Dog Friendly Bars Win Their Case Against Florida Health

Two Florida dog friendly bars, Pups Pub Tampa and Pups Pub Orlando, won their legal battle against the Florida Department of Health in June 2023 when an administrative law judge ruled the state could not enforce its ban on dogs at the establishments.

In a 29 page order, the judge found the department improperly changed its interpretation of sanitation rules without going through the required rulemaking process.

Evidence showed county health departments had interpreted the rule for more than four years to allow dogs in bars with certain restrictions before the state abruptly reversed course in mid 2022.

Pups Pub Tampa, which received its sanitation certificate in December 2020, was cited in June 2022, and Pups Pub Orlando was cited in August 2022 within a month of opening.

Both businesses had complied with county health department directions, installing gates that separate dogs from beverage preparation areas.

The order directed the Department of Health to immediately discontinue reliance on its revised interpretation, a significant win for Florida's pet friendly hospitality industry, though the state subsequently appealed the decision.