Can You Bring a Service Dog to a Grocery Store?

Yes! Service dogs can go into any grocery store with you, even if the store has a no-pets policy. It’s that simple: it’s your right under the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you can go somewhere in the store, your service dog can, too. In some cases, service dogs can even ride in the shopping cart at the grocery store. 

This guide covers what you need to know about shopping with your service dog — your rights, what to expect, and how to handle any issues.

In this article:

• Your Legal Rights at Grocery Stores
• Handler Responsibilities at Grocery Stores
• What Grocery Store Staff Can Ask
• Tips for a Smooth Trip to the Grocery Store
• Service Dog Policies at Major U.S. Grocers

Your Legal Rights at Grocery Stores

The ADA is clear on this: your service dog can go wherever you can in a grocery store. If customers are allowed in an area, service dogs are, too.

Some areas, like food prep zones, storage rooms, and meat-cutting areas, are off-limits, but these are closed to all customers for good reasons. These spaces must stay sterile to meet food safety regulations, have dangerous equipment running, or contain hazardous cleaning supplies. They’re also often cramped, making it risky for you and your service dog to navigate safely.

This same rule applies everywhere, not just in grocery stores. Your service dog is legally a part of your access to public spaces — just like a wheelchair or other assistive device.

Handler Responsibilities at Grocery Stores

While service dogs have special access, handlers must follow important rules:

• Keep the dog under control at all times
• Make sure the dog doesn’t disrupt other shoppers
• Keep the dog clean and well-behaved

A grocery store can ask a service dog and their handler to leave in two specific situations:

1. If the dog is out of control and the handler isn’t taking effective action to control them. This includes behavior like:
   • Barking repeatedly (except when it’s part of the dog’s trained task)
   • Lunging at other customers
   • Knocking items off shelves
   • Running around instead of staying with their handler
   • Not responding to their handler’s commands
2. If the dog isn’t housebroken, which means if they urinate or defecate in the store.

The store can’t ask you to leave because other customers are afraid of dogs, because someone says they have allergies, or because they “don’t allow pets.” Even if your dog makes a single bark or accidentally bumps something, that’s not grounds for removal as long as you have them under control.

While the ADA doesn’t require your service dog to wear any special gear, some handlers find that vests, ID cards, or tags can make grocery shopping smoother. These accessories can signal to store clerks and other shoppers that your dog is working, which often means fewer questions and less unwanted attention.

Some handlers find that a simple “Service Dog” vest reduces interruptions and helps their dog stay focused. But remember, it’s totally up to you — you know what works best for you and your dog, and you never need to prove your dog’s status with any kind of identification or special gear.

What Grocery Store Staff Can Ask

Grocery store workers can only ask you two questions concerning your service dog:

1. Is your dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

They CANNOT ask you:

• About your specific disability (in relation to your service dog)
• To show papers or certifications to prove your dog is a service animal
• To make your dog perform the task(s) it has been trained to perform

Tips for a Smooth Trip to the Grocery Store

Grocery stores present unique challenges for service dogs — narrow aisles, food smells, sliding doors, shopping carts, and crowds. Here are some tips to make your trip easier:

• Shop during slower hours if possible. Early mornings or late evenings usually have fewer customers and less cart traffic
• Feed your dog before shopping to reduce food distractions
• While shopping, if someone tries to pet your dog, here are some polite ways to get them to stop petting. 

Remember: You have every right to be there. If you run into any issues, ask to speak with a manager rather than arguing with employees or other customers.

Service Dog Policies at Major U.S. Grocers

Notable supermarkets and grocery stores have information about their service animal policies on their websites. All in all, they mostly say the same thing as the federal law.

Costco Wholesale

The Costco website states that “members accompanied by service animals have immediate access to our warehouses” in compliance with the ADA. This policy applies nationwide at all Costco locations, so all Costco members should be able to shop with their service dogs without any worries. 

ALDI

The Service Animal Policy at ALDI complies with the ADA, allowing customers to shop with their service dogs. ALDI clarifies that “service animals are not allowed in shopping carts, baskets or ALDI provided wheelchair/motorcart attachments, even if on a mat, crated or in an animal carrier” and that emotional support animals are not allowed.

Wegmans

While the Wegmans website doesn’t have a page dedicated to their service animal policy, it does have a chatbot that states, “Wegmans follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state law requirements which permits a customer to bring a ‘service animal’ into a store. Under certain circumstances, other animals may also qualify as service animals under the law. State law further requires Wegmans to permit a ‘service animal in training’ into a store.”

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