Housing and Dining Accommodations

If Student Housing and Dining Services determines that a requested accommodation is necessary and not unreasonable in nature: The resident will be notified of the status of their request in writing, unless another form of communication is requested. Student Housing and Dining Services staff with legitimate need of the information will also be notified of the status of an approved accommodation. Further communications and/or meetings may be required in order to discuss proper implementation of the approved accommodation.

If Student Housing and Dining Services determines that a requested accommodation is necessary but unreasonable in nature: The resident will be notified of the status of their request in writing, unless another form of communication is requested. Further communications will be required to engage in an interactive process with the resident in order to determine if there are other accommodations that would meet their disability-related need(s).

Under circumstances in which the resident is not amicable to accepting other possible accommodations offered by Student Housing and Dining Services, or if there are no other suitable accommodations, Student Housing and Dining Services will provide an explanation in writing of the reasons for denial of accommodation.

If Student Housing and Dining Services determines that a requested accommodation is unreasonable in nature: The resident will be notified of the denial of their request in writing, unless another form of communication is requested. An accommodation may be considered unreasonable if it: (1) is not made by or on behalf of a person with a disability, or there is no disability-related need for the accommodation; (2) imposes undue financial or administrative burden on the University; (3) requires fundamental alteration of Student Housing and Dining Services policies; (4) poses direct threat to the health or safety of others in the UC Davis community, or would cause substantial damage to University or other residents' property; and/or (5) is deemed otherwise unreasonable to the operation of the University.

The University grants an exception to the pet policy for authorized service animals, in accordance with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The ADA defines service dogs as "dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities."

Service animals are not pets; rather, they perform some of the functions and tasks that an individual with a disability cannot perform on their own. Therapy and emotional support animals are not considered service animals.

Service animals on campus are expected to: (1) be in compliance with Yolo County Code, including licensing laws and maintaining up-to-date vaccinations; and (2) be on a harness, leash, or tether at all times, unless the handler is unable to use a harness, leash, or tether; or if such use would interfere with the animal's ability to safely and effectively perform its duties.

Student Housing and Dining Services considers service animals to be a matter of housing accommodation, and therefore requires any resident intending to have a service animal in their residence to submit the Health Condition Disclosure (pdf). Please note that a service animal may not be kept in residence prior to explicit approval of an accommodation.

Residents with authorized service animals must accept an Agreement of Expectations for maintaining a service animal within the residential community prior to having their animal on campus. The Agreement covers minimum standards and expectations for conduct and cleanliness and is intended to be consistent with the University's Policy on Service and Support Animals (PPM 290-91). UC Davis may require the removal of a service animal at any point in time if the Agreement has been breached.

Student Housing and Dining Services will not require a resident to pay an extra fee for an authorized service animal, and does not allow a grace period for the training of a service animal in residence to meet minimum conduct standards.

Student Housing and Dining Services does not allow pets in University housing; however, UC Davis will consider requests from residents with disabilities for reasonable accommodation. The University is committed to allowing residents access to an emotional support animal in cases of a disability-related need. An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that provides emotional support, comfort or security for the benefit of an individual with a disability or alleviates identified symptoms or effects of a disability. ESAs, which are also referred to as companion animals, therapy animals, or assistance animals, are not considered to be service animals under the ADA.

Please note that an ESA may not be kept in residence prior to explicit approval of an accommodation.

To request an ESA in Student Housing and Dining Services, residents must complete the Health Condition Disclosure (pdf) form and submit it to the Student Housing and Dining Services Administration office.

Please refer to the Procedure for Requesting an Accommodation in Student Housing and Dining Services for details on the process for housing accommodation requests.

Determination of Reasonable Accommodation for Emotional Support Animals

Student Housing and Dining Services offers a unique living experience as part of life on a university campus. Due to the nature of housing in campus residence halls and apartments, students typically share rooms and living spaces. Student Housing and Dining Services does not limit residents to specific room or building assignments due to a disability-related need for an ESA. Therefore, in order to ensure that the presence of an animal will not place undue burden on staff or other residents, Student Housing and Dining Services reserves the right to assess living situations as a part of the determination of reasonable accommodation. All requests are given consideration on a case-by-case basis. ESAs are generally domesticated animals such as dogs and cats; requests are typically considered for one animal per residence.

Factors assessed by Student Housing and Dining Services in determination of a reasonable request for an ESA may include, but are not limited to: (1) whether the available and/or assigned housing space is appropriate for the animal; (2) whether the presence of the animal would infringe upon another resident's ability to use and enjoy their housing space (e.g., allergies, etc.); (3) whether the animal is well-behaved, housebroken, not aggressive and not disruptive to the peace and quiet of the residential area; (4) whether the animal poses safety concerns, or risks due to possibility of zoonotic diseases; and, (5) whether the animal is up-to-date with vaccinations and is in compliance with Yolo County licensing laws.

Student Housing and Dining Services requires current medical documentation from a resident's diagnosing and treating clinician as part of an ESA request. Reasonable ESA requests are reviewed in accordance with relevant federal and state laws. California law requires that documentation must be written by a health care practitioner who holds a valid, active, license to provide professional services within the scope of the license in the jurisdiction where the documentation is provided. For emotional support dogs, the provider must have established a client-provider relationship with the individual for at least 30 days prior to providing the documentation. Detailed information about documentation requirements will be provided to residents after they have submitted a Health Condition Disclosure. A sample of the information required for an ESA request can be found here.

Authorized Emotional Support Animals

ESAs are not permitted in any rooms or buildings except for the handler's residence. Residents with authorized ESAs must accept an Agreement of Expectations for maintaining an authorized support animal within the residential community prior to having their animal on campus. The Agreement covers minimum standards and expectations for conduct and cleanliness and is intended to be consistent with the University's Policy on Service and Support Animals (PPM 290-91). UC Davis may require the removal of a support animal at any point in time if the Agreement has been breached.

Student Housing and Dining Services will not require a resident to pay an extra fee for an authorized support animal and does not allow a grace period for the training of an ESA in residence to meet minimum conduct standards.