Various state and federal laws define service animals and protect the rights of people with disabilities who use them. This guide addresses some of the frequently asked questions that we receive at the Northwest ADA Center.

What is the definition of a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

The ADA defines a service animal as a dog that has been trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The tasks performed must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Are there limitations to where a service animal can go?

Generally, service animals are allowed to accompany their handlers in areas that are open to the public. Service animals may be excluded from certain areas of a business or facility. For example:

• Service animals are allowed into restaurants, but not into restaurant kitchens.
• Service animals are allowed into hospital waiting rooms, cafeterias, ER’s and exam rooms, but not into operating rooms.

What is the difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal?

A service animal is a dog that has been trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The tasks performed must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not service animals under the ADA because they are not trained to perform specific tasks related to a person’s disability. Providing comfort, companionship, or emotional support, or simply helping someone feel safe, do not count as work or trained tasks under the ADA.

Does an animal need to have any certification or documentation, or wear a vest or tag, to identify it as a service animal?

No. The ADA does not require registration, certification, or special identification for service animals.

There are organizations that sell service animal “certification” or “registration” documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA. The Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that a dog is a service animal.

If the service animal doesn’t have special identification, how can people tell that it’s a legitimate service animal?

If it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two questions:

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or tasks has the dog been trained to perform?

Staff may not ask for details about the person’s disability, require a dog to demonstrate tasks, request any documentation showing that the dog is a service animal, or proof of training.

When can someone be asked to remove their service animal from the premises?

The ADA requires that service animals be under the control of the handler at all times.

A handler may be asked to remove their service animal if:

• The animal is not housebroken (trained to pee and poop in a designated outdoor or specific indoor spot).
• The animal is out of control, and the handler does not take effective action to control it.
• The animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others (for example, showing aggression or biting).

However, assumptions should not be made about how an animal will behave. Each situation should be evaluated individually and based on actual behavior, not on fears or stereotypes. For example, barking might be part of a dog’s trained task (such as alerting to sounds or medical issues).

If a service animal is excluded, the handler must still be allowed to access the business or service without the animal.

Do service animals have to obey leash laws?

Generally, yes. Service animals must comply with local leash laws, with exceptions if a service animal cannot perform its task while on a leash, or if the handler cannot use a leash, harness, or tether due to their disability. In those cases, the handler must maintain effective control of the animal through voice control, visual signals, or other effective means.

Do service animals have to be registered, licensed, and vaccinated like pet dogs?

If a city or county requires all animals to be licensed or vaccinated, then a service animal must also follow those rules.

Pet licenses are typically meant for animal safety and recovery, not as proof that an animal is a service animal.

Can someone have more than one service animal?

Generally, yes. A person with a disability may have more than one service animal. For example, one person might have two service dogs that are trained to do different tasks for them. Another person may need two service animals for the same task.

Can other animals be service animals?

It’s complicated. Under the ADA, only dogs are considered service animals. However, the ADA also has a rule about miniature horses that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Businesses and non-profits must allow miniature horses when it is reasonable to do so.

Some state laws treat both dogs and miniature horses as service animals. To learn more about state laws in our region, please refer to our guide, Service Animal Laws Comparison.

Are service animals in housing protected by the ADA?

Sometimes. The ADA generally applies to state and local publicly funded housing. Most private housing situations are covered by the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

The FHA protects people with disabilities’ right to live with an assistance animal. The term “assistance animal” includes emotional support animals as well as service animals. Under the FHA, landlords and housing providers must allow a person with a disability to have a service animal or other assistance animals, even if the property has a “no pets” policy. Landlords also can’t charge people with disabilities a pet deposit or other pet related fees to live with their assistance animals.

For more information about service animals and the FHA, contact your regional Fair Housing Center:

• Fair Housing Council of Oregon
• Fair Housing Center of Washington
• Idaho – Intermountain Fair Housing Council
• Fair Housing Project Alaska

Do the same service animal rules apply in air travel or under state laws?

No. The rules for air travel and state or local laws can differ from the ADA.

For information about service animals on airplanes or in specific states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska), please refer to our guide, Service Animal Laws Comparison on these topics.

Are service animal rules the same in the workplace?

The rules are different in the workplace. Under the ADA, employees with disabilities may request to bring a service animal to work as a reasonable accommodation. Employers must consider whether the request is reasonable and does not pose an undue hardship.

For more information about service animals in the workplace, please refer to our guide service animals as an employment accommodation.

Additional resources for information on service animals

• Service Animal Resource Hub (ADA National Network)
• Service Animals FAQs (ADA.gov)
• ADA Requirements: Service Animals (ADA.gov)

This information is not legal advice. It provides a plain-language, common-sense explanation of certain parts of the ADA. It is not a substitute for legal guidance tailored to a specific situation or context. We aim to share information at approximately 8th grade reading level. This may simplify some technical legal details. If you have specific questions, please contact us at 1-800-949-4232 or email us at nwadactr@uw.edu.