ESA letters in Louisiana
Your core right (federal law)
The federal Fair Housing Act requires most landlords to make a reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal, even under a "no pets" policy, once you have a legitimate letter from a licensed clinician. This right comes from federal law and applies the same way in Louisiana as anywhere else in the US.
Louisiana requires a 30-day clinician relationship
Louisiana is one of five states, along with Arkansas, California, Iowa, Montana, where a letter can only be issued after an established 30-day relationship with your clinician. In practice that means two consultations spaced about a month apart, not one, so plan ahead if you're on a deadline.
Air travel: a note
Since a 2021 Department of Transportation rule change, airlines are no longer required to accommodate emotional support animals the way they once were, and they can treat an ESA as a regular pet, subject to pet fees and carrier policies. An ESA letter's strongest, most reliable protection today is housing, not air travel. We'd rather tell you this upfront than let a letter imply a guarantee it can't back up.