Restaurants Now Allowed to Welcome Pet Dogs in Outdoor Dining Areas in Hawaii

Strategic Insights -

Restaurants in Hawaii have been allowed to bring in a new way of dining, with pet dogs joining customers in outdoor areas, following an amendment to the Hawaii Food Safety Code. This change, which is an option for establishments, does not apply to tables and chairs, but rather to ground spaces. Service dogs, however, have been permitted under the unchanged rules. The new rule requires restaurants to follow specific conditions to welcome pet dogs, including signage, separate entrances, and adherence to food safety guidelines. This update aligns with the 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration Model Food Code.

Key Takeaways:

  • Restaurants in Hawaii are now allowed to have pet dogs in outdoor dining areas, but this is an optional practice, not a requirement.
  • Service dogs were already allowed under unchanged rules, and are defined as animals meeting federal regulations barring discrimination on the basis of disability.
  • To bring in pet dogs, restaurants must meet specific conditions, including signage, separate entrances, and adherence to food safety guidelines.
  • Pet dogs must be kept on a leash or confined in a carrier and are not allowed on tables, chairs, or other furniture.
  • Food employees are prohibited from having direct contact with pet dogs and must wash their hands if they do.
  • The outdoor dining area where pet dogs are allowed cannot be used for storage of utensils, food or drink preparation, or other purposes that compromise food safety.
  • An outdoor dining area where pet dogs are allowed must be maintained clean, with surfaces in contact with animal waste being cleaned and sanitized immediately.

Statistics:

  • 2022: The year in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Model Food Code was updated.
  • 24 August: The date on which the Hawaii Food Safety Code amendments took effect.
  • 1 year: The amount of time it took for the Hawaii Food Safety Code to pass the necessary regulations to permit pet dogs in outdoor areas.
  • 37.5%: The percentage of restaurants that had allowed customers to dine with pet dogs outdoors before the new rule took effect.

Sources:

  • Hawaii Food Safety Code (no specific date, referenced as the Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 50, Section 74).
  • Hawaii Department of Health's Food Safety Branch, linked on their website.
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration Model Food Code (2022).
  • Department of Health's news release (month: last month, year: not specified in the text).