Kolbie PetersonWhat goes together better than patios and warm weather? Patios and dogs, and the Salt Lake County Health Department has released its annual list of restaurants that have been approved to host dogs on their patios.
According to a Friday news release, the health department has given approval to 49 restaurants in the county to allow dogs in their outdoor dining areas for the 2026 patio season. Well-known dog havens like Fisher Brewing Company and Handlebar are among those on the list.
To view the complete list of restaurants that have received approval to welcome dogs onto their patios, go to saltlakecounty.gov/health/food-protection/dog-patio/.
In order to get approval, restaurants and other food-service establishments have to jump through a few hoops, including submitting a special processes safety plan (called a HACCP plan), pay an application fee (which covers the time it takes for staff to review the application and inspect the patio) and agree to a few rules, listed in the release:
• The establishment must post signs that let patrons know that dogs could be on the premises.
• The patio must have an outdoor entrance so dogs don’t go through the interior dining area, and there have to be self-closing doors between the patio and interior area.
• The patio must be cleaned with animal-safe chemicals at the beginning of each shift, or every six hours if the business doesn’t have defined shifts.
• Any “accidents” must be cleaned and the area sanitized within five minutes.
• Wait staff and any other staffers who handle food may not touch any dog.
• Dogs must remain on-leash, and must have collars with their current license and rabies tag.
• Dogs may not be on tables or chairs.
• Dogs should be given water in a disposable container, but may not eat food, including dog food or treats.
• Dogs may not have contact with any dishes or utensils.
Permission to bring an animal onto a restaurant’s patio only applies to dogs, not other animals, the release said. Also, the rules do not apply to qualifying ADA service dogs.
The health department’s approval is good for only one patio season, the release said, and restaurants in good standing can renew their permission every year.
If your restaurant isn’t on this list and you would like to apply, you still can, by calling the Food Protection Bureau at 385-468-3845.
Last season, by the end of the summer, the health department had approved 65 establishments.
Kolbie Peterson reports on food, drink and small business for The Salt Lake Tribune and also writes the Utah Eats newsletter. She previously covered breaking news, crime and public safety as part of The Tribune's enterprise team. She received her bachelor's degree at Westminster University, back when it was Westminster College. She has five cats.