It’s a busy Thursday night. A guest walks in with a dog and asks for a table. Your host hesitates. The service team looks uneasy. A nearby diner raises an eyebrow. What do you do?

If you get it wrong, the consequences are significant. A complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) can mean costly litigation, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the kind of press coverage no restaurant wants. New York State and New York City laws add their own layers of protections — and penalties. But beyond the legal exposure, this is fundamentally about hospitality: welcoming every guest, including those who rely on a trained service animal to navigate daily life.

This guide gives New York hospitality venues the practical knowledge your front-of-house team needs — rules you can put in to practice tonight.

Read the guide here.