Set clear house rules (a “Customer Notice”)

You can set your own rules and operating arrangements, and spell out the customer-facing parts as a “Customer Notice” — for example whether there is a dog-friendly zone or time slots, whether dogs may sit on chairs, and whether a cleaning fee applies if a dog soils the premises.

Display the Customer Notice in advance at the entrance or another conspicuous spot, or via your menu, ordering system or social media, to head off misunderstandings. Give FEHD the link to your Customer Notice so it appears on the approved-restaurant list, and keep it updated so the online and in-store arrangements match.

Admitting dogs

Set arrangements to help ensure every dog meets the law and your licence conditions:

• Check the leash length and use comply with the law
• Ask whether the dog is a “fighting” or “known dangerous” dog (Cap. 167D), and train staff to refuse a dog that doesn’t comply
• Dogs over five months need a licence — you may ask to see it (customers can show it via iAM Smart on the AFCD site)
• No more than two dogs per adult customer; you may cap the total number of dogs at once based on floor area, seat spacing, footfall and the food you serve
• You may set dog-friendly days/times — but the A3 sign must stay up at all times, even when dogs aren’t admitted

Consider a physically separated dog-friendly zone (a gate or panels), ideally using outdoor seating with shade. You may restrict certain dogs (no licence, very large, poor hygiene, agitated or clearly aggressive) — state this in your Customer Notice. Announce temporary suspensions (renovation, deep cleaning, events) early. If you’re in a mall, comply with the landlord’s rules. Taking reservations helps you manage how many dogs arrive each session. Guide dogs and dogs exercising a lawful power are exempt (except in food rooms) — facilitate them.

Food safety & hygiene

Keep dogs out of food rooms — post a notice marking the area. Food-handling staff should not touch dogs; any staff who do must wash and disinfect immediately. Step up cleaning and disinfection of tables and high-touch points (chair backs, table edges, door handles), especially in the dog zone and after busy periods, and keep ventilation, air-conditioning and air purification in good order (an indoor dog zone may benefit from deodorising/filtering units).

Provide dedicated bins for pre-packaged dog food and single-use dog utensils, and prevent cross-contamination if you sell or store dog food (keep it outside the food room, fully separated from human food). Dogs may never be on dining tables (a licence condition); for chairs, decide case by case — large dogs that could reach the table, conveyor-belt sushi, and absorbent seats (e.g. sofas) are reasons to keep a dog on the floor or on a pee pad. If a dog soils the premises you must clean and disinfect at once; set a clear waste-handling arrangement, tell customers in advance, list any cleaning fee in the Customer Notice, and have staff use disposable gloves, bag the waste into the dedicated dog bin, then wash and disinfect — and always re-check the area.

Train your staff

Brief staff on the law and licence conditions — the limits on fighting/known-dangerous dogs, the leash rules, and guide-dog arrangements — and on how to respond to a breach (report to a supervisor, advise and stop it). Give fuller training on your operating arrangements, house rules, soiling procedures, incident response, and dog-interaction etiquette:

• Watch for sudden dog reactions when carrying food and drinks
• Ask the owner before touching, petting or photographing their dog
• On a complaint, adjust the dog’s position or ask the owner to step outside briefly
• Never feed someone else’s dog
• Avoid startling dogs — no sudden shouting or teasing with food
• Remind customers to keep bags and belongings out of a dog’s reach

Where feasible, don’t roster dog-fearful staff to the dog-friendly zone.

Equipment & setup

To make things easier, consider providing:

• Compliant leashes for customers to borrow
• Fixed anchor points (wall- or floor-mounted hooks) so dogs can be tied safely
• Pee pads, gloves and waste bags
• Sealed, foot-pedal dog-waste bins — clearly labelled, never in the food room
• Pet-friendly hand-cleaning supplies for staff and customers

Use pet-friendly cleaners and disinfectants on surfaces dogs may touch. Avoid toxic plants (see the AFCD list), tablecloths and hanging décor (a dog can pull them and topple hot food or drinks), and carpets or absorbent mats in the dog zone. Colour-code or label cleaning tools so dog-waste tools are never mixed with food-service ones.

Layout & operations

Control table and seat numbers and keep sensible spacing, so dogs can lie down safely and people can pass without stepping on them. At peak times, consider pausing extra dog seating, ask owners to keep dogs out of main walkways and leashes short, and offer a “notify when a table is free” service so dog owners don’t crowd outside. Ask non-dog customers about their comfort near dogs and seat them away where you can. Reconsider very hot dishes (sizzling iron plates, stone or clay pots) and how staff carry them, and have staff watch dog positions while serving.

Handling incidents

If a dog barks persistently, stares down others, behaves aggressively or causes a nuisance, ask the owner — safely — to take control or step out, and offer takeaway packaging. If a non-dog customer can’t continue their meal, offer a seat change or takeaway.

For a dog bite (Rabies Ordinance, Cap. 421): remind the owner to notify the police; you may call the police yourself and should notify your insurer; with consent, record the parties’ contact details. As a licence condition, the operator must report the bite to the Director of FEHD within two working days using the designated form. Calm other dog-related disputes and encourage exchanging contacts. Finally, proactively tell your insurer you’re approved to admit dogs and confirm your cover.