Assistance Dogs In Public
A.R.S. 11-1024 — no discrimination against a service animal, five grounds to exclude one, and a penalty for faking it
In Arizona, a public place may not discriminate against a person with a disability who uses a service animal whose work or tasks are directly related to the disability. Emotional support, comfort, companionship and the deterrent effect of an animal's presence are not work or tasks.
Excluding a service animal is not discriminatory only where:
- The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
- It fundamentally alters the nature of the place or what it provides.
- It poses an undue burden.
- It is out of control and the handler does not take effective action.
- It is not housebroken.
The person may come back without the animal. A public place that asks for a service animal's removal gives the person the opportunity to return and obtain goods, services or accommodations without it.
Violating the access rule is a class 2 misdemeanor. Fraudulently misrepresenting an animal as a service animal may bring a civil penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars for each violation. The handler keeps the animal under control and is liable for damage it does. Whether an animal qualifies is a question for a licensed Arizona attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- A.R.S. 11-1024 — Service animals; public places; violation; classification; definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.