Pets are not permitted at UCF or in student housing accommodations, except as authorized by the University. UCF will consider requests for a “reasonable” accommodation from a student with a documented disability to permit the presence of a an emotional support assistance animal if the animal is both necessary because of a student’s disability and reasonable under the circumstances.

Under the Fair Housing Act, an ESA is an  animal that an individual with a disability utilizes in the housing environment solely for emotional support, well-being, or comfort, such as alleviating or mitigating one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. While dogs are commonly used as emotional support animals, other types of animals may serve a person with a disability as an emotional support animal.

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.  Housing and Residence Life requests that residents notify them of the intended presence of a service animal in housing prior to the animal’s arrival.