Are service dog requirements federally mandated?

Requirements that businesses and groups interacting with the public allow service dogs inside are federally mandated under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The mandate includes restaurants, taxis, grocery stores, medical offices, parks and health clubs.

A company can ask if a dog is a service dog and what duties it is trained for, but the company cannot require identification cards for the dog or inquire about the person's disability.

Owners of service dogs are not required to register the animals, but registration with the National Service Animal Registry confers vests, patches or other methods of identification that may make it easier for owners to bring their service dogs into establishments.