A housing letter does not settle every stay
A hotel reservation and a residential accommodation request involve different questions. Start by identifying the property type, location, animal category, and operator. A site’s label such as “apartment” does not by itself determine the legal treatment of a short stay.
Ask about the actual animal policy before making a nonrefundable booking. Keep the written answer with your reservation.
Airbnb has location-specific ESA provisions
Airbnb’s accessibility policy distinguishes ESAs from service animals. Its current policy requires hosts in California and New York to accommodate ESAs for Homes reservations, and includes provisions for Quebec and Ontario. Review the full policy, including its scope and any applicable exemptions, for the exact reservation.
Do not copy that platform policy into a claim about every hotel, every vacation rental website, or every jurisdiction. Other operators and properties require their own checks.
Ask booking questions that prevent surprises
Confirm whether your animal is accepted, whether a pet fee applies, whether it can be left unattended, and whether size, carrier, or area restrictions matter. If an accommodation question remains unresolved, use the operator’s designated support process and retain the reply.
Do not relabel an ESA as a trained service animal to obtain access. If a longer stay raises residential housing questions, seek advice about that arrangement rather than assuming the booking platform’s wording decides it. Our role comparison and housing guide address the separate categories.
Sources & reading notes
Sources consulted September 8, 2026. Source addresses are provided as text for reference. General information does not replace individual medical or legal advice.
Airbnb — Accessibility Policyhttps://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1869
U.S. Department of Justice — Service Animalshttps://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/