Skip to main content

FEHD · Licensing conditions

The 11 licensing conditions
for dogs in restaurants

FEHD attaches 11 licensing conditions to its "Permission for Presence of Dogs on Food Premises". Here is the full text, plus the points that matter most to you as a dog owner.

11licensing conditions


In force since
Set by
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Read the FEHD original

Before you sit down

The 11 conditions, boiled down for dog owners. Each point links back to the condition it comes from.

  • Look for the A3 signage

    Condition 1

    A permitted premises displays the FEHD-designated A3 signage at a conspicuous place near its main entrance, clearly visible from outside and unobstructed.

  • No dogs on dining tables

    Condition 5

    No dog shall be allowed on any dining table at any time.

  • No dog food cooked or prepared on site

    Condition 2Condition 3

    Dog food may not be cooked or prepared on the premises. Only prepackaged dry dog food, vacuum-packed dog food and canned dog food may be sold or provided.

  • Single-use, non-plastic bowls only

    Condition 6

    Dogs may not use the premises' reusable utensils. Only single-use non-plastic eating utensils or crockery may be provided for them.

  • Bar counter seats are restricted

    Condition 9

    You may not sit at the bar counter with a dog unless the food counter or preparation area is segregated by a permanently fixed, full-height partition.

  • 1.5 m around the buffet

    Condition 10

    Dogs may not enter the zone within 1.5 m of any buffet counter or salad bar, at any time.

  • No cooking at the table

    Condition 4

    Food may not be cooked or heated on the dining table at any time, including open flames and electric heaters. Candles and electric coasters for keeping drinks warm are exempt.

  • Fouling is cleaned up immediately

    Condition 8

    If a dog fouls the premises, the affected area must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected immediately.

The 11 licensing conditions in full

The text below is as published by FEHD.

  1. Entrance signage

    For dog owners

    An A3 size signage designated by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department shall be displayed at all times and at a conspicuous place near the main entrances for the customers of the premises, indicating that presence of dogs is permitted on the premises. The signage must be clearly visible to customers from outside of the premises, and must not be obstructed by any object. The licensee shall comply with instructions given by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene regarding the way the signage is displayed.

  2. No cooking or preparation of dog food

    No cooking or preparation of dog food on the premises is allowed.

  3. Prepackaged dog food only

    Only prepackaged dry dog food, vacuum-packed dog food and canned dog food can be sold or provided on the premises.

  4. No cooking at the dining table

    For dog owners

    Cooking or heating of food on dining table (including open flame or using electric heating apparatus, except for candles and electric coasters for keeping beverages warm) are not allowed at any time.

  5. No dogs on dining tables

    For dog owners

    No dog shall be allowed on any dining table at any time.

  6. Single-use non-plastic utensils

    For dog owners

    Reusable utensils shall not be provided to dog by the premises. Only single-use non-plastic eating utensils or crockery may be sold or provided to dog owners for use by dogs.

  7. Baits and traps out of reach

    All poisonous baits or pest/rodent-trapping devices on the premises shall be kept out of reach of dogs.

  8. Immediate cleaning of fouling

    In case of fouling of the premises by dog excrement, the affected area must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected immediately to maintain the hygienic condition of the premises.

  9. Bar counter seats

    For dog owners

    No customer with dog shall be allowed to sit on the bar counter seats unless the food counter or food preparation area is segregated from the seating accommodation by a permanently fixed partition carried to the full height of the premises.

  10. 1.5 m buffet zone

    For dog owners

    No dog shall be allowed to enter the zone within 1.5 m of any buffet counter / salad bar.

  11. Report injuries within 2 working days

    Where a dog causes injury to any person on the premises and the incident is reported to the Police, the licensee shall report the same incident to the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene by using the attached prescribed form within 2 working days from the date of the incident.

Source and further reading

This page restates the licensing conditions published by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for easier reading. Where the two differ, the FEHD version governs. pawsdine.com is not a government website.

Checked against FEHD