Massachusetts Institute of Technology Emotional Support Animal Policy

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Main Takeaways:

Contact Disability and Access Services (DAS) to request ESA accommodation in MIT housing.
Documentation from a qualified healthcare provider is required.
Animals must be approved before arrival. No animals permitted during application review.
ESAs are restricted to your assigned room only, not other campus buildings.
Submit requests early to allow adequate processing time for DAS and Housing & Residential Services.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology supports students with disabilities by allowing emotional support animals (ESAs) in housing as reasonable accommodations. DAS evaluates each request individually, working with Housing & Residential Services to ensure equal access while maintaining campus safety and community standards.

Legal Framework

MIT’s ESA policy complies with federal 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 for individuals who need them. Under the FHA, assistance animals that provide emotional support or alleviate symptoms of a disability qualify as reasonable accommodations in housing. ESAs must be necessary for the individual to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing, even in buildings where pets are otherwise prohibited.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA distinguishes between service animals and emotional support animals. Service animals, dogs that are individually trained to perform work or tasks for people with disabilities, have access to public areas across campus. ESAs provide therapeutic benefits through companionship and emotional support but don’t have the same public access rights. Service animals are permitted throughout MIT campus, while ESAs are restricted to residential housing units under the Fair Housing Act.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 prohibits disability-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs and requires reasonable accommodations. This includes allowing ESAs in residential settings when medically necessary to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to MIT’s housing, programs, and services.

State and Local Laws

Massachusetts state laws and Cambridge local ordinances may provide additional protections for individuals with disabilities. MIT ensures its ESA policy complies with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements, providing comprehensive support for students with documented disabilities.

Who Qualifies for an Emotional Support Animal

Assistance Animals (ESAs)

Students with documented disabilities may keep an ESA if the animal is necessary for equal access to housing. A qualified healthcare provider must document how the animal alleviates disability symptoms. DAS approval is required before bringing the animal to campus.
Service Animals

A service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks on behalf of an individual with a disability. DAS may acknowledge service animals at MIT. Non-residents are not allowed to enter MIT residence halls with any animals, except service animals that have been individually trained to perform disability-related tasks.

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: Initial Contact

If this is your first time requesting an accommodation, contact Disability and Access Services. During an initial meeting, the DAS team will initiate the accommodation request process.

Step 2: Gather Documentation

Prior to your meeting with DAS, review and obtain any and all documentation related to your disability and your specific accommodation request. DAS works with you, your medical provider, and Housing & Residential Services to determine accommodations that may be reasonable and necessary for your ESA request.

Step 3: Submit Required Forms

Like other accommodation requests, the first steps involve meeting with the DAS team and submitting documentation. Depending on the nature of your request, you may also need to submit the Supplemental Housing Request Form through the housing process.

Step 4: Interactive Review Process

DAS engages students and campus partners in an interactive process to determine and implement reasonable accommodations. Federal standards require that the animal must be necessary for you to have equal access to, and enjoy the benefits of, housing, and the accommodation must be reasonable. Reviews of accommodation requests may take some time.

Step 5: Wait for Approval

You must request accommodations to allow DAS reasonable time to review and evaluate your request and provide necessary accommodations. Animals are not permitted in your residence prior to approval. It is your responsibility to follow MIT’s procedures to ensure your request is addressed in an effective and timely manner.

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Responsibilities of ESA Owners

Complete responsibility for care and supervision, including feeding, grooming, veterinary care, and waste removal. Animals must not interfere with residence hall activities.
During health and safety inspections, ESAs must be crated.
Animals must be well-behaved, housebroken, and controlled at all times. No excessive noise, aggressive behavior, or unsanitary conditions.
Financial responsibility for all animal-caused damages, including repairs, excessive cleaning, or pest control services.
ESAs are permitted only in your on-campus dwelling unit. They are not allowed in other campus buildings.
Contact Housing & Residential Services or Disability and Access Services with questions or concerns.

Conflicting Needs and Resolutions

MIT accommodates both ESA owners and residents with conflicting needs such as allergies, asthma, or other animal-affected conditions. Contact DAS to discuss accommodations. DAS uses an interactive process to balance all students’ needs and find reasonable solutions.

Important Considerations

ESAs are permitted only in assigned residential rooms, not in other campus buildings.
Pets are prohibited in residence halls. Fish tanks up to 20 gallons are allowed.
Some residence halls offer a limited cat program separate from ESA accommodations.
Animals are not permitted in your residence prior to approval. Complete the entire approval process before bringing your animal to campus.
Non-residents are not allowed to enter MIT residence halls with any animals, except service animals that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities.