A couple of other points: A service animal does not require certification or any kind of special equipment or identification (although many suggest that a vest or other identification makes practical sense). Assistance animals are not pets under fair housing law and therefore a housing provider’s pet rules do not apply (in other words — management cannot charge a pet fee for a service animal). That being said, if an assistance animal causes damage to an apartment beyond regular wear and tear, the resident will have to cover the damage out of the standard security deposit charged to everyone.
If you have a service animal, I recommend you make a reasonable accommodation request to your management office. While there is no requirement that the request be in writing, I believe it good practice to create a documented record. The same advice goes to management when responding to reasonable accommodation requests — send it in writing and put a copy in the resident’s file. Engaging in the interactive process works best for everyone and helps avoid needing to visit with a lawyer like me.
Just a thought.