Dog-Friendly Dining Rules: The US, UK, Hong Kong and Japan

You may have heard that abroad, dogs can come along to restaurants. Yet even in the United States, often seen as dog-friendly, the model rules for restaurants that states and local governments adopt only began allowing dogs in outdoor dining areas with the 2022 edition (some states allowed them earlier). When you trace each country's rules, the picture turns out a little different from the impression.

In this article, we use official and expert sources to compare the rules for welcoming dogs into restaurant seating areas in the United States, the United Kingdom (England and Wales), Hong Kong and Japan. By the end, you will know what to look for when choosing a venue to eat with your dog in Japan.

In all four places, the starting point is separating dogs from food preparation areas

In all four places, the shared idea is to separate dogs from kitchens and other places where food is made. What differs is how much of the seating area is opened to dogs, who decides, and through what procedure. The table below sums up the key points.

United States: the model code says no animals, with an exception for outdoor dining

The US model rules prohibit animals, with an exception that allows pet dogs in outdoor dining areas, where approved. The 2026 edition, the latest as of October 2026, makes no changes to Chapter 6, which contains this section.

These model rules are the Food Code published by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which states and local governments adopt and use. It is not federal law, and the actual rules are set by states and local governments.

In California, a 2014 amendment to state law (AB 1965) set out detailed conditions for welcoming pet dogs in outdoor dining areas.

Guidance from the Oregon Department of Agriculture (created in September 2020) likewise says dogs may join diners only at designated outdoor seating. Nothing changes for indoor dining areas, where the only animals allowed are service animals, which assist people with disabilities, and police dogs and the like.

United Kingdom (England and Wales): no law is said to ban dogs, and each establishment decides

According to the UK animal welfare charity Blue Cross, in England and Wales there is no law or health and safety regulation banning dogs from places where food and drink are served. Dogs must stay out of areas where food is prepared, handled or stored, and whether to welcome dogs is up to the owner of the establishment.

Hong Kong: a May 2026 amendment created a permit system for dogs

According to Business News from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) on May 27, 2026, a regulatory amendment in Hong Kong created a system that allows dogs in restaurants holding a permit for dogs. The amended rules are the Food Business Regulation, which sets the operating requirements for restaurants, revised for the first time in nine years.

At the time of that JETRO article, the system was expected to start in July. For how it has operated since, check the Hong Kong government's guidance.

In addition to guide dogs and police dogs, other dogs will be allowed if every condition is met. Inside, an adult must hold the dog securely on a leash shorter than 1.5 meters, or tie it to a fixed object that does not move. Under no circumstances may the dog enter the kitchen, and it may not be placed on a table.

Two points overlap: keeping the dog under control on a leash, and not putting it on furniture (chairs or benches in California, tables in Hong Kong). Even in different countries, the behavior expected at a venue is much the same.

Japan: the hygiene standard focuses on areas where food is handled

Japan's hygiene standards for food businesses include an item saying animals must not be kept in areas where food is handled or stored. It is one item in Appended Table 17 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act, which sets out general hygiene management standards. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's explanation, customer seating is, in principle, not part of those areas.

Beyond that, whether a venue welcomes dogs in its seating area, which seats are open to them and under what conditions all differ from venue to venue. Where available, you can check those rules in the dog rules section of the venue's page.

Assistance dogs are generally required to be accepted under rules separate from those for pets

Venues are required to accept assistance dogs under rules separate from those for pet dogs.

Three points to check when choosing a venue in Japan

When choosing a venue in Japan, check three things in the dog rules section: where you sit, where your dog stays and how you get in. Each of these appeared as a condition in the rules abroad.

• Where you sit: indoor seating, or outdoor seating such as a terrace
• Where your dog stays: on the floor, in a pet cart or carrier, or allowed on a chair
• How you get in: through the venue to your seat, or via a separate entrance to the terrace

If you would like to spend time in the open air, you can search venues with terrace seating, and if you would rather not worry about the weather, try venues where dogs are allowed indoors.

If you feel like testing yourself, try the quizzes Town and Venue Rules Quiz: Advanced Level and Out-and-About Dog Manners Quiz: Practice Level. More articles are on the column list.

To start, open the dog rules section for the venue you plan to visit next weekend.