Your landlord may have a “no pets” policy or require you to pay a fee to have a pet. If you have an assistance animal, such as emotional support or service animal, there is an exception.

The Illinois Assistance Animal Integrity Act covers rental properties such as apartments, condominiums, and co-ops. This law applies to any type of animal that provides assistance, performs tasks, or provides emotional support for a person with a disability.

Requesting an exception to a “no pets” policy

You may ask your landlord to make an exception to a “no pets” policy. Your landlord can then ask you to give them written documentation of your disability that explains why you need an assistance animal. For example, a written note from your health care provider that describes your disability-related need for the assistance animal. Your healthcare provider does not need to give a specific diagnosis.

Note, if your landlord already knows about your disability, or if your disability is obvious, then you don’t need to provide this information.

Reasons a landlord may deny your request

There are only a few reasons a landlord may deny your request:

• If accommodating the animal would be too expensive or burdensome.
• If the animal poses a direct threat to the safety of others.
• If the animal causes physical damage to property.
• If the animal has a pattern of out-of-control behavior.

Your landlord can’t ask you to pay a pet deposit or fee for an assistance animal. This is true even if your landlord already allows pets and requires pet owners to pay a deposit or fee. Your landlord cannot require you to get special insurance for an assistance animal. Your landlord can charge you for the costs of repairs for damage that your animal causes. This does not include normal wear and tear.