ADA Requirements: Service Animals

This U.S. Department of Justice resource explains how the Americans with Disabilities Act defines service animals and protects access to public places. It describes handler responsibilities, questions businesses may ask, restrictions on fees, and circumstances permitting an animal’s removal. Guidance also addresses hospitals, food establishments, and accommodations for trained miniature horses.

The added mental health note explains that psychiatric service dogs perform trained tasks related to a person’s disability, such as responding to an approaching anxiety attack. Emotional support animals provide comfort through their presence, which alone does not qualify them as service animals under ADA public-access rules.