Service Animals in Housing and Public Places

Are There Guidelines about Service Animals in Housing and Public Places in Iowa?

Federal, state, and some local laws require that housing providers and places normally open to the public must allow trained service animals to accompany people with disabilities onto the premise. This includes businesses, agencies, government offices, health clinics, and covered dwellings.

A service animal is any animal that has been trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Under the law, a service animal is not considered a pet. Dogs are the most common service animals, but other species (miniature horses, monkeys, birds, cats, etc.) also can be service animals. Service animals can perform many types of tasks for someone with a disability.

Guide dogs are used by people who are blind or visually impaired. Other service animals are trained to alert a deaf person to sounds, to alert an individual with seizure disorder to an oncoming seizure, to carry and pick up things for someone who uses a wheelchair, or to help with balance, with example.

There are no legal requirements for service animals to be specifically identified. Some (but not all) service animals wear special vests and harnesses. Some (but not all) are licensed or "certified" and/or have identification papers.

"No pets" policies do not apply to service animals. You must make an exception for them.

Responsibilities:

• Businesses cannot require a person with a disability to show proof of a disability or certification of a service animal's status. They may ask a person with an animal if it is a service animals required because of a disability, if they are not certain that an animal is a service animal. Housing providers may request verification if the disability or need for the service animals is not obvious or otherwise known.
• Businesses and housing providers cannot restrict the areas where a service animal may go. A service animal must be allowed to accompany a person with a disability everywhere that people may normally go, unless the animal's presence creates a basic change to your business operation or threat to safety.
• Businesses and housing providers cannot restrict access to service animals because of health regulations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) takes priority over local and state laws or regulations. The only exception is a hospital operation room; however, patient rooms are not restricted.
• Businesses may exclude a service animal from the premises when its behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. Businesses do not have to accommodate a service animal when doing so would result in a fundamental alteration to the nature of the business.