Columbia University Emotional Support Animal Policy

Columbia University Main Takeaways:

Submit your Service and Assistance Animal Registration Form to Disability Services with required documentation.
Assistance animals (ESAs) are only permitted in your privately assigned living space, not in libraries, classrooms, or other campus buildings.
You need an ESA letter from a licensed healthcare provider.
Annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian and current vaccinations are required.
Only one assistance animal per student will typically be approved, and approvals are granted for one academic year at a time.

Columbia University recognizes that assistance animals provide individuals with disabilities enhanced autonomy and independence. Through Disability Services, Columbia allows qualified students to keep assistance animals (commonly referred to as emotional support animals or ESAs) in University housing as a reasonable accommodation. This policy ensures students with disabilities have equal access to housing while maintaining campus safety and community standards.

Legal Framework

Columbia University’s assistance animal policy complies with federal, state, and local laws protecting individuals with disabilities and ensuring equal access to housing.

Fair Housing Act (FHA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
State and Local Laws

Fair Housing Act (FHA)

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on disability and requires reasonable accommodations. Assistance animals that provide emotional support and alleviate symptoms of a disability qualify as reasonable accommodations in housing, even where pets are otherwise prohibited. Housing providers must exempt assistance animals from pet policies unless the exemption would cause an undue hardship.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA distinguishes between service animals and assistance animals. Service animals, dogs or miniature horses trained to perform disability-related tasks, are generally permitted throughout campus. Assistance animals provide emotional support through companionship but don’t have the same public access rights. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support are not service animals under the ADA but may qualify as assistance animals under FHA laws.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 prohibits disability discrimination in federally funded programs and requires reasonable accommodations, including assistance animals in residential settings when medically necessary for equal access to housing and educational opportunities.

State and Local Laws

New York provides additional protections for assistance animal owners through the NYC Human Rights Law, which protects against disability discrimination in housing and ensures the right to have assistance animals as reasonable accommodations.

Who Qualifies for an Emotional Support Animal

Assistance Animals (ESAs)

Students with documented disabilities may keep an assistance animal in their University housing if the animal provides emotional support that alleviates symptoms or effects of their disability. Once approved, assistance animals are permitted only in University housing and are not permitted in other campus areas such as libraries, academic buildings, or classrooms.
Service Animals

Service animals are dogs or miniature horses individually trained to do work or perform disability-related tasks, such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, or reminding people with psychiatric conditions to take medications. Service animals are generally permitted throughout campus, though restrictions may apply in certain locations due to health and safety concerns.

Assistance Animals (ESAs)

Students with disabilities may keep an ESA in their University housing if the animal is necessary to afford them an equal opportunity to use and enjoy campus housing. The relationship between the disability and the need for the ESA must be documented, and approval must be obtained from the ODS.
Service Animals

Students with disabilities may keep a Service Animal in their dormitory or rental unit, as well as other venues on campus, if the animal is trained to perform tasks directly related to the student’s disability. Service Animals do not require prior approval but must be registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS).

Application Process for an ESA

Step 1: Submit Registration Form and Documentation

Obtain the Service and Assistance Animal Registration Form from the Columbia Health website. Submit this form to Disability Services along with documentation from a licensed healthcare provider that includes:

Confirmation of your disability
Statement on how the animal serves as an accommodation for your disability
Statement on how the need for the animal relates to your ability to use and enjoy University housing
Current documentation dated within the last six months

Step 2: Submit Animal Health Documentation

Provide required documentation of good health from a licensed veterinarian:

Clean bill of health certifying the animal is in good health with all vaccinations up to date
Proof of rabies vaccination for dogs and cats
Documentation that the animal is immunized against diseases common to that type of animal

Step 3: Sign Guidelines and Await Approval

Submit a signed copy of the Service and Assistance Animal Guidelines and Procedures. Disability Services will review your request, and if approved, appropriate residential staff will be notified. You may not bring your animal into campus residence until your housing assignment and community considerations are confirmed by Housing. If roommates have conflicting health conditions, additional time may be required to resolve conflicts.

Get An ESA Letter Now

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Responsibilities of ESA Owners

Ensure your animal does not unduly interfere with residence activities or burden other students.
You are financially responsible for all bodily injury, property damage, cleaning expenses, and repairs caused by your animal.
Place Animal Notification Signs on your door to inform maintenance staff of your animal’s presence.
Notify Disability Services in writing if the animal is no longer needed or in housing. File a new request to replace an animal
Your residence may be inspected for pests once per semester. You will be billed for any necessary pest treatment.
Keep your animal in your room or appropriate container when you are not present. Assistance animals must remain in your privately assigned area except when transported in a carrier or on leash.
Designate an Animal Emergency Contact who can remove the animal within eight hours if you cannot care for it. The contact must be over 18 and reside outside University housing, or be a licensed facility.

Conflicting Needs and Resolutions

Students with medical conditions affected by animals such as respiratory diseases, asthma, or severe allergies must contact Disability Services if they have health or safety concerns about exposure to an approved animal. Columbia is prepared to reasonably accommodate individuals with such medical conditions. Disability Services will resolve conflicts in a timely manner, considering the needs of all persons involved.

Important Considerations

Assistance animals are permitted only in privately assigned living space in University housing, not in other University property including libraries, classrooms, or labs.
Only one assistance animal per student will typically be approved. Approvals are granted for one academic year and require annual renewal with updated health records.
Students must remain in University housing for approval to remain active. The University will inactivate approval if you are not residing in University housing.