Service Dog Laws

Federal Governing Bodies:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Purpose: (1) To provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (2) To provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities; (3) To ensure that the Federal Government plays a central role in enforcing the standards established in this Act on behalf of individuals with disabilities; and (4) To invoke the sweep of congressional authority, including the power to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment and to regulate commerce, in order to address the major areas of discrimination faced day-to-day by people with disabilities.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Policy: “It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford a handicapped person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling unit, including public and common use areas.”

Conditions: “The tenant or prospective tenant certifies in writing that the tenant or a member of his or her family is a person with a disability; … The animal has been trained to assist persons with that specific disability; and … The animal actually assists the person with a disability.”

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Rules and Regulations

Policy: “Carriers shall accept as evidence that an animal is a service animal identification cards, other written documentation, presence of harnesses or markings  on harnesses, tags or the credible verbal assurances of the qualified individual with disabilities using the animal.”Conditions:  “Carriers shall permit a service animal to accompany a qualified individual with disabilities in any seat in which the person sits, unless the animal obstructs an aisle or other area that must remain unobstructed in order to facilitate an emergency evacuation.”