Dogs in shops: all the answers

Yes, in almost every case. A restaurant, café, hotel or shop is a private place open to the public: the manager sets their own admission conditions. Refusing an animal is not discrimination under the law. Only guide dogs and assistance dogs have a legal right of access.

Yes, if the restaurant allows it. No French law forbids a dog inside a dining room. The only regulatory limit concerns venues whose kitchen is fully open onto the dining room with no physical separation: in that case the dining room counts as a food-handling area and animals are not allowed.

No. Food shops where products are handled or displayed uncovered follow retail sanitary regulations, which exclude animals. Some chains tolerate very small dogs in a trolley, but that's a store decision, not a right.

Nowhere, unless it's a guide or assistance dog. Otherwise, access always depends on the person in charge of the place for businesses, on the town hall for beaches and municipal parks, and on the transport operator for urban trips.

No. There's no national rule: each mayor sets access for animals on their town's beaches through a municipal order. The most common pattern is a ban on lifeguarded beaches from June 1st to September 30th, with permission off-season or on dedicated beaches.

Yes, except for a guide or assistance dog, for which no extra fee is allowed. The surcharge must be disclosed before booking. Also check whether you're allowed to leave your dog alone in the room — many hotels refuse this.

Dogs under 6 kg travel in a bag or carrier with a reduced-fare ticket. Larger dogs travel muzzled and on a leash with a specific ticket. Guide and assistance dogs travel free and without a mandatory muzzle.

That refusal is illegal. Article 88 of the law of July 30, 1987, supplemented by the law of February 11, 2005, guarantees access to places open to the public, transport and professional premises, with no surcharge. The refusal is a Class 3 offence, punishable by a fine of up to €450. You can quote the text on the spot, note the circumstances, then contact the Defender of Rights or the association that provided the dog.

Three methods, by order of effectiveness: consult a dog-friendly map listing verified places, check the "Pets allowed" attribute on the Google Business Profile, or call. The absence of a sticker on the window means nothing: no law requires a business to display a refusal.

Don't ask "do you accept dogs?" — that's a closed question that invites a reflex no. Try instead: "I'd like to have lunch, I'm with my dog who lies down under the table, would that work indoors or on the terrace?". Call before you go, pick off-peak hours the first time, and arrive equipped with a mat and a short leash.

The owner. Article 1243 of the French Civil Code places liability for damage caused by an animal on its owner, or on whoever is using it at the time. The civil liability coverage included in nearly every home insurance policy covers this.

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