No. By law, a landlord must accommodate someone who has a service animal. This is true even if the landlord has a no pets policy. A landlord is required to waive its no pets policy to accommodate a disabled person in need of a service animal. A tenant in need of a service animal need only supply proof that the tenant is disabled and that their animal has been certified as a service animal or emotional support animal. Once such is provided, the landlord must accept the service animal. It is a violation of federal law for a landlord to attempt to evict someone who has a service animal or emotional support animal.
Yes. This is not a difficult thing to establish. If a medical doctor determines that a person is emotionally handicapped due to life’s circumstances, the doctor can prescribe a service animal. Once diagnosed as disabled, a landlord cannot reject a tenant’s diagnoses of a medical disability and, therefore, must accept their request for a service animal or emotional support animal.
No. Both are permitted by law. A service dog may perform various functions for a person, but an animal is not required to perform functions to be admitted. The mere fact that an animal brings peace and satisfaction to a person who suffers emotional distress, is grounds to permit such animal to act as an emotional support animal.
Virtually any animal within reason can act as a service animals. Courts have approved of birds, cats, and dogs as emotional support animals.
No. It would be a violation of federal law for a landlord to increase your security deposit due to you requesting a service animal.
No. The law does not require a service animal to be specially trained.