Assistance Dogs In Public
Hum. Servs. § 7-704 — full and equal access, housing included, and no extra charge
In Maryland, individuals with disabilities, parents of a minor child with a disability, and service animal trainers accompanied by an animal in training have the same right as anyone to the full and free use of roads, sidewalks, public buildings and other public places, and full and equal rights on common carriers, in places of public accommodation, and in other places the public is invited.
What a service animal is. A guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, such as guiding, alerting to sounds, pulling a wheelchair, fetching dropped items, or detecting the onset of a seizure.
Housing too. The same individuals are entitled to full and equal access to housing accommodations, may not be charged extra for the service animal, and may be liable for damage the animal causes. The housing rule does not reach a residence whose occupants rent out not more than one room.
No tag or collar required. An individual using a service animal not wearing an orange license tag or orange collar, or a blind or visually impaired pedestrian using a service animal without a white cane, has all the same rights and privileges as anyone else.
Interfering is a crime. A person may not deny or interfere with the admittance of a service animal accompanying an individual with a disability; a violation is a misdemeanor with a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense. An animal in training may be excluded if admitting it would create a clear danger of a disturbance or physical harm.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA business can charge a fee for a service animal | What the law actually doesNo extra compensation for the service animal, though the individual may be liable for damage it causes |
| The assumptionA landlord with a no-pets rule can turn away a service animal | What the law actually doesFull and equal access to housing accommodations, outside a residence renting not more than one room |
Emotional support animals, federal disability law and the questions a business may ask are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Maryland attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- Md. Code, Hum. Servs. § 7-704 — Rights of individuals with disabilities to public places and housing
- Md. Code, Hum. Servs. § 7-701 — Service animal and disability defined
- Md. Code, Hum. Servs. § 7-705 — Service animals: same rights, no extra charge, interference
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.