Can Hotels Charge Pet Fees for Service Dogs?
Hotels can be one of the trickiest places to navigate as a service dog handler. With the regular confusion at check-in, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when dealing with the added hotel fees for service dogs. Are these even legal?
- Can pet-friendly hotels charge pet fees for service dogs?
- What if the hotel has a strict no-pet policy? Can they still deny access?
- What about added cleaning fees?
In this article, we’ll break down your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and what hotels can and can’t do when you’re checking in with a service dog.
Service Dogs Are Not Pets
Under the ADA, a service dog is not considered a pet and is legally allowed to stay with their handler at no extra cost.
Additionally, hotels must allow access to guests with trained service dogs, even if they have a no-pet policy.
However, in addition to pet fees, there are a few more hotel fees for service dogs that handlers should be aware of.
Cleaning Fees and Deposits
Since hotels can’t charge a pet fee for service dogs, some will try to charge extra cleaning fees or deposits because there’s a dog in the room. But this is considered disability discrimination.
Service dogs are like medical equipment. A hotel can’t charge a cleaning fee or deposit simply because there’s an animal in the room.
What Can Hotels Do?
Ask Questions
Hotels can’t charge pet fees, but they are allowed to ensure the dogs that are staying there are service dogs by asking the two ADA-approved questions:
- Is this a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Cleaning Fee Exceptions
Service dogs are held to the same standards as other guests. If the dog leaves a stain on the carpet, tears up the furniture, scratches the wall, or causes damage in another way, the hotel can charge the same fees it would to other guests for similar damage.
Tip: Take photos of your hotel room when you arrive to document any preexisting wear and tear. This can help prevent your service dog from being blamed for damage that was already there.
Final Thoughts
Service dogs are not pets. They are essential medical tools, and hotel fees for service dogs are not allowed. Hotels must welcome service dogs without charging extra fees.
Looking for more tips for traveling with your service dog? This post explains whether Airbnbs can refuse a service dog.