Service Dog Apartment Laws Texas

When you have a legitimate service dog you will have the right and access to all areas where the general public is allowed.

Service dog apartment laws texas. Service animals are not considered to be pets instead they are working companions. However often the state laws place restrictions that can include disability type s and licensed professional school trainers. This includes retail locations restaurants hotels and beaches. Owners rights texas federal law section 42 091.

Texas laws on service dogs and emotional support animals this article from nolo a legal publisher describes protections for those using service animals under texas law. Under texas law and the federal americans with disabilities act ada people with disabilities may bring their service animals to all public accommodations such as government buildings hotels restaurants stadiums and stores. Service dogs in training may have public access rights under local state law. That s because at least two federal laws and some state and local laws require.

As a property manager service dog rental laws inform you that you are required by federal law to prevent discrimination towards disabled tenants that reside within your rental s. Texas law and federal law protect your right to have service dogs in public places and housing. A landlord cannot require a pet deposit for a service animal. This includes teeth marks on trim carpet torn by a dog s digging and carpet soiled by dog waste or vomit.

However the owner of the service animal is liable for any damages caused by the animal above and beyond the normal wear and tear a human tenant might reasonably cause. By lisa guerin j d. Under ada rules a service dog must always be under the control of its owner. Provides a criminal penalty for those who deny access to people with disabilities because of an assistance animal.

These updates took effect on january 1 2014. Offenses are punishable by fines of not more than 300 and 30 hours of community service. In addition when flying you and your service dog will be granted in cabin seating of an airplane at no extra cost to you. While ada allows for a task trained service dog to have been trained by it s disabled owner many states may not allow for that owner to conduct the public access training.

Service dogs must be tethered harnessed or leashed unless the owner s disability prevents them from using these items or these items interfere with the dog s ability to safety and effectively perform its tasks. To help you understand the updated law and your rights the texas council for developmental disabilities is sharing 14 facts about the service dog law.