Many people with disabilities use a service animal in order to fully participate in every-
day life. Dogs can be trained to perform many important tasks to assist people with disabili-
ties, such as providing stability for a person who has difficulty walking, picking up items for a
person who uses a wheelchair, preventing a child with autism from wandering away, or alert-
ing a person who has hearing loss when someone is approaching from behind.
The Department of Justice continues to receive many questions about how the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to service animals. The ADA requires State and local
government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations (covered entities) that provide
goods or services to the public to make “reasonable modifications” in their policies, practices,
or procedures when necessary to accommodate people with disabilities. The service animal
rules fall under this general principle. Accordingly, entities that have a “no pets” policy gener-
ally must modify the policy to allow service animals into their facilities. This publication pro-
vides guidance on the ADA’s service animal provisions and should be read in conjunction with
the publication ADA Revised Requirements: Service Animals.
DEFINITION OF SERVICE ANIMAL
What is a service animal?
A: Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do
work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be
directly related to the person’s disability.
What does “do work or perform tasks” mean?
A: The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a dis-
ability. For example, a person with diabetes may have a dog that is trained to alert him when his
blood sugar reaches high or low levels. A person with depression may have a dog that is trained
to remind her to take her medication. Or, a person who has epilepsy may have a dog that is
trained to detect the onset of a seizure and then help the person remain safe during the seizure.
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U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section
Frequently Asked Questions
about Service Animals and the ADA
2
Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service
animals under the ADA?
A: No. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a
person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not
qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, some State or local governments have
laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places. You may check
with your State and local government agencies to find out about these laws.
If someone’s dog calms them when having an anxiety attack, does this qualify it as a
service animal?
A: It depends. The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emo-
tional support animals. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about
to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would
qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, that
would not be considered a service animal under the ADA.
Does the ADA require service animals to be professionally trained?
A: No. People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not re-
quired to use a professional service dog training program.
Are service-animals-in-training considered service animals under the ADA?
A: No. Under the ADA, the dog must already be trained before it can be taken into public
places. However, some State or local laws cover animals that are still in training.
GENERAL RULES
What questions can a covered entity’s employees ask to determine if a dog is a service
animal?
A: In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only
two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and
(2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request
any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about
the nature of the person’s disability.
Do service animals have to wear a vest or patch or special harness identifying them as
service animals?
A: No. The ADA does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.
Who is responsible for the care and supervision of a service animal?
A: The handler is responsible for caring for and supervising the service animal, which in-
cludes toileting, feeding, and grooming and veterinary care. Covered entities are not obli-
gated to supervise or otherwise care for a service animal.
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Can a person bring a service animal with them as they go through a salad bar or other
self-service food lines?
A: Yes. Service animals must be allowed to accompany their handlers to and through self-
service food lines. Similarly, service animals may not be prohibited from communal food
preparation areas, such as are commonly found in shelters or dormitories.
Can hotels assign designated rooms for guests with service animals, out of consider
ation for other guests?
A: No. A guest with a disability who uses a service animal must be provided the same
opportunity to reserve any available room at the hotel as other guests without disabilities.
They may not be restricted to “pet-friendly” rooms.
Can hotels charge a cleaning fee for guests who have service animals?
A: No. Hotels are not permitted to charge guests for cleaning the hair or dander shed by
a service animal. However, if a guest’s service animal causes damages to a guest room, a
hotel is permitted to charge the same fee for damages as charged to other guests.
Can people bring more than one service animal into a public place?
A: Generally, yes. Some people with disabilities may use more than one service animal
to perform different tasks. For example, a person who has a visual disability and a seizure
disorder may use one service animal to assist with way-finding and another that is trained
as a seizure alert dog. Other people may need two service animals for the same task, such
as a person who needs two dogs to assist him or her with stability when walking. Staff may
ask the two permissible questions (See Question 7) about each of the dogs. If both dogs
can be accommodated, both should be allowed in. In some circumstances, however, it may
not be possible to accommodate more than one service animal. For example, in a crowded
small restaurant, only one dog may be able to fit under the table. The only other place for
the second dog would be in the aisle, which would block the space between tables. In this
case, staff may request that one of the dogs be left outside.
Does a hospital have to allow an in-patient with a disability to keep a service animal in
his or her room?
A: Generally, yes. Service animals must be allowed in patient rooms and anywhere else
in the hospital the public and patients are allowed to go. They cannot be excluded on the
grounds that staff can provide the same services.
What happens if a patient who uses a service animal is admitted to the hospital and is
unable to care for or supervise their animal?
A: If the patient is not able to care for the service animal, the patient can make arrange-
ments for a family member or friend to come to the hospital to provide these services, as it
is always preferable that the service animal and its handler not to be separated, or to keep
the dog during the hospitalization. If the patient is unable to care for the dog and is unable
to arrange for someone else to care for the dog, the hospital may place the dog in a board-
ing facility until the patient is released, or make other appropriate arrangements. However,
the hospital must give the patient opportunity to make arrangements for the dog’s care
before taking such steps.
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Must a service animal be allowed to ride in an ambulance with its handler?
A: Generally, yes. However, if the space in the ambulance is crowded and the dog’s pres-
ence would interfere with the emergency medical staff’s ability to treat the patient, staff
should make other arrangements to have the dog transported to the hospital.
CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION
Does the ADA require that service animals be certified as service animals?
A: No. Covered entities may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has
been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry.
There are individuals and organizations that sell service animal certication or registra-
tion documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the
Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal.
My city requires all dogs to be vaccinated. Does this apply to my service animal?
A: Yes. Individuals who have service animals are not exempt from local animal control or
public health requirements.
My city requires all dogs to be registered and licensed. Does this apply to my service
animal?
A: Yes. Service animals are subject to local dog licensing and registration requirements.
My city requires me to register my dog as a service animal. Is this legal under the ADA?
A: No. Mandatory registration of service animals is not permissible under the ADA. How-
ever, as stated above, service animals are subject to the same licensing and vaccination
rules that are applied to all dogs.
My city / college offers a voluntary registry program for people with disabilities who
use service animals and provides a special tag identifying the dogs as service animals.
Is this legal under the ADA?
A: Yes. Colleges and other entities, such as local governments, may offer voluntary reg-
istries. Many communities maintain a voluntary registry that serves a public purpose,
for example, to ensure that emergency staff know to look for service animals during an
emergency evacuation process. Some offer a benefit, such as a reduced dog license fee, for
individuals who register their service animals. Registries for purposes like this are permitted
under the ADA. An entity may not, however, require that a dog be registered as a service
animal as a condition of being permitted in public places. This would be a violation of the
ADA.
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BREEDS
Can service animals be any breed of dog?
A: Yes. The ADA does not restrict the type of dog breeds that can be service animals.
Can individuals with disabilities be refused access to a facility based solely on the
breed of their service animal?
A: No. A service animal may not be excluded based on assumptions or stereotypes about
the animal’s breed or how the animal might behave. However, if a particular service animal
behaves in a way that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, has a history of
such behavior, or is not under the control of the handler, that animal may be excluded. If
an animal is excluded for such reasons, staff must still offer their goods or services to the
person without the animal present.
If a municipality has an ordinance that bans certain dog breeds, does the ban apply to
service animals?
A: No. Municipalities that prohibit specific breeds of dogs must make an exception for a
service animal of a prohibited breed, unless the dog poses a direct threat to the health or
safety of others. Under the “direct threat” provisions of the ADA, local jurisdictions need
to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether a particular service animal can be excluded
based on that particular animal’s actual behavior or history, but they may not exclude a
service animal because of fears or generalizations about how an animal or breed might
behave. It is important to note that breed restrictions differ significantly from jurisdiction to
jurisdiction. In fact, some jurisdictions have no breed restrictions.
EXCLUSION OF SERVICE ANIMALS
When can service animals be excluded?
A: The ADA does not require covered entities to modify policies, practices, or procedures if it
would “fundamentally alter” the nature of the goods, services, programs, or activities pro-
vided to the public. Nor does it overrule legitimate safety requirements. If admitting service
animals would fundamentally alter the nature of a service or program, service animals may
be prohibited. In addition, if a particular service animal is out of control and the handler
does not take effective action to control it, or if it is not housebroken, that animal may be
excluded.
When might a service dog’s presence fundamentally alter the nature of a service or
program provided to the public?
A: In most settings, the presence of a service animal will not result in a fundamental altera-
tion. However, there are some exceptions. For example, at a boarding school, service ani-
mals could be restricted from a specific area of a dormitory reserved specifically for students
with allergies to dog dander. At a zoo, service animals can be restricted from areas where
the animals on display are the natural prey or natural predators of dogs, where the pres-
ence of a dog would be disruptive, causing the displayed animals to behave aggressively or
become agitated. They cannot be restricted from other areas of the zoo.
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What does under control mean? Do service animals have to be on a leash? Do they
have to be quiet and not bark?
A: The ADA requires that service animals be under the control of the handler at all times.
In most instances, the handler will be the individual with a disability or a third party who
accompanies the individual with a disability. In the school (K-12) context and in similar
settings, the school or similar entity may need to provide some assistance to enable a par-
ticular student to handle his or her service animal. The service animal must be harnessed,
leashed, or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service
animal’s work or the person’s disability prevents use of these devices. In that case, the
person must use voice, signal, or other effective means to maintain control of the animal.
For example, a person who uses a wheelchair may use a long, retractable leash to allow her
service animal to pick up or retrieve items. She may not allow the dog to wander away from
her and must maintain control of the dog, even if it is retrieving an item at a distance from
her. Or, a returning veteran who has PTSD and has great difficulty entering unfamiliar spac-
es may have a dog that is trained to enter a space, check to see that no threats are there, and
come back and signal that it is safe to enter. The dog must be off leash to do its job, but may
be leashed at other times. Under control also means that a service animal should not be
allowed to bark repeatedly in a lecture hall, theater, library, or other quiet place. However, if
a dog barks just once, or barks because someone has provoked it, this would not mean that
the dog is out of control.
What can my staff do when a service animal is being disruptive?
A: If a service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to
control it, staff may request that the animal be removed from the premises.
Are hotel guests allowed to leave their service animals in their hotel room when they
leave the hotel?
A: No, the dog must be under the handler’s control at all times.
What happens if a person thinks a covered entity’s staff has discriminated against him
or her?
A: Individuals who believe that they have been illegally denied access or service because
they use service animals may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. Indi-
viduals also have the right to file a private lawsuit in Federal court charging the entity with
discrimination under the ADA.
MISCELLANEOUS
Are stores required to allow service animals to be placed in a shopping cart?
A: Generally, the dog must stay on the floor, or the person must carry the dog. For exam-
ple, if a person with diabetes has a glucose alert dog, he may carry the dog in a chest pack
so it can be close to his face to allow the dog to smell his breath to alert him of a change in
glucose levels.
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Are restaurants, bars, and other places that serve food or drink required to allow service
animals to be seated on chairs or allow the animal to be fed at the table?
A: No. Seating, food, and drink are provided for customer use only. The ADA gives a per-
son with a disability the right to be accompanied by his or her service animal, but covered
entities are not required to allow an animal to sit or be fed at the table.
Are gyms, fitness centers, hotels, or municipalities that have swimming pools required
to allow a service animal in the pool with its handler?
A: No. The ADA does not override public health rules that prohibit dogs in swimming pools.
However, service animals must be allowed on the pool deck and in other areas where the
public is allowed to go.
Are churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship required to
allow individuals to bring their service animals into the facility?
A: No. Religious institutions and organizations are specifically exempt from the ADA. How-
ever, there may be State laws that apply to religious organizations.
Do apartments, mobile home parks, and other residential properties have to comply
with the ADA?
A: The ADA applies to housing programs administered by state and local governments, such
as public housing authorities, and by places of public accommodation, such as public and
private universities. In addition, the Fair Housing Act applies to virtually all types of hous-
ing, both public and privately-owned, including housing covered by the ADA. Under the Fair
Housing Act, housing providers are obligated to permit, as a reasonable accommodation,
the use of animals that work, provide assistance, or perform tasks that benefit persons with
a disabilities, or provide emotional support to alleviate a symptom or effect of a disability.
For information about these Fair Housing Act requirements see HUD’s Notice on Service
Animals and Assistance Animals for People with Disabilities in Housing and HUD-funded
Programs.
Do Federal agencies, such as the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, have to comply
with the ADA?
A: No. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the Federal law that protects the
rights of people with disabilities to participate in Federal programs and services. For infor-
mation or to file a complaint, contact the agency’s equal opportunity office.
Do commercial airlines have to comply with the ADA?
A: No. The Air Carrier Access Act is the Federal law that protects the rights of people with
disabilities in air travel. For information or to file a complaint, contact the U.S. Department
of Transportation, Aviation Consumer Protection Division, at 202-366-2220.
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For more information about the ADA, please visit our website or call our toll-free number.
ADA Website
www.ADA.gov
To receive e-mail notifications when new ADA information is available, visit the ADA Web-
site’s home page and click the link near the bottom of the right-hand column.
ADA Information Line
800-514-0301 (Voice) and 800-514-0383 (TTY)
24 hours a day to order publications by mail.
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to speak with an ADA Specialist. Calls are confidential.
For people with disabilities, this publication is available in alternate formats.
Duplication of this document is encouraged. July 20, 2015
The Americans with Disabilities Act authorizes the Department of Justice (the Department)
to provide technical assistance to individuals and entities that have rights or responsibilities
under the Act. This document provides informal guidance to assist you in understanding
the ADA and the Department's regulations.
This guidance document is not intended to be a final agency action, has no legally binding
effect, and may be rescinded or modified in the Department’s complete discretion, in
accordance with applicable laws. The Department’s guidance documents, including this
guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities beyond what is required by
the terms of the applicable statutes, regulations, or binding judicial precedent.
