Cal. Civ. Code § 22-9-7-15
Liability for injury caused by individual's emotional support animal
Operative Text
Sec. 15. Subject to any other federal, state, or local law, a person who offers to rent or otherwise make available a dwelling and permits an individual with a disability the use of an emotional support animal on the premises of a dwelling as a reasonable accommodation under: (1) the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) and any amendments and regulations thereto; (2) Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and any amendments and regulations thereto; (3) the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and any amendments and regulations thereto; or (4) any other applicable state or local law; is not liable for an injury to another individual caused by an individual's emotional support animal.
Indiana Code § 22-9-7-15 establishes a liability shield for housing providers who allow emotional support animals (ESAs) as a reasonable accommodation under federal or state fair housing laws. When a landlord permits an ESA on the premises in compliance with those laws, the landlord is not legally responsible if that animal injures another person. This protection applies regardless of whether the accommodation is granted under the Fair Housing Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the ADA, or applicable state or local law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 22-9-7-15, housing providers who grant a reasonable accommodation request for an emotional support animal are generally shielded from liability if that animal later injures another person on the premises. Compliant operators typically document the accommodation request and approval process carefully, showing that the ESA was permitted in accordance with applicable federal or state law. Maintaining clear records of the accommodation decision can help demonstrate that the liability protection under this section applies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 22-9-7-15 is primarily a landlord-facing provision, but it has indirect relevance to tenants with disabilities who rely on emotional support animals. Because the statute removes a common landlord concern—liability for ESA-caused injuries—it may reduce resistance to reasonable accommodation requests made under the Fair Housing Act or related laws. Tenants who encounter difficulties obtaining an ESA accommodation can explore options such as filing a complaint with a fair housing agency or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Indiana disability accommodation law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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