Arlington County: Restaurants Can Now Be 'Dog Friendly'

Restaurants in Arlington can now apply for county permission to let their patrons bring dogs into outdoor dining areas.

The county's Public Health Division on Wednesday mailed letters to Arlington restaurants letting them know about the policy shift.

Generally, restaurants that have outdoor dining areas as part of their approved site plan can apply for a variance that would allow their patrons to bring their four-legged companions with them.

The restaurant must also agree to adopt practices that would protect the public's health and safety, according to an email from Kurt Larrick, spokesman for the county's Department of Human Services.

These safeguards include requiring dogs to be leashed and not allowing them on seats or tables, restricting food and drink preparation from the outside dining area and requiring signs to inform diners they are in a "Dog Friendly Area," according to Larrick's email.

Compliance would be evaluated as part of the routine restaurant inspection process, the email states.

The decision to change county policy was made internally, Larrick told Patch. That is, administrators did not need elected officials' approval in the matter.