CTA 101 – What you should know about relief areas when travelling with a service dog

August 24, 2026 – Gatineau, QC – Canadian Transportation Agency

Under the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Accessible transportation for persons with disabilities regulations (ATPDR), persons living with a disability who rely on service dogs are entitled to accessible, clearly marked, and conveniently located relief areas in Canadian transportation hubs.

The ATPDR establish legally binding obligations for terminals, including airports, rail stations and ferry terminals to ensure barrier-free travel.

Obligations of terminal operators

Terminal operators must provide designated relief areas for service dogs both outside the terminal and within the secure side of the terminal. This means that travellers are guaranteed access to:

• an outdoor relief area that is reachable via an accessible path from the terminal
• a secure-side relief area that can be accessed without exiting and re-entering security-controlled zones

These requirements are intended to eliminate a longstanding barrier where passengers had to leave secure zones, potentially missing flights or requiring re-screening.

The ATPDR also establish standards to ensure usability and accessibility:

• Locations of designated relief areas must be published in terminals’ websites
• Relief areas must be clearly identified with tactile and Braille signage
• Terminals must provide directional signage guiding travellers to these locations
• Areas must be regularly cleaned and maintained

These features are crucial for travellers with visual impairments or other disabilities, ensuring that relief areas are not only present but usable and easy to locate independently.

For additional information on travelling with service dogs, consult the CTA’s guidance material:

• Best Practices for Indoor Relief Areas for Service Dogs in Terminals
• Service Dogs: A Guide