The two questions a business can ask

In stores, restaurants, and other public places, the Americans with Disabilities Act sets clear limits on what staff may ask about your service dog.

Photo: Viktoriya / Unsplash

The two questions

Staff may ask only two things: is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. That is the entire lawful inquiry.

What they cannot do

A business cannot ask about your disability, cannot require medical documentation, cannot require proof of training or certification, and cannot charge a fee or deposit for the service dog.

The definition that matters

Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. That is the same standard behind air and ground travel.