Are Animals Allowed in the Hamilton Farmers’ Market?

Animals are an important part of many people’s lives. The Hamilton Farmers’ Market welcomes visitors who need the support of a certified service animal. To help create a comfortable experience for everyone who visits the Market, we have guidelines for bringing animals inside.

Service Animals Are Welcome

Service animals help people with a variety of disabilities, including mobility, vision, hearing, developmental, and other disability-related needs. A trained service animal provides specific support that helps a person participate in daily activities.

Visitors bringing a service animal to the Market should ensure their animal wears a service animal vest, collar, harness, or other visual indicator. Visitors may also be asked to provide documentation from security staff confirming their service animal status.

Pets and Emotional Support Animals

We love animals and understand they are an important part of many people’s lives. We ask that all pets stay home while you shop so we can maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for all visitors.

Pets and emotional support animals (ESAs) are NOT permitted inside the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. This guideline follows Ontario Public Health requirements for indoor food facilities.

The City of Hamilton does not recognize emotional support animals as trained service animals under its accessibility guidelines or provincial standards. Service animals receive individual training to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, while emotional support animals provide comfort and companionship without task-based training. Because of this difference, emotional support animals do not have the same public access rights as trained service animals.

Why These Guidelines Matter

The Hamilton Farmers’ Market is a year-round indoor food facility, and these guidelines protect food safety while creating a welcoming environment for all visitors.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, accessible, and enjoyable experience for everyone who visits the Hamilton Farmers’ Market.

For more information about the Hamilton Farmers’ Market service animal guidelines and accessibility requirements, please read the full City of Hamilton Service Animal Policy, click here.