Per the CSUMB Animals On Campus Policy, Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals are allowed in campus buildings.. Animals are not allowed in campus housing without prior approval from Student Disability Resources (SDR) and Student Housing and Residential Life (SHRL) each academic year.

• Service Animals (dogs) require an  up-to-date vaccination record and a dog license.
• Emotional Support Animals are only allowed in housing facilities at the student's current housing assignment, and only once they are approved by Student Disability Resources AND Student Housing and Residential Life for the specific academic year. Emotional Support Animals are not allowed in campus housing prior to approval by SDR and SHRL.

You are required to provide Student Disability Resources with a copy of your service animal’s up-to-date vaccinations as well as a dog license (required of all dogs in Monterey County). If you intend to live on campus, it is important to promptly ask SHRLwhat is required in addition to scheduling and completing an appointment with SDR to follow a time-sensitive process for requesting your Service Animal to live with you on campus. This includes completion of a CSUMB Service Animal Agreement,possibly a roommate agreement and an SHRL license addendum. You are expected to complete these prior to each academic year.

Commuter students or on-campus students who need to bring their Service Animal into the classroom need to schedule an appointment with SDR  to request a Course Accommodation Letter that will clarify the  animal's permission to be in class as a disability accommodation. There are no Course Accommodations for Emotional Support Animals to be allowed in the classrooms.

An Emotional Support Animal is different from a Service Animal under the ADA, but may be permitted as a reasonable accommodation for persons with disability for on campus living. Emotional Support Animals are afforded protection under Fair Housing, but are not generally granted “public” access, such as going with their handler to classrooms, to the dining commons, to the library, or other public areas. Students are not permitted to have an Emotional Support Animal in campus housing without prior approval by DR and SHRL.

To request an Emotional Support Animal:

• Register with SDR. See Getting Started for registering with SDR for accommodations.  Request the Emotional Support Animal Request (ESA) Form from your SDR Advisor and ask your treating provider to complete it or your provider may write a  letter that addresses the questions in the ESA Request form .. Only a treatment provider with whom you have a relationship with will be able to qualify your animal as an emotional support animal, as they understand and can explain how the animal mitigates symptoms of your disability. 
• The animal  must be registered in your name. Your name must be on the veterinarian records or adoption/purchase documents.
• Comprehensive list of documents for requesting an ESA animal accommodation to live on campus
  
  
  • All Getting Started SDR Registration documents 
  • Emotional Support Animal Request Form or Letter from your provider answering the questions on the ESA Request Form
  • Up to date vaccination records (rabies and distemper)
  • License (dogs only)
  • Microchip information (if animal has a microchip)
  • Local veterinarian contact information that you plan to use in case of an emergency
  • Name and contact information of someone off campus who will assist you if you are unable to care for your animal

Submitting documentation for consideration of an ESA accommodation to SDR  does not guarantee that your request will be approved. If your ESA request is approved as a housing accommodation, your Disability Resource Advisor will contact SHRL to inform them of the approval. Each academic year, prior to applying for on campus housing, you will need to review and sign an ESA Agreement with your SDR Advisor. 

Disability Rights California, Fact Sheet: Rights to Assistance Animals in Housing:

Disability Rights California, Fact Sheet: Service Animals in Business and Public Spaces:

Monterey County Animal Services, dog licensing: