California Service Dog Requirements
In California, a service dog needs to be trained to perform at least one service dog task for a qualifying disability. If you meet those requirements, you can take your service dog almost anywhere with you throughout the Golden State.
Californians are protected by both federal and state laws, including under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as California’s Unruh Act (Civil Code, sections 51–51.2) and Disabled Persons Act (Civil Code, sections 54–55.32).
Read on for more information on California’s service dog requirements and regulations.
In this article:
- Service dog training requirements
- Identification requirements for service dogs in California
- Service dog registration in California
- Psychiatric service dog requirements
- Service dog vs emotional support dog in California
- Service dog access rights in California
Service Dog Training Requirements
Under ADA service dog laws, your dog isn’t considered a service dog until they have completed training. However, under the California Disabled Persons Act, you can bring your service dog in training to public places. This is a major perk for new service dog owners in California and makes sense when you consider that a service dog has to be trained to pass a public access test.
Dogs can be trained by the person with the disability, by a professional trainer, or with the help of a training organization. Note that in California, it is perfectly acceptable for a handler to train a service dog on their own.
Identification Requirements for Service Dogs in California
Most service dog owners use service dog paraphernalia like ID cards, vests, tags, and certificates to signal to others in public that their dog is special. It is not mandatory either under California or federal rules to have an identification card or vest on your Service Dog, but handlers frequently use them for personal convenience. These items can prevent intrusive inquiries and unwanted interaction with the service animal while on duty.
Staff at venues and landlords cannot demand documentation as a condition of entry. In California, they can ask two questions to validate whether you have a service dog (and only if the disability is not obvious):
1. Is the animal a service dog required for a disability?
2. What work or task has the service dog been trained to perform?
Some counties in California offer service dog tags to help identify your dog as a working animal. You can apply for county-issued service dog identification tags in places like Los Angeles and San Diego. Keep in mind, though, that you can’t be denied entry because you don’t have these tags — they’re optional for service dog owners under the ADA.
Service Dog Registration in California
California does not require the registration of service dogs. There may be registration requirements for dog licenses that generally apply to all dogs that reside in your area, but they are not service-dog specific. Some cities, like Berkeley, waive license fees for service dogs.
You can choose to voluntarily register your service dog for several benefits.
Registering a service dog with a service like Service Dog Certifications enters the dog’s information into a searchable database linked to an ID card. The ID card can be used as a way to signal to others that you own a service dog or be presented when third parties, unaware of service dog verification rules, continually insist on seeing documentation.
Psychiatric Service Dog Requirements
Psychiatric service dogs are recognized as service dogs in California with all the same rights and benefits of ownership.
California considers the following as psychiatric disabilities if they substantially limit a major life activity:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder
- ADHD
- Autism
Psychiatric service dogs can perform an amazing number of tasks, including:
- Deep pressure therapy
- Reminding the owner to take medication
- Posting and watching the owner’s back in open areas
- Tactile stimulation
- Alerting the owner to oncoming threats or episodes
- Disrupting repetitive self-destructive behaviors
You don’t need any special paperwork for a psychiatric service dog, but it’s a good idea to get a PSD letter. PSD owners often have invisible disabilities, so a PSD letter helps document that they have taken steps to ensure they have an eligible health condition.
Service Dog vs Emotional Support Dog in California
California also recognizes emotional support animals as a type of assistance animal. An emotional support animal (ESA) alleviates symptoms of a mental or emotional health condition.
SD vs ESA: There are major differences between ESAs and service dogs.
- ESAs do not require any specialized training.
- ESAs are protected under the Fair Housing Act, not the ADA, so the benefits extend primarily to housing rights and do not come with public access rights.
- While service dogs can only be dogs, ESAs can be dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, fish, turtles, and other small household pets.
To qualify for an emotional support animal in California, you need an ESA letter from a California-licensed mental health professional. See if you qualify for an emotional support animal letter by completing the online questionnaire below.
Service Dog Access Rights in California
Service Dog handlers in California have generous rights. These include:
- Public access (venues, outdoor areas, etc.)
- Access to public transportation
- Access to aviation (including in the cabin on airplanes)
You can bring a service dog almost anywhere the public is allowed to go. That includes stores, beaches, restaurants, and airports in California, like LAX and SFO. You can be asked to leave a venue if your service dog misbehaves, so it’s essential to ensure they’re well-trained before visiting crowded public places.
Lastly, you should never claim you’re a service dog owner until you’ve met all of the necessary requirements. Doing so is unethical, and in California, it can be a misdemeanor to falsely represent yourself as a service dog owner.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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