Service Animal Policy — Laemmle Theatres

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026

Welcome

Laemmle Theatres welcomes service animals at all of our theatre locations. We are committed to providing equal access to patrons with disabilities and to complying fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, and California Civil Code section 54 et seq.

What is a service animal?

Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The work or task must be directly related to the person's disability — for example, guiding a person who is blind, alerting a person who is deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person to take medication, or calming a person with PTSD during an anxiety attack.

In California, miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities are also recognized in many circumstances. California law also extends protections to service animals in training when accompanied by an authorized trainer, which is broader than federal ADA protection.

What is not a service animal

Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy animals are not service animals under the ADA, because they have not been trained to perform a specific task related to a disability. Pets are not service animals. While we love animals, only trained service animals are permitted in our theatres.

What we may ask

When it isn't obvious that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask only two questions, and only these two:

1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

Our staff are trained not to ask about your disability, request medical documentation, ask for special identification or a certification card for the animal, or ask the animal to demonstrate its task.

Seating

Your service animal may sit at your feet, on your lap, or in front of you. A service animal does not need its own seat. If you would like to purchase an additional seat for your service animal's comfort — for example, with a larger dog — you are welcome to do so, at the regular ticket price.

Behavior

For the safety and enjoyment of all our patrons, service animals must remain under the handler's control at all times. This typically means a leash, harness, or tether, unless the handler's disability prevents the use of one or it would interfere with the animal's tasks, in which case voice control or signal control is required. Service animals must be housebroken. We may ask a handler to remove a service animal that is out of control and that the handler does not promptly bring under control, or that is not housebroken. In such a case, we will continue to provide service to the patron without the animal present.

No additional fee

We do not charge any additional fee for a patron to bring a service animal into our theatres.

Misrepresentation is a crime in California

Under California Penal Code section 365.7, knowingly and fraudulently representing oneself as the owner or trainer of a service dog when one is not is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. We respect the rights of patrons with disabilities and ask that all patrons do the same.

Questions or concerns

If you have any questions about this policy, would like to give us advance notice that you'll be visiting with a service animal, or believe you have been treated unfairly by our staff, please contact us:

• Email: accessibility@laemmle.com
• Phone: 310 478 3836

We respond to all inquiries within two business days.

Reference

This policy is based on the Disability Rights California fact sheet, Service Animals in Business and Public Spaces, available at https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/publications/fact-sheet-service-animals-in-business-and-public-spaces.

Laemmle Theatres has welcomed Los Angeles audiences since 1938. We strive to make every visit a welcoming one — for every member of our community, and the working partners at their side.