Housing Accommodation Application Guide

This page will guide you step-by-step on how to apply for housing accommodations through UCF Student Accessibility Services. Please note that there are four different housing accommodation applications, depending on what type of housing accommodation(s) you are requesting.

  • Floor Plan Accommodations
  • Housing Lottery Exemption/Waitlist Priority
  • Emotional Support Animal
  • Service Animal

Please be sure to complete the application(s) that match what you are requesting. SAS consultants will only discuss housing accommodations for the applications completed prior to the meeting. For example, students should complete the Floor Plan Accommodation Application and Lottery Exemption/Waitlist Priority Application if seeking both prior to their meeting. Students should also complete an application for housing prior to requesting housing accommodations.

Approval of Floor Plan, ESA, or Service Animal requests does not guarantee on-campus housing placement. If housing is assigned through standard processes, approved accommodations will be honored.

UCF accepts housing accommodation requests at any time. However, submitting by the preferred deadlines allows time for review and coordination before the semester begins. If approved and space is available, accommodations will be arranged.

Requests submitted after the deadline may not be fulfilled by move-in or during the same term due to space and timing constraints. If a need arises while already living on campus, submit the application as soon as possible. UCF will review all requests but cannot guarantee immediate implementation.

For information on how SAS makes housing accommodation determinations, review the information on Reasonable Accommodation Analysis for Academic and Housing Accommodations

Floor Plan Accommodation Requests

Floor Plan accommodation requests include modifications to the on-campus housing environment, such as, but not limited to:

  • Physical accessibility features (such as but not limited to ground level access, accessible shower, toilet, and sink, and remote-control door access)
  • Private Bedroom: A bedroom that is not shared between roommates for disability reasons
  • Private Bathroom: A bathroom that is not shared between roommates for disability reasons
  • Semi-Private Bathroom: A bathroom that is only shared with one other person for disability reasons
  • In-Unit Kitchen: A kitchen available and shared within a suite of roommates for disability reasons
  • Private Kitchen: A kitchen that is not shared between roommates for disability reasons
  • Semi-Private Kitchen: A kitchen that is only shared with one other person for disability reasons
  • Strobe Light Fire Alarm
  • Access for Personal Care Attendant(s)

Preferred Deadline: Students should submit requests for Floor Plan Accommodation requests no later than:

  • April 1st for Fall move in
  • November 5th for Spring move in
  • February 1st for Summer A/C/D move in
  • March 1st for Summer B move in

Requests may take up to 8 weeks to fully review and implement, starting from the date the application is submitted. This timeframe does not include any time needed by the student to respond to inquiries from SAS and/or Housing and Residence life for additional information to support a request. Implementation may take longer for unique requests and depending on specific situations.

For students requesting floorplan accommodations, please complete the following steps:

  1. If you are seeking a private room, private bathroom, or in unit kitchen and already have a confirmed housing agreement, check our Request Met by Agreement Type Quick Guide to see if your request may be naturally met by the agreement you have. If it does not meet your request or you are seeking other floor plan accommodations, proceed to the next step. Per UCF Housing and Residence Life’s assignment process, Any non-FTIC (First Time in College) student will be placed in a private room if selected for a housing space through the housing lottery.
  2. Submit the Floor Plan Accommodation Application (via Knights Access)
  3. Documentation
    Please note that you should not delay meeting with us if you are concerned about not having the right documentation. Each consultant will discuss specific third-party documentation needs during the Welcome Meeting and steps you can take after the meeting. Our priority is meeting with you, not reviewing the documentation. After submitting your online application, you will be invited to submit documentation via electronic upload.

    • SAS provides an optional Provider Form for UCF Housing Floor Plan Accommodation Requests that students can have a qualified professional complete to support their accommodation request(s).
    • If you are seeking housing floor plan accommodations related to an allergy, we highly recommend that you provide documentation that addresses questions found in our Allergy Documentation Questionnaire with your application.
    • Insufficient documentation will not delay the initial meeting but may delay the consideration and possible approval of certain accommodations.
  4. Check UCF Email and Follow the Prompts
    Once an application is submitted, students will get an automated email confirming that SAS will review it. (Check Spam/Junk Folders, as system emails may go there.) Within 10 business days, SAS will follow up via UCF email with next steps. For students with a UCF email address, SAS will only send email communications via the UCF email system.Some requests may be finalized without a meeting. If a meeting is needed:

    • Scheduling may take at least 3 weeks. Begin the process as soon as possible.
    • During the meeting, SAS and the student will discuss housing-related challenges, possible accommodations, and next steps. SAS’s goal is to keep the meeting relaxed and comfortable.
    • Finalizing accommodations may take time, especially when coordination with Housing and Residence Life is needed.

Lottery Exemption/Waitlist Priority

Due to limited housing capacity, not every student who applies for housing will receive a space. Students with disabilities may request a lottery exemption or waitlist priority accommodation due to their disability. These requests will be reviewed by Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

Lottery Exemption Accommodation Request (Only for Returning UCF Students)

A lottery exemption means SAS will consider whether a student should bypass the standard housing lottery due to disability-related access needs. If approved, the student will receive a housing assignment for the next academic year.

Preferred Deadline: Students should submit requests no later than:

  • January 1st for Fall move in

Requests after the preferred deadline: While Lottery Exemption requests will be reviewed after this deadline, a review may not be able to be completed before the UCF Housing lottery process occurs in late January. After the lottery occurs, waitlist priority is the only option available.

Waitlist Priority Accommodation Request

UCF Housing offers a waitlist for:

  • Returning students who did notsecure housing through the lottery
  • Transfer/returning students not eligible for the lottery
  • Incoming freshmen after housing is full

A waitlist priority accommodation allows SAS to consider placing a student at the top of the waitlist due to disability-related access needs. Approval does not guarantee housing, but gives priority if space becomes available.

Requests may take up to 3 weeks to review and implement, not including time needed for student responses or additional documentation.

For students requesting a lottery exemption/waitlist priority, please complete the following steps:

  1. Submit the Lottery Exemption/Waitlist Priority Application (via Knights Access)
  2. Provide Documentation (if available)
    After submitting your online application, you will be invited to submit documentation via electronic upload. SAS provides an optional Provider Form for UCF Lottery Exemption & Waitlist Priority Request that students can have a qualified professional complete to support their accommodation request. Please note that you should not delay meeting with us if you are concerned about not having the right documentation. Each consultant will discuss specific third-party documentation needs during the Welcome Meeting and steps you can take after the meeting. Our priority is meeting with you, not reviewing the documentation. Insufficient documentation will not delay the initial meeting but may delay the consideration and possible approval of certain accommodations.
  3. Check UCF Email and Follow the Prompts
    Once an application is submitted, students will get an automated email confirming that SAS will review it. (Check Spam/Junk Folders, as system emails may go there.) Within 10 business days, SAS will follow up via UCF email with next steps. For students with a UCF email address, SAS will only send email communications via the UCF email system.Some requests may be finalized without a meeting. If a meeting is needed:

    • Scheduling may take at least 3 weeks. Begin the process as soon as possible.
    • During the meeting, SAS and the student will discuss housing-related challenges, possible accommodations, and next steps. SAS’s goal is to keep the meeting relaxed and comfortable.
    • Finalizing accommodations may take time, especially when coordination with Housing and Residence Life is needed.

Emotional Support Animal

Under the Fair Housing Act, students may request to have an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) in their living space. An ESA is an animal that an individual with a disability utilizes solely for emotional support, well-being, or comfort. Students are encouraged to review UCF’s Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal Policy to become familiar with UCF’s guidelines and expectations for those bringing ESAs to on campus housing.

Students may not bring the ESA to campus prior to approval from SAS & Housing and Residence Life. Doing so is a UCF policy violation.

When submitting a request for an ESA, please note that:

  • Students should generally have an existing relationship with the ESA and understand its care needs and emotional support benefits.
  • Only one ESA is approved per student, unless exceptional disability-related circumstances justify more.
  • Domesticated vs. Non-Domesticated and Exotic Animals:
    • Dogs and cats are the most frequently requested ESAs. A small bird, rabbit, hamster, gerbil, a rodent, fish, turtle, or other small, domesticated animals that are traditionally kept in the home for pleasure can be considered. Requests for other types of animals, particularly non-domesticated and exotic animals, will warrant a more in-depth assessment of the safety and well-being of our residential communities. Non-domesticated and exotic animals include reptiles other than turtles (such as lizards and snakes), ferrets, barnyard animals, monkeys, kangaroos, and other animals that are not considered common household animals. Requests will also be assessed relative to State of Florida regulations on keeping wildlife as pets.
    • As part of the review, the burden of proof rests on the requestor to provide clear and compelling documentation about why a typical household animal cannot provide the emotional support needed and why the specific animal requested does meet the student’s emotional support needs. Documentation must also clearly stipulate how the exotic/unique animal being requested is appropriate to be in a university residence hall and within a community that is different from off-campus living.
    • Animal size, space needed for containment (such as a crate), daily animal care needed, behavioral temperament, and immediate and potential risks to the residential community are all considered before approval. These additional factors may supersede any medical recommendations for a non-domesticated or exotic animal ESA.
  • Multiple Animal Requests:
    • Multiple ESAs are rarely approved as a reasonable accommodation for one student.
    • If requesting multiple ESAs, a student must provide strong supporting documentation that clearly describes how each animal provides a distinct therapeutic emotional support that alleviates a symptom of the disability that a single animal cannot provide.
    • Multiple ESAs are not considered reasonable when the primary reason is for the mutual benefit of each ESA (such as because two animals will be happier together or because both animals need social interaction with each other for their emotional well-being).

Preferred Deadline: Students should submit requests for ESAs in housing no later than:

  • April 1st for Fall move in
  • November 5th for Spring move in
  • February 1st for Summer A/C/D move in
  • March 1st for Summer B move in

ESA requests may take up to 8 weeks to review and implement, not including time needed for student responses to SAS emails or requests for additional documentation. Unique requests may take longer.

Approval to bring an ESA to on-campus housing does not extend to classrooms or other campus areas. To request ESA access outside of housing, submit an Application for Academic Accommodations. Using a housing-approved ESA in other campus spaces without approval violates UCF policy.

For students requesting an ESA in housing, please complete the following steps:

  1. Submit the Housing ESA Application (via Knights Access)
  2. Provide Documentation (Required)
    After submitting your online application, you will be required to submit documentation via electronic upload.
    • Required: The Medical Provider Form for UCF Housing ESA Request completed by your healthcare provider OR all information requested in the form must be answered in a separate letter before SAS can make a final determination.
    • Required: Documentation with up-to-date vaccination information.
    • Potentially Required: For all requested animals who must be taken outside of a student’s assigned housing unit for natural relief (such as a dog), the UCF ESA Animal Behavioral Assessment Form OR all information requested in the form must be answered on separate paper before SAS can make a final determination. The behavioral assessment should be conducted by a veterinarian, animal trainer, or other animal expert and indicate that the particular animal requested is suitable for the high-density residence hall living environment where the student may have assigned roommates and where the animal will regularly be in close contact with other individuals unknown to the animal.
    • Individualized Documentation:
        • Documentation must clearly explain:
          • The disability and related symptoms for which an ESA is sought
          • How your specific ESA helps alleviate those symptoms
          • Note: Certificates or registrations from online sites that sell ESA documents do not meet SAS requirements.

      Under the Fair Housing Act, SAS may request reliable documentation when a disability or need for accommodation is not obvious. Be sure to upload all required documents before submitting the application. Incomplete applications or unanswered questions will result in delays or non-approval until sufficient information is provided.

  1. Check UCF Email and Follow the Prompts
    After you submit your application, you will immediately receive an automated email informing you that SAS will review your application. (Check Spam/Junk Folders, as system emails may go there.) SAS will then contact you via UCF email within ten business days regarding your next step. For students with a UCF email address, SAS will only send email communications via the UCF email system. ESA applications and subsequent SAS decisions are primarily managed through a document review. Individual meetings are less common, though SAS may follow-up by email with questions or to initiate a meeting request.

Service Animal

Students can request to bring their service animal into their living space on campus. Service animals are dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The work or tasks performed must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Students are encouraged to review UCF’s Service Animal and Emotional Support Animal Policy to become familiar with UCF’s guidelines and expectations for those bringing service animals to campus.

Students may not bring a service animal into campus housing prior to approval from SAS & Housing and Residence Life.

We recommend submitting these requests at least six weeks before a student intends to bring the service animal into UCF housing to give time for review.

For students requesting to bring their service animal into housing, please complete the following steps:

  1. Submit the Housing Service Animal Application (via Knights Access)
    While documentation may be submitted, no documentation is required for students seeking to bring a service animal to campus. However, based on the information provided in the request form, SAS may have follow-up questions that must be answered before a final decision can be made.
  1. Check UCF Email and Follow the Prompts
    After you submit your application, you will immediately receive an automated email informing you that SAS will review your application. SAS will then contact you via UCF email within ten business days regarding your next step. For students with a UCF email address, SAS will only send email communications via the UCF email system.

Housing Accommodation Types