A server at a Scottsdale restaurant once tried to turn away a diner because her dog wasn’t wearing a vest. That server was wrong, and the mistake could have cost the business a misdemeanor charge. Service dogs in restaurants in Arizona are protected by both federal and state law, and the rules for who gets in, what staff can ask, and when a dog can be removed are more specific than most owners and diners realize.
Arizona has folded nearly all of its service animal rules into a single statute, which makes the law easier to follow once you know where to look. This guide breaks down what applies at the table, at the host stand, and at the door.
Federal ADA Rules for Service Dogs in Restaurants
Restaurants are classified as places of public accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which means they generally cannot refuse entry to a person accompanied by a service animal. Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been trained to perform disability-related tasks or work for the benefit of a person with a disability. That domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) can be any breed or size, as long as it has been individually trained to do a specific job connected to its handler’s disability.
People with disabilities may bring their service animal to all public accommodations, including restaurants, schools, grocery stores, theaters, hotels, motels, public transportation, and entertainment venues, and a service animal under the ADA is defined as a dog trained to do work or perform a task directly related to the person’s disability. None of this depends on paperwork. Service animals are not required to wear a vest, ID tag, or harness under the ADA…