California Service Dog Requirements

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, the SPCA in Sacramento, 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

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:

1. Deep pressure therapy
2. Reminding the owner to take medication
3. Posting and watching the owner’s back in open areas
4. 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.