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In Ohio, all dogs, whether they are service dogs or pets, must be registered in their county. Dog owners can choose between three types of registration, while service dog handlers have an additional option:
- 1-year registration: $2 per year
- 3-year registration: $2 per year
- Permanent registration: $20
- Service dog registration: Free
Owners of assistance dogs who provide proof that their dog is an assistance dog are exempt from paying the registration fee, are not subject to annual renewal, and their dogs receive a certificate and tag stamped “Ohio Assistance Dog-Permanent Registration” (while pet owners who pay the $20 fee will receive the standard permanent registration tag).
You can find this information under Ohio Revised Codes §955.01 and §955.011:
When an application is made for registration of an assistance dog and the owner can show proof by certificate or other means that the dog is an assistance dog, the owner of the dog shall be exempt from any fee for the registration. Registration for an assistance dog shall be permanent and not subject to annual renewal so long as the dog is an assistance dog. Certificates and tags stamped “Ohio Assistance Dog-Permanent Registration,” with registration number, shall be issued upon registration of such a dog.
Note: Revised Code §955.011 specifically states that the fee waiver applies to dogs trained by “a nonprofit or for-profit special agency.” It is unclear whether the waiver also applies to owner-trained or otherwise trained service dogs.
Ohio Service Dog ADA Rights
- Although county registration is mandatory for all dogs, obtaining a service-dog-specific tag is voluntary. Handlers can always choose to pay for the standard yearly registration. This service dog registration primarily serves to waive annual fees.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require service dogs to wear identification, and it’s important to understand that these tags are not required for public access in Ohio.