Service Animal

An animal trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, exempt from pet policies.

A service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act is a dog (or in some cases miniature horse) individually trained to perform tasks or do work for the benefit of a person with a disability. Service animals are not pets and cannot be excluded by a park's pet policy, weight limit, breed restriction, or pet fee. Operators may ask only two questions about a service animal: whether it is required because of a disability, and what work or task it performs. Confusing service animals with emotional support animals (which are governed by the Fair Housing Act and have somewhat different rules) is one of the most common HUD complaint triggers for MHP operators.

Related Terms

Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

An animal that provides emotional comfort to a person with a disability, protected under the FHA.
Fair Housing Act

The federal law prohibiting housing discrimination based on protected class status.
Reasonable Accommodation

A change to a rule or policy that allows a person with a disability to use the housing on equal terms.

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