Answer Man: Dogs not allowed in local cafes? Health department rules against dogs inside?

ASHEVILLE - Today's burning question concerns dogs in cafes. Why aren't our furry friends allowed in coffee shops?

Have other questions for our staff? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at [email protected] and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

Question: Asheville is one of the most dog friendly towns we have ever lived in. When we moved here our dog accompanied us into many of the local coffee venues in both Buncombe and Henderson counties. Recently we have been told that the health department says only service dogs are allowed. We have heard several different reasons. If you can find out the real deal that would be great!

Answer: Asheville has been lauded — often via polls — as one of the most dog and pet-friendly locations in the United States.

Last August, we reported on a poll from travel platform Trips To Discover, which ranked our city as the No. 1 "U.S. City Most Open to Pet Travel." Asheville? On a "best of" list? No way!

I trust you can sense my sarcasm.

In all seriousness, the presence of canines at Asheville's breweries, bars and cafes is strong, and pretty amazing.

You could stroll up to an assortment of bars, breweries or cafes and find that dogs are not only present at these locations, but oftentimes thriving, with many locations even setting out water bowls for our best friends.

Dog culture in AVL gone too far? Boyle column: Asheville dog culture out of hand?

The City of Asheville requires dog owners to have a "dog license," a unique and somewhat underutilized city service that has seen revenues decline from $35,968 in 2017 to $19,930 in 2023. The $10 registration fee would indicate there are about 1,993 dogs in Asheville.

Considering the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates 44.6% of all U.S. homes own dogs, a recent Answer Woman column from City Government Reporter Sarah Honosky opined the Asheville registration number seems low. I agree.

You will find a positive, dog-loving Asheville culture at Grind AVL, where Mark Bollt, the coffee shop general manager, said they love dogs, they even keep a bowl of treats ready for them, but there are limits to where dogs can roam.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Food Code Manual, "live animals may not be allowed on the premises of a food establishment," with exceptions made for patrol dogs, fish, service animals and dogs that are only on the outside of the food establishment.

However, some coffee shops may be allowed to have animals. Buncombe County Health and Human Services Environmental Health Administrator Stacey Wood clarified that "coffee shops that do not use multi-use utensils (re-usable cups, spoons, etc.) fall under the jurisdiction of NCDA and are not regulated by Environmental Health."

"We often times see dogs in these types of coffee shops," Wood said.

Bottom line, your service animal is more than welcome inside a restaurant, but owners should be aware they can't take their non-service animals to just any coffee shop. There are also a few allowances made for dogs on outside patios and "outdoor dining areas," provided they are on a leash and don't pass through the indoor area of the restaurant, NCDHHS's Food Code says.

Breweries, however, are an entirely different situation. Dogs are allowed at many breweries, assuming the establishment isn't serving food inside the building. You should be careful to check for special rules or limitations at breweries for your canine friends.

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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected]. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Man: Dogs not allowed in local cafes? Health department rules?