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Business Access for Guide Dogs
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), privately owned businesses that serve the public, such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, taxicabs, theaters, concert halls, and sports facilities, are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The ADA requires businesses to let people with disabilities bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas other customers are allowed. Keep in mind that the ADA is in effect in the United States only, and if you plan to travel elsewhere read about foreign travel with guide dogs.
The ADA defines a service animal as any animal individually trained to provide help to someone with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.
Guide dogs are one type of service animal, used by some individuals who are blind. There are service animals that assist persons with other kinds of disabilities in their day-to-day activities. Some examples include alerting persons with hearing impairments to sounds, pulling wheelchairs, carrying and picking up things for persons with mobility impairments, and assisting persons with mobility impairments with balance. A service animal is not a pet. A "no pets" policy must allow the use of a service animal by a person with a disability.
Some service animals wear special collars and harnesses. Some are licensed or certified and have identification papers. Although a number of states have programs to certify service animals, a business may not insist on proof of state certification before permitting the service animal to accompany the person with a disability. The ADA provides greater protection for individuals with disabilities and so it takes priority over local or state laws.
The dog must be permitted to go with the individual to all areas where customers are normally allowed to go, and that person cannot be segregated from other customers. There may be circumstances when accommodation is not required. This is not likely to occur in most businesses, but when it does, for example, when a dog barks during a movie or displays vicious behavior towards others, the dog may be excluded.
No deposit or surcharge may be imposed, however, a public accommodation may charge its customers with disabilities if a guide dog causes damage so long as it charges non-disabled customers for the same types of damages. For example, a hotel can charge anyone for the cost of repairing or cleaning furniture damaged by that person's animal.
Taxicabs may not refuse rides to people with guide dogs. Private taxicabs cannot charge higher fares or fees for transporting blind people and their guide dogs than they charge to other persons for the same service.