NC H796

Requires landlords to make reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities to have emotional support animals in rental units and prohibits terminating tenancies or refusing to rent based on a tenant's disability status or use of an emotional support animal.

Defines emotional support animals as companion animals determined by a licensed health service provider (physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker) to benefit a person with a disability, and exempts them from training or registration requirements.

Allows landlords to require written verification from a health service provider for non-apparent disabilities, confirming the person has a disability and a disability-related need for the emotional support animal.

Establishes Class 2 misdemeanor penalties for misrepresenting disability status, making false statements to health providers, providing fraudulent documentation, or improperly fitting animals with emotional support animal items.

Permits landlords to require emotional support animal owners to comply with rental agreements, pay for damages caused by the animal, and sign addendums outlining responsibilities; exempts landlords from liability for injuries caused by emotional support animals.

Effective January 1, 2020, and applies to rental agreements entered into on or after that date.