Yes. Every store open to the public, grocery stores included, must let a trained service dog in with its handler, and staff may ask only the two ADA questions. The dog generally stays on the floor or is carried, not placed in a shopping cart. Emotional support animals have no ADA right to enter a store: Walmart, for one, says plainly that it does not allow pets, and the ADA treats an ESA as a pet.
Can a store refuse a service dog?
Not for being a dog. Stores are places of public accommodation under the ADA, so a service dog may go anywhere in the store that shoppers may go. A store may ask you to remove the dog only if it is out of control and you do not take effective action, or if it is not housebroken, and even then it must offer to serve you without the dog.
No surcharge, deposit or "pet fee" may be charged for a service dog, and the fact that a clerk or another shopper is allergic to or afraid of dogs is not a valid reason to refuse you. See are service dogs allowed everywhere? for the general rule.
Are service dogs allowed in grocery stores?
Yes. Grocery stores sometimes point to food safety rules, but DOJ says places that "sell or prepare food must generally allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises." Service dogs may also go "to and through self-service food lines", such as a salad bar or a hot food counter.
That does not mean anything goes. A dog that sniffs produce, begs at the deli case or wanders away from you is exactly what the "under control" rule is about.
Can a service dog ride in a shopping cart?
Generally no. DOJ's answer:
"Generally, the dog must stay on the floor, or the person must carry the dog. For example, if a person with diabetes has a glucose alert dog, he may carry the dog in a chest pack so it can be close to his face to allow the dog to smell his breath to alert him of a change in glucose levels."DOJ ADA service animal FAQ, question 31
So the cart seat is for groceries and children. If your small dog's task needs it close to you, a sling or chest pack is the approach DOJ describes.
Are emotional support dogs allowed in Walmart?
No. Walmart's published answer is two sentences long, and here it is in full:
"Walmart welcomes service animals as defined by the ADA in our stores, and we recognize the important role they play in many of our customers' lives. We do not allow pets in our stores."Walmart, "Does Walmart allow animals in its stores?"
"Service animals as defined by the ADA" means dogs trained to do a task for a person with a disability. An emotional support animal is not one, so under this policy it is a pet. That also answers "does Walmart have a no pet policy": yes, it does.
Costco's service animal policy
Costco's posted policy says it has "adopted a service animal policy" in compliance with the ADA, that members with service animals have "immediate access to our warehouses", and that employees may ask two questions: "Is that a service animal?" and "What task or function is it trained to perform?" The posted policy does not mention emotional support animals or pets, so an ESA has no special status there under the ADA.
Target, Home Depot and other chains
We could not find a service animal policy published by Target, Home Depot or Starbucks, only third-party blog posts describing one, so we do not quote any. It matters less than you might think: every one of these stores is covered by the ADA whatever its policy says, so a trained service dog must be admitted. Whether a pet or an ESA may come in is up to the store and local rules. When in doubt, ask the store before you bring an animal that is not a service dog.
Are emotional support dogs allowed in stores?
Not under the ADA. DOJ says emotional support animals "do not qualify as service animals under the ADA", while noting that some state or local laws let people take them into public places. A store with a no-pets policy can apply it to an ESA. An ESA vest, letter, or registration does not change that, and no product can. Calling an ESA a service dog to get in is illegal in at least 36 states. More in can emotional support animals go anywhere?
Can a service dog in training go into stores?
Not under the ADA, which covers only dogs already trained. Many states grant access to dogs in training with conditions: Nevada lets a person training a service animal in, California requires a county-issued tag and a leash, and some states limit it to professional trainers. If your state covers trainers, a clearly labeled in-training vest helps staff and shoppers understand what they are seeing, though it grants nothing by itself. See service dogs in training.
Common questions
Does Walmart allow emotional support animals?
No. Walmart welcomes service animals as defined by the ADA and says it does not allow pets. An ESA is not an ADA service animal.
What can Costco employees ask about my service dog?
Costco's posted policy says employees may ask whether it is a service animal and what task or function it is trained to perform.
Can my service dog sit in the shopping cart?
Generally no. DOJ says the dog must stay on the floor or be carried, for example in a chest pack.
Can a grocery store refuse my service dog because of food safety rules?
No. DOJ says places that sell food must generally allow service dogs in public areas even if health codes prohibit animals.
Can a store ask for my service dog's ID?
No. Stores may not require documentation. They may ask only the two questions.
Sources
- DOJ ADA service animal FAQ (questions 3, 7, 10, 31)
- DOJ, ADA Requirements: Service Animals (2010)
- 28 CFR 36.302(c)
- Walmart, Does Walmart allow animals in its stores?
- Costco, Are service animals allowed in Costco warehouses?
- Michigan State University Animal Legal and Historical Center, table of state assistance animal laws
General information, not legal advice. Policies and laws change; follow the sources. Last checked September 25, 2026.