Fort Worth renters and ESA letters

The Human Relations Ordinance

Fort Worth's Human Relations Ordinance, found in City Code Chapter 17, bars discrimination in housing, jobs and public accommodations. The city's Civil Rights Office posts housing complaint forms in both English and Spanish on its housing, employment and public accommodation page.

The Human Relations Commission, set up in 1967, is an advisory commission that works under the Civil Rights Office; its number is 817-392-7525. HUD's list of Fair Housing Assistance Program agencies includes the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, which means Fort Worth is recognized as a local fair housing partner.

The city's pages don't spell out exactly how a housing complaint moves once it's filed, so call the Civil Rights Office and ask what happens next and how long it usually takes.

HUD's regional office is local

Fort Worth hosts one of HUD's regional Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity offices, reachable at 817-978-5900, with the national intake line at 800-669-9777. For a Fort Worth renter, the federal option is literally down the road.

Keep in mind how HUD now views emotional support animals. Under a memo dated May 22, 2026, HUD looks at untrained-ESA requests one by one rather than presuming them reasonable, and it walked back its earlier objection to fees. A HUD complaint about an ESA is still possible, but the outcome is less predictable than it was. The Texas Fair Housing Act, enforced by the Texas Workforce Commission, wasn't changed by that memo.

Picking one door

1. Confirm you're in Fort WorthArlington, Haltom City, Keller and other Tarrant County cities are separate municipalities. The Fort Worth ordinance covers housing inside Fort Worth.
2. Gather your recordsLease, animal addendum, your written request with its date, your ESA letter, and all responses the property sent.
3. Call the Civil Rights OfficeAsk whether your situation fits the Human Relations Ordinance and how the city processes housing forms.
4. Consider the state or federal routeTWC accepts complaints from anywhere in Texas within one year. HUD's regional office handles federal claims. The same complaint can't be filed with both TWC and HUD.

From Near Southside to Alliance

Fort Worth renting ranges from mid-rise apartments in the Near Southside and Cultural District to big subdivisions in far north Fort Worth near Alliance, where many rentals are single-family houses. Apartment communities usually have an animal addendum and a leasing office to send your request to.

With a rent house, check who the landlord really is. A management company or a corporate owner is almost always covered. An individual who owns three or fewer houses and rents one without an agent may be exempt from the Texas accommodation duty under Property Code §301.041, so ask the Civil Rights Office or a fair housing group how the city and federal rules treat that owner.

TCU and UT Arlington timelines

TCU's Student Access & Accommodation office says ESA reviews take 30 to 60 days, approvals are renewed every year, and the animal can't come to campus housing until it's approved. If you're planning an ESA for the fall semester, start in late spring, not in August.

Many students living near TCU rent houses and duplexes off campus. Those requests go to the landlord, not to the university.

UT Arlington, between Fort Worth and Dallas, handles requests through its Student Access & Resource Center, the SAR Center, which requires its ESA Verification Form. Arlington is its own city, so Fort Worth's ordinance doesn't apply to off-campus rentals there.

Traveling through DFW

Dallas Fort Worth International is the main airport for Fort Worth. A federal rule effective in January 2021 lets carriers classify ESAs as pets, so expect pet rules at DFW. American Airlines, for one, says ESAs may travel as pets with its standard requirements and fees. Book your animal's spot early, since in-cabin pet space is limited.

Evaluations for Tarrant County

The evaluation runs over video or phone, whether you're in Benbrook, Saginaw or downtown. When an ESA is supported, the signed PDF often comes through that day.

Pricing is simple: $129 for a letter that names one or two animals, $199 when it names three or more. Scheduling is free, and your card is charged only after a clinician signs a letter for you.

Every letter names the clinician's credential, license number and the state that granted it, and the booking page confirms availability for Texas. When things feel too heavy, 988 answers calls and texts at any hour, and 911 is the number for emergencies. MHMR of Tarrant County answers at 800-866-2465.