes from state statute (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70). One agency enforces it in all eight: the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission in Columbia, which takes complaints online or on (803) 737-7800 within 180 days. HUD lists no local fair-housing agency in the state. Greenville County's Human Relations Commission accepts fair-housing complaints on 864-467-7095, also within 180 days. It has no ordinance of its own, so treat it as a place to start, not a second set of rules. Myrtle Beach and Florence follow the same statewide rules. Our clinicians licensed in South Carolina meet you by live video, so the timeline does not change by city. It is a free screening, one live consultation, and a signed PDF that usually follows within 24 to 48 hours if you qualify. Students in University of South Carolina or Clemson residence halls apply through the university's disability office, and the same documentation logic applies. An emotional support animal has no right to enter shops or restaurants, because businesses may set rules for animals that are not service animals (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-990).
- Columbia
- Charleston
- North Charleston
- Mount Pleasant
- Greenville
- Rock Hill
- Summerville
- Spartanburg
Myths in South Carolina
Three things you will read elsewhere that are not South Carolina law.
A registration, certificate or ID card makes an emotional support animal legal in South Carolina.
FactNo state registry or certificate exists, and none has legal effect. What counts is documentation showing a disability and that the animal provides disability-related assistance or emotional support (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)). When it passed that rule in 2019, the legislature found that some companies mislead buyers with vests and "some type of certificate" (Editor's Note to S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70). Pet Support Letter sells no certificates, registrations, ID cards or vests.
Faking an emotional support animal here is a misdemeanour, with fines starting at 350 dollars.
FactThat schedule comes from S 1137, a 2018 bill that died in a Senate committee; H 5041, another 2018 misdemeanour bill, died too. The rule actually in force covers service animals only. It says a violation "does not constitute a criminal offense" and caps fines at 250, 500 and 1,000 dollars for first, second and later violations (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-980). No offence exists for a false emotional support animal claim.
An emotional support animal letter wipes out pet deposits and pet rent in South Carolina.
FactNo statute here says so, and HUD's old no-fee guidance was withdrawn in September 2025. The only no-extra-charge rule covers trained assistance dogs (S.C. Code Ann. § 43-33-70(d)). You can ask for a waiver as part of the accommodation (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(G)(2)). A landlord that declines is not automatically breaking state law, so make the request in writing and keep the answer.
Task-trained dogs are a different document. If your dog performs trained tasks for a psychiatric disability, read about the psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter online, written after a real consultation.
Same price in every state
ESA letter for housing
$99 one time
Typical competitor price $159 — you save up to $60
The reasonable-accommodation letter you give your landlord, after a live clinical evaluation.
- Live video consultation
- Signed PDF on clinician letterhead
- License type, number and jurisdiction shown
- Landlord verification support included
ESA + PSD combination
$149 one time
Both letters from one course of care, including the consultations for each.
- Everything in the housing letter
- Psychiatric service dog letter included
- Both consultations with a licensed clinician
- One clinical record, two documents
PSD letter & consultation
$79 one time
For people who already have housing sorted and need psychiatric service dog documentation only.
- Live consultation with a licensed clinician
- Psychiatric service dog letter
- Disability-related task documented
- No housing letter included
Signed PDF within 24 to 48 hours of your consultation. Same-day evaluations are often available for early bookings. Read the guarantee and refund terms.
Why this letter holds up
Written to South Carolina's rules, by a clinician a landlord can check.
- The clinician. A clinician licensed in South Carolina evaluates you in a live video consultation. Clinical review of this page: Darren Rafel, LCSW.
- What the letter contains. Confirmation of a disability-related need for your animal, the animal it covers, and the clinician's licence type, number, jurisdiction and effective date, signed on letterhead. No diagnosis.
- How a landlord verifies it. The licence number is checked against the state licensing board; if they ask us, the clinician confirms the letter is genuine without disclosing anything else.
The refund terms, in full
- If you do not qualify. If the licensed clinician determines after your assessment that you do not meet the clinical criteria for an ESA or PSD letter, the assessment and letter fee is refunded in full. Requests must be made within 7 days of being notified that you did not qualify. The clinician's clinical determination is final.
- If your housing provider refuses the letter. If your landlord, property manager or housing authority refuses to accept the letter, you get a full refund. Contact us within 30 days of receiving your letter with the written denial (or reasonable evidence of the refusal), your full name and the letter's issue date. We first apply complimentary landlord verification support and contact the housing provider on your behalf; if the refusal stands, the refund is issued.
Read the exact terms. Money-back guarantee: full refund if you do not qualify, and a full refund if your housing provider refuses the letter.
What clients say
★★★★★I had a really positive experience from start to finish. The process was smooth, and I felt comfortable sharing everything without feeling rushed or judged. The questions were straightforward and easy to answer, and I really appreciated how respectful and understanding everyone was throughout the process. Having the opportunity to speak with a licensed professional afterward was also very helpful and added a lot of value to the experience. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the service
Hamza Khalid · Trustpilot, 2026-09
★★★★★Great service!! 5 stars hands down!
Jen Khan · Trustpilot, 2026-09
Read all Pet Support Letter reviews on Trustpilot. We show our own reviews only, word for word.
South Carolina FAQ
South Carolina questions, answered from the statute.
What qualifies a dog for emotional support?
The dog does not qualify; you do. The Fair Housing Law asks for an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, a record of one, or being regarded as having one (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-30(7)). A clinician has to find that, plus a disability-related need for the dog. Any breed can be considered, and no training is needed for housing. A diagnosis alone does not settle it, and not everyone qualifies.
Can you just say your dog is an emotional support animal?
You can say it, but a landlord does not have to take your word for it. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N), it may ask whether you have a disability and a disability-related need for the dog, then request documentation. Calling the same dog a service animal to obtain a disability right is a separate problem: a non-criminal violation with fines up to 250 dollars for a first offence (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-980).
Can you provide a template for an emotional support animal letter?
No. A template is not an evaluation, and the statute asks what documentation establishes, not what it looks like (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70(N)(2)). A sound letter states a disability and that the animal provides disability-related assistance or emotional support. It names the clinician, their credential and South Carolina licence number, and the evaluation date. Ours costs $99, paid at checkout before a live consultation.
Can a hotel turn you away if you have a service dog?
Not for a trained service dog. State law gives trained assistance dogs full and equal access to public places with no extra charge (S.C. Code Ann. § 43-33-20), and federal disability law protects service dogs too. An emotional support animal is different. Public accommodations "may establish rules" for animals that are not service animals (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-990), so a hotel may treat yours as a pet. Since 2021, airlines may treat it as a pet too.
How to tell if it's a fake service dog?
Businesses are limited to the questions the Department of Justice allows when the state's service-animal rule is enforced (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-980(C)). A real service dog is trained to do work or perform tasks. Emotional support, comfort and companionship do not count as tasks (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-920(4)(b)). Intentionally passing off an untrained animal is a violation fined up to 250, 500 and then 1,000 dollars, but it is not a crime (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-980).
What are the different types of service dogs?
South Carolina sorts them by training, not by label. A service animal is a dog or miniature horse "trained or that is being trained to do work or perform tasks" (S.C. Code Ann. § 47-3-920(4)(a)). One listed task is calming a person with post-traumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack. A psychiatric service dog qualifies through that task training, not through a letter. If your dog is task-trained, see our psychiatric service dog letter page.
How much does an ESA letter cost in South Carolina?
$99 for a housing letter, $149 together with a psychiatric service dog letter, or $79 for a PSD letter and consultation on its own. The consultation and landlord verification support are included, and the price is the same across every state.
Nearby states and resources
Moving across a state line changes the rules.
Sources
Every legal statement on this page, and where it comes from.
- S.C. Code Ann. ch. 31-21, South Carolina Fair Housing Law (§§ 31-21-30(7), 31-21-40, 31-21-70(A)–(C), (G), (K), (N), 31-21-80, 31-21-120, 31-21-130, 31-21-140), with the Editor's Note on 2019 Act No. 44 accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Ann. ch. 47-3, Article 15 (§ 47-3-920 definitions, including emotional support animal; § 47-3-980 service-animal misrepresentation; § 47-3-990 public accommodations) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Ann. ch. 27-40, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§ 27-40-410 security deposits; § 27-40-910 retaliation) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Ann. ch. 43-33 (§§ 43-33-20, 43-33-70: trained assistance dogs, full access, no extra charge) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Ann. ch. 40-42, Telehealth (§ 40-42-20: state licence; evaluation need not be in person; identity, location and credentials; follow-up care; 2024 Act No. 120) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Ann. ch. 40-55, psychologists (§ 40-55-340: PSYPACT telepsychology authority) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Ann. § 40-63-35 (out-of-state social workers: behavioral-telehealth registration) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Ann. § 40-75-800 (counselors, marriage and family therapists and others: behavioral-telehealth registration) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Regs. 65-215 (SCHAC housing rule: inquiry limits (C)(3), reasonable accommodation (E)) accessed 2026-10-22
- S.281 (2019), Act No. 44: bill history (added § 31-21-70(N), § 47-3-920(6), § 47-3-990) accessed 2026-10-22
- S 1137 (2018), proposed service-animal misdemeanour with 350-dollar minimum fines; died in Senate committee accessed 2026-10-22
- H 5041 (2018), proposed service-animal misdemeanour; died in House Judiciary accessed 2026-10-22
- South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, How to file a housing complaint (180 days; online questionnaire; phone) accessed 2026-10-22
- South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, Filing a complaint (free; no attorney needed; intake methods) accessed 2026-10-22
- South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, release dated 5 Aug 2026 (posted 13 Aug 2026): state protections unaffected by HUD's enforcement change accessed 2026-10-22
- SC LLR Board of Social Work Examiners, behavioral telehealth registration accessed 2026-10-22
- SC LLR, Social Work Telehealth Registration Listing (public registrant list) accessed 2026-10-22
- SC LLR counselors and marriage and family therapists board, behavioral telehealth registration accessed 2026-10-22
- PSYPACT participating-states map (South Carolina effective 17 Jul 2023) accessed 2026-10-22
- Counseling Compact Commission (South Carolina a member state, not live) accessed 2026-10-22
- ASWB, Social Work Licensure Compact status (no multistate licences issued yet) accessed 2026-10-22
- Greenville County Human Relations Commission, fair housing intake (180 days) accessed 2026-10-22
- HUD list of Fair Housing Assistance Program agencies (SCHAC listed; no South Carolina local agency) accessed 2026-10-22
- HUD FHEO enforcement memorandum, 22 May 2026 accessed 2026-10-22
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 2026-10-22 by Darren Rafel, LCSW. Statutes change; we re-check each state page and record the date above.
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