Service dogs are generally allowed anywhere that the general public is allowed.
In the United States, privately owned businesses that serve the public, such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, taxicabs, theaters, concert halls, and sports facilities, are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires these businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed.
This does not mean that your dog can stay if it creates a nuisance. Obviously, if you go into a theater and your dog disrupts the show by continually barking, it is reasonable that you will be asked to take your dog outside.
If you enter a business and are told that you cannot bring your dog inside, you only need to say that you have a disability and that this is your service dog. A business cannot demand that you describe your disability, nor can it demand proof that your dog is "certified" as a service dog.
In addition to the federal law (ADA), there are state laws that provide additional protection to service dogs and the people that they serve.
The U.S. Department of Justice has a short letter that summarizes the federal laws protecting service dogs. You can click on the link and print copies, which you can hand to business that give you and your dog a hard time. Remember that the local police are required to uphold the law, especially the state laws protecting access to people with disabilities, so you should not be afraid if the business owner threatens to call the police. If the police do respond, insist that they make a report and then follow up to get a copy. In many states, you have the right to press criminal charges and sue for damages.
There is a special set of regulations governing airlines, the Airline Carrier Access Act, with an explanation from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Click on the links below for more information:
You can contact the U.S. Department of Justice at
(800) 514-0301 voice
(800) 514-0383 TTY/TDD
For additional ADA access assistance, call (800)949-4232
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