Animals on Campus

Animals are allowed on public areas of campus if they are on a leash not more than 6 feet long. Generally, animals are not allowed in university buildings but there are exceptions for service animals and emotional support animals. You can read our Animals on Campus Policy for more information.

A pet is a domestic animal, sufficiently tamed to live with an individual(s) and kept and cared for as a companion. An emotional support animal (ESA) may work, provide assistance, or perform physical tasks, for an individual with a disability. ESAs are not trained to perform specific tasks directly related to an individual’s disability; instead, the animal’s owner derives a sense of well-being, safety, calm, or comfort from the animal’s companionship and presence. They are not considered Service Animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

A service dog is one that is individually trained to do work or perform a task for an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory (deaf or blind), psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by the service dog must be directly related to the individual’s disability.

Pets are not allowed in housing. Only Service Dogs and approved emotional support animals are allowed.

Animals are generally not allowed in any campus buildings. Service Dogs can accompany their user wherever they go, and employees are allowed approved emotional support animals. 

Animals are generally not allowed in classrooms or labs. Service Dogs can accompany their user wherever they go if there are no other health and safety risks, and students are allowed approved emotional support animals. 

There is a DAC webpage about Emotional Support Animal (ESA) approval steps for students, faculty, staff, and residents.

No. Only a dog (or miniature horse) can be a service animal.

You can read the Animals on Campus policy or email access@berkeley.edu for more information.