Hotels and stays
Can a hotel charge you for a service dog?
No, not in the US or the UK. In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits hotels from charging pet fees, deposits, or surcharges for trained service animals. In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 provides equivalent protection. A hotel cannot refuse a service animal, charge extra for one, or apply different booking terms. Emotional support animals are in a different legal category and are treated differently.
The US rules under the ADA
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, public accommodations including hotels must permit trained service animals and may not impose any fee related to the animal's presence. This applies even where the hotel has a no-pets policy. Staff may ask two questions: is this a service animal required because of a disability, and what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. They may not ask for documentation, identification, or a demonstration of the task. Any pet fee applied to a service animal handler is a violation of federal law.
The UK rules under the Equality Act
In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 requires businesses to make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers. A hotel that applies a pet deposit or fee to a registered assistance dog handler is likely in breach of that duty. Guide dogs, hearing dogs, and other assistance dogs trained by organisations affiliated with Assistance Dogs International are the clearest case. The obligation extends to not refusing entry, not relegating the handler to a different room category, and not applying financial penalties for the animal's presence.
Emotional support animals are different
In the US, emotional support animals have separate and more limited legal protections than trained service animals. Hotels are not required under the ADA to accept emotional support animals or to waive pet fees for them. In the UK, there is no equivalent legal category at all. An ESA in the UK is legally a pet, and the hotel's standard pet policy applies. The distinction matters and is frequently misunderstood by both guests and front-desk staff.
What to do if a hotel charges a fee
Raise it politely but clearly. Quote the ADA in the US or the Equality Act in the UK. Ask to speak to the manager rather than front desk staff, who may not know the legal position. If the charge is not reversed and you wish to pursue it, in the US you can file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. In the UK, complaints can be made to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Most hotels will reverse the charge once the legal position is clearly explained.