Board with the screening
Answer questions online about your health, your animal and where you live.
Meet an Iowa clinician
A clinician licensed in Iowa reviews your answers and holds a telehealth visit when appropriate.
Arrive at a decision
If a letter is supported, choose a plan and receive it by email; if not, there is no charge.
Council Bluffs · Pottawattamie County seat
Council Bluffs, Iowa ESA Letters and Psychiatric Service Dog Letters
Across the Missouri River from Omaha, Council Bluffs counted 62,799 people at the 2020 census. If your animal helps you cope with anxiety, depression or trauma, a free screening with a clinician licensed in Iowa shows whether an emotional support animal letter or a psychiatric service dog letter is supported.
Screening at no cost
Iowa clinician decides
Telehealth from home
Pet License Calendar
- By March 14Renew with no penalty
- March 15 on$15 penalty per license
- July 1 onNew pets licensed at half price
- Lost tag$5 replacement
Three Lines to a Council Bluffs Letter
Council Bluffs ESA and Psychiatric Service Dog Letter Pricing
Clear pricing for emotional support animal and psychiatric service dog letters written by a licensed mental health professional. Your screening is free, and you pay only if a clinician supports a letter and you decide to continue.
ESA Housing Letter For One Pet
$149
Best option for most renters with one emotional support animal
- Free online screening with a licensed psychotherapist
- Telehealth evaluation when clinically indicated
- Letter written for ESA housing requests
- Digital delivery within 24-48 hours after payment
- Follow up clarification for landlords included
Most Popular
ESA Housing Letter For Multiple Pets
$159
For people who have more than one emotional support animal in the home
- Free clinical screening that covers up to three ESA dogs or cats
- All approved animals listed together on a single ESA housing letter
- Letter tailored for apartments and rental homes
- Digital delivery within 24-48 hours after payment
- Support for landlord questions about pet deposits and rent
Psychiatric Service Dog Evaluation
$199
For people who may qualify for a task-trained psychiatric service dog
- Free initial screening with a licensed psychotherapist
- Telehealth evaluation focused on symptoms and the tasks the dog is trained to do
- Letter describing the disability-related need and task support
- Clinically grounded documentation, not a generic certificate
- Follow up clarification for housing providers included
Bundle Packages
Save more with combined document bundles
BUNDLE
ESA Letter + Certificate Bundle
$199
ESA letter and certificate in one package
- ESA letter from a licensed professional
- ESA certificate with QR code verification
- Digital delivery within 24-48 hours after payment
- Valid for 1 year with renewal reminders
BEST VALUE
PSD Letter + Certificate + ID Card
$225
Complete PSD documentation: letter, certificate and ID card
- PSD letter from a licensed professional
- PSD certificate with QR code verification
- PSD ID card with photo and barcode
- Digital delivery within 24-48 hours after payment
Clinically reviewed
Secure payment
24-48 hr delivery
No hidden fees
American Service Animals does not sell ESA registrations. All letters are based on real clinical evaluations.
Council Bluffs Pet License Timing Check
The city times its license discounts and penalties by the calendar. Enter the day you plan to buy and what you are licensing to see which rule applies. The base fee comes from the city's Customer Portal.
Your copy
What applies
Pick a date to begin.
From Kanesville to Mile 0
Until about 1853 the settlement was called Kanesville, the starting point of the Mormon Trail and an outfitting stop for emigrants heading west. President Lincoln later chose it as the eastern terminus of the transcontinental railroad, finished in 1869, which is why the city calls itself the Gateway of the American West.
- Golden Spike, the monument marking Mile 0
- Squirrel Cage Jail, a rotary jail on the National Register
- Bob Kerrey Bridge, to walk or bike to Omaha
Council Bluffs, Gateway of the American West
Valley View Dog Park
The city's permanent off-leash park sits inside Valley View Park at 1300 Franklin Avenue and opened with a tree planting for Arbor Day on April 28, 2025. Leash your dog on the way in and out.
- Two sizesSeparate areas for large and small dogs
- Double gatesSecure entrances on each side
- Water seasonTurned on May 1 to October 1
- Shade and seatsTrees and benches for owners
Valley View Park, 1300 Franklin Avenue
Iowa Rules a Council Bluffs Landlord Follows
A written answer
Iowa Code 216.8B tells a landlord to weigh an assistance animal request within a reasonable time and give a written determination.
Who signs the finding
Under Iowa Code 216.8C the letter comes from a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse, psychologist, social worker or counselor, including one licensed in another state.
300 days to act
Housing complaints reach the Iowa Civil Rights Commission within 300 days of the last incident, through its intake line at 1-800-457-4416.
Help Close to Council Bluffs
VA care
The Omaha VA Medical Center at 4101 Woolworth Avenue belongs to VA Nebraska-Western Iowa.
Older adults
Connections Area Agency on Aging has its Council Bluffs office at 231 S. Main and a toll-free line at 800-432-9209.
Support any hour
Your Life Iowa answers calls at 855-581-8111 and texts at 855-895-8398, free and confidential.
Council Bluffs Questions From the Squirrel Cage
Robert Thall, Public domain
Do I have to license my dog or cat in Council Bluffs?
Yes. City code requires anyone who owns, keeps or harbors a dog or cat six months or older in Council Bluffs to license it, with a rabies certificate on file.
When is the Council Bluffs license renewal deadline?
Renewals can be bought without a penalty until the end of business on March 14. Each license sold on or after March 15 carries a $15 penalty.
Is there a discount for a pet I got later in the year?
Licenses for new pets are sold at half price when bought on or after July 1.
Where is the off-leash dog park in Council Bluffs?
Valley View Dog Park is inside Valley View Park at 1300 Franklin Avenue. It opened on April 28, 2025, with separate areas for large and small dogs and double-gated entrances.
How long does a Council Bluffs resident have to file an Iowa housing complaint?
The Iowa Civil Rights Commission takes housing complaints within 300 days of the last alleged discriminatory incident. Its housing intake line is 1-800-457-4416.
Where do Council Bluffs veterans go for VA care?
The Omaha VA Medical Center at 4101 Woolworth Avenue in Omaha is part of VA Nebraska-Western Iowa, just across the Missouri River.
More Iowa Pages Nearby
General information for Council Bluffs residents, current as of October 2026, and not legal advice. License dates come from the City of Council Bluffs and can change, so confirm the current fee in the city's portal. Screening does not guarantee a letter. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or reach Your Life Iowa at 855-581-8111.
Your Council Bluffs Screening Starts Here
An Iowa-licensed clinician can look at how your animal helps you and tell you which letter, if either, fits your situation.
No fee unless approved
Private and secure
Serving the Missouri River valley
