ADA Requirements: Service Animals
ADA.gov · checked 2026-10-04
The app uses the figures and rules named on that page. It does not replace the page.
accessibility · official figure · reviewed 2026-10-04
Write the Two ADA Service-Animal Questions
When a dog's task is not obvious, staff may ask only two questions. They may not ask for a certificate or a diagnosis.
What this guide helps you do
State the two permitted questions and the limits on further inquiry.
The figure that changes the result
Comfort alone is not a task. A certificate is not required.
Searching for a service-animal policy often produces a certificate demand. The ADA page forbids that demand.
Who this is for
A person at a business or a state or local program who needs the permitted service-animal questions.
Steps
Step 1
If the task is obvious, do not ask questions.
Step 2
If it is not obvious, ask only the two questions on the card.
Step 3
Do not ask for a diagnosis, a certificate, or a demonstration.
Step 4
A dog whose only role is comfort is not a service animal under this rule.
Step 5
Use the separate miniature-horse check for a miniature horse.
Worked example
Staff who are not sure may ask: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? They stop there.
Do not deny entry for lack of a certificate. Ask the two permitted questions if the task is not obvious.
- Question 1: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- Question 2: What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
- Do not ask about the disability.
- Do not require a certificate, license, or demonstration.
- Task described: no.
The definition requires a trained task. Comfort alone is not a task.
Where this goes wrong
A housing provider under the Fair Housing Act, and an airline under the Air Carrier Access Act, use different rules. This card does not decide those settings. Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons to refuse a service animal.
What the source says
Limits
State or local law can be broader.
The dog must be under control and housebroken. Those are removal rules, not extra questions.
This card is general information, not a ruling for a specific incident.
This tool gives general information. It is not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change. Check the result with a licensed attorney or a legal aid office before you act.
Use the current instruction from the agency named above. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision.
Free companion app
State the two permitted questions and the limits on further inquiry.
Open Build the Two-Question Card
Your entries stay on this device. We do not receive them.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.