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California Service Dog Requirements

15 June, 2018

California law allows for people with disabilities to live, travel, and go about their daily lives in the presence of a service dog. Service dogs are afforded certain rights in the State of California that cannot be denied due to local laws and regulations.

If you have a disability that requires the help of a Service Dog, you are (under Federal law) entitled to such an animal.

Read on for more information on California Service Dog requirements and regulations.

Definition of a Service Dog

A Service Dog is any canine that is trained to perform a disability-specific task for the person who has a medical, physical, psychiatric or mental disability. Miniature horses are also recognized as a “service animal” in California as long as it is being used for a disability-related task.

Although service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), similar protections do not apply to Psychiatric Service or Emotional Support Dogs, unless you live in San Francisco. This city allows both service dogs and emotional support animals at any building, program, or agency of the City and County of San Francisco and its contractors.

How is the Service Dog Trained?

For your dog to be considered a legitimate Service Dog, it must be trained to perform a task for you that you cannot do for yourself. This can include opening doors, alerting, guiding, or pulling a wheelchair.

Dogs can be trained by the person with the disability, a professional canine trainer or a friend or family member (as long as the dog is obedience and task-specifically trained).

Identification Requirements for Service Dogs in California

It is not mandatory in California to have an identification tag or vest on your Service Dog. However, it is highly recommended. To obtain an identification tag, your Service Dog must meet certain explicit requirements (in training) to be considered legitimate. A service dog must provide a service to a person with a disability in order to qualify as a service animal. Once you have fulfilled all requirements, you and your service animal will be protected under state law.

Service Dog Registration in California

Unless you have a Guide Dog for vision impairment, a California resident seeking training, certification, registration and licensing information for a service dog should contact Service Dog Certifications, a local service dog trainers, or the county animal enforcement department in your area. These agencies approve and register trained service dogs, issue identification tags, and keep paperwork on file and available for public inspection.

Please note that service dog registration is not required by law, but instead can assist in identifying your dog as a service dog. Service dog registration can provide privacy, access, and protection from unnecessary harassment from uninformed individuals.

Psychiatric Service Dog Requirements

psychiatric service dog California is one of the states in which a dog can be trained to perform tasks that will benefit a person with a psychiatric disability. This canine is considered a “Psychiatric Service Animal” and must perform tasks that are identifiable and directly related to an individual’s diagnosed psychiatric disability. The dog’s trainer or handler is required to teach that animal to recognize and respond to the unique needs of the person with the disability.

Psychiatric service dogs can be trained to alert their owner by performing the following tasks:

Deep pressure therapy
Reminding the owner to take medication
Posting and watching the owner’s back in open areas
Tactile stimulation

Service Dog or Emotional Support Dog in California

People using Service Dogs in this state must have their canine on a leash or harness and should have an official identification tag. Even though California does not limit the dog’s size or breed, the animal’s handler is liable for any damage done by the service animal. There is also no specific legal requirements in existence as to how much or what type of work a service dog must provide to benefit the disabled person, but a dog that is just a friend (or a pet) is not considered a Service Animal.

If your dog is not specially trained to provide a service for your disability, it may still qualify as an emotional support dog. Emotional support animals do not have the same level of access as service animals, but they are recognized as assistance animals. Emotional support dogs can live and travel with their owners without having to pay additional pet fees. Emotional support animals provide support and comfort to owners that suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.

Qualify for an emotional support dog letter by completing the online questionnaire below.

Click here to qualify for an ESA letter.

You and Your Service Dog in California

Once you have your Service Dog trained and registered, you are allowed by Federal law to bring your Service Canine with you in all areas where the general public is allowed. Since California’s law has a broader definition of public accommodations, the state requires “reasonable modifications to be carried out at any place “to which the general public is invited.”

This means that Service Dogs are also allowed legally on all types of public transportation, including buses, planes, and trains. You can also be asked whether the animal is a service animal, and what it is trained to do.

If you think you could benefit from the help of a Service Dog, then ask your medical professional for their opinion. Whether you train your dog yourself or enlist the help of a professional, a family member or a friend, know that your dog must be trained to perform a task you cannot do for yourself. Once you have this in place, then be sure to register your Service Dog to ensure you comply with California laws.

13 comments

Alen krupljanin says: February 21, 2019

I have aspergers and real bad anger problems to the point where I bite my fingers and hit myself I was thinking about getting a dog but I might have problems with the management but if I can get a service dog I believe I should have no problems to owning one and my dream dog would be a cheagle but any dog would do.

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- Sarah Foster says: May 8, 2019
  
  Hi Alen. I recommend rescuing and training your own dog with a dog trainer if you have the time and commitment. Think about what would interrupt that self harming behavior you have. There are so many examples and videos on YouTube and include pawing arms to move them away from touching different parts of the body. This could solve both your self harming acts.
  
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Jasmine says: March 5, 2019

I was diagnosed with ptsd yesterday and I’m thinking about getting a dog as well but I don’t know where to start bc this is all new to me

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- Dawn says: March 19, 2019
  
  I am a Disabled Veteran, 100% P & T, but I wasn’t aware they do a “Shelter to Soldier” program. They train up and paid a service dog for your needs. However, I believe that you have to have served in a combat zone to qualify. Check the VA website for that info.
  
  However, I purchased my Rottweiler from a professional breeder and have paid out of my own pocket to train him alongside a licensed Service Dog trainer. I am in San Diego, California and I used Golden State Service Dogs. Check on the web for certified trainers near you.
  
  Reply
Anonymous says: May 9, 2019

Hello, my neighbor has a therapy dog but man oh man, that dog barks at everything that moves.
I thought therapy dogs were supposed to be well behaved.
What can I do if my landlord shrugs their shoulders and says, “it’s a therapy dog”.

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- Darlene B. Demiraiakian says: June 16, 2019
  
  You are right. A therapy dog is well behaved. They are laid back and almost never bark.
  Therapy dogs aren’t allowed anywhere, like service dogs are.
  My guess is it Ian’t really a therapy dog and is just an excuse for them to get away with having the dog where most people can’t.
  Call code compliance. They’ll come out and demand proof that it is a therapy dog, if not, even if so, they will demand the owner to get training for the dog, to stop the excessive barking and site them for noise violations. If it continues, they’ll order they get rid of the dog or animal control will seize it.
  You do have rights.
  
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Aryn says: May 22, 2019

I have chronic migraines and I’m looking to get a migraine alert dog. Is it best to adopt a dog which has already been trained? Or should I train my own dog?

I end up in ER far too often, and there are even times where my migraines are so debilitating that I don’t have the common sense to get to ER… I think having a dog to assist me with the warning signs that my quality of life could improve quite a bit.

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Chloe says: May 29, 2019

What are the protocols of service dogs and emotional support animals in restaurants, can identification be asked, how do you know if they are legitimately a service dog or emotional support animal since anyone can buy a fake vest online or lie about their credibility.

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Cheri Serlin says: June 3, 2019

I have epilepsy and seizures, and I have a service dog. I am going to visit my married son and daughter-in-law in California for a week. They’re renting a home, and their lease agreement says “no pets allowed.” My son says I can’t bring my service dog because his landlord is also one of his bosses. She says no dogs allowed. He’s afraid to do anything to affect that relationship with his boss. Is there anything I can do?

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Starla says: June 8, 2019

Hi I’m in a very unsafe area I have a 2 month old son. I have been followed 3 times to my apartment complex and my maintenance man has walked in my house while I was in the shower with out a work order. I feel very unsafe. I need a dog to let me know if a person walks into my apartment and to keep me safe on the streets. I do not have money to get it trained but is it possible to just get the certification and my landlord not evict me?

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Steven W Swall says: August 1, 2019

My dog Archer is a medium Cockapoo about 20 pounds. I am 100% disabled, I live alone. I have history of heart attacks and now diabetic. Archer in his collar pouch carries nitro, aspirin, candy and cell phone for 911 in the event I go down and cant get to my meds or my cell phone. Does this qualify Archer as a service animal?

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Bizhan Blessing says: August 4, 2019

I’m a T5 paraplegic confined to either my hospital bed or my power chair. Would like to know from anyone out there if getting a service dog would help. I want to do this but at the same time I don’t want to make it difficult for the dog.

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Scott says: August 17, 2019

I’ve been working as a Supervisory Correctional Officer since 1994. In 2014 & 2016 I was brutally attacked by inmates that resulted in a mountain of physical damage and what appears to be never ending mental and emotional trauma as well. If that weren’t enough, my 32 year old son suffered a fatal heart attack last week. My only means of coping with life at this point is with the assistance of my German Shepherd. When I am required to travel and spend any time whatsoever away from him, those moments/days are brutal. He is obedient and is in tune with my emotions unlike anyone I know and he makes all the difference how I cope with my day to day obligations. Can I register Maxx as a service dog?

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