Assistance Dogs In Public
MCL 750.502c — every public area, two questions and no papers, and no surcharge
In Michigan, a public accommodation modifies its policies, practices and procedures to permit the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, and permits the animal in all areas where members of the public, customers, patrons or invitees are permitted to go. That includes the public areas of places that sell or prepare food, even if a state or local health code prohibits animals on the premises. A miniature horse individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability counts as a service animal, and a person with a disability includes a veteran diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury or another service-related disability.
Two questions, no papers. Where it is not obvious what service the animal provides, staff may ask whether it is required because of a disability, and what work or task it has been trained to perform. Staff may not ask about the person's disability, require medical documentation, a special identification card or training documentation, or ask the animal to demonstrate its work. Neither question is asked where it is readily apparent that the animal is trained to work for a person with a disability.
- Allergies or fear of the animal are not grounds to ask for its removal. It may be removed only if it is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, or if it is not housebroken.
- When an animal is properly excluded, the person is given the opportunity to obtain the goods, services or accommodations without the animal on the premises.
- The person may not be isolated, treated less favorably than other patrons, charged a fee others are not charged, or asked to pay a surcharge, whether or not people with pets pay one.
- The animal is under the handler's control, with a harness, leash or other tether, unless the disability or the animal's work prevents it, in which case it is otherwise under control, such as by voice or signals.
- A service animal in training, accompanied by its raiser or trainer for training or socializing, is admitted too, and may be removed only on the same two grounds.
| The assumption | What the section says |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA business can ask for a certificate or an ID card | What the section saysNo documentation, identification card or training papers may be required |
| The assumptionA customer's allergy is a reason to send the dog out | What the section saysAllergies and fear of the animal are not grounds to ask for its removal |
| The assumptionA health code keeps animals out of a restaurant | What the section saysThe public areas where food is sold or prepared are open to the service animal |
Interfering with the animal is a crime of its own. An individual who willfully and maliciously assaults, beats, harasses or injures a service animal, or impedes or interferes with its duties, knowing or having reason to believe it is a service animal used by a person with a disability, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days, a fine of not more than $500.00, or both. Starting or keeping on after the person with a disability served by the animal asked the individual to avoid or stop it gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that it was malicious.
A public accommodation that breaks the section's duties to admit the animal, to keep to the two questions, and not to isolate, disfavor or charge the person is guilty of a misdemeanor. A business that normally charges people for damage may charge for damage the animal causes. Housing, emotional support animals and the federal definitions the section borrows are not on this page. Whether a particular animal qualifies, or a particular refusal broke the law, is a question for a licensed Michigan attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- MCL 750.502c — Public accommodation; requirements; violation as misdemeanor; definitions
- MCL 750.50a — Service animal; prohibited conduct by individual; violation as misdemeanor
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.