Better Than Coco gains Salt Lake County dog patio permit

Overview

Updated 55 minutes ago

Better Than Coco, the 9th & 9th cafe known for frozen hot chocolate and gifts, now holds a dog patio permit from Salt Lake County. The record appeared on the health department's public food establishment list on October 29.

The permit is the county's only legal route for a food business to let customers bring dogs. Regulation #5 bans animals from food establishments except trained service dogs. With the approval, Better Than Coco can seat leashed dogs outdoors, under rules that include posted signs, self-closing doors, and quick cleanup of accidents.

Why it matters

County food rules otherwise ban dogs from restaurants; this permit decides whether Salt Lake dog owners get another patio to sit with them.

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Key Indicators

Operating conditions for a dog patio permit

County rules cover signage, self-closing doors, cleaning schedules, leash and rabies-tag requirements, and a ban on dog contact with dishes or staff.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Organizations Involved

Better Than Coco

Cafe and gift shop

Operating at 428 E 900 S, Ste 103, with a dog patio permit on record

A 9th & 9th district cafe and gift shop known for Belgian-chocolate frozen hot chocolate, pastries, and curated gifts.

Salt Lake County Health Department

County regulatory agency

Administers food establishment and dog patio permits

The agency that licenses food establishments in Salt Lake County and runs the dog patio permit program.

Timeline

1 event Latest: Today

October 2026
Dog patio permit appears on county list
Today Permit

Salt Lake County's public food establishment list records a dog patio permit for Better Than Coco at 428 E 900 S.
Today

Scenarios

Better Than Coco's patio goes dog-friendly in 9th & 9th

Likely Resolves by Apr 29, 2027

Discussed by: County permitting records; the business has not announced patio plans

With the permit on the county list, Better Than Coco can seat leashed, licensed dogs on its patio under the operating conditions: posted signs, an outdoor entrance with self-closing doors, animal-safe cleaning at the start of each shift, accidents cleaned within five minutes, and no dog contact with dishes or staff. If the cafe posts dog-friendly signs and seats patrons with dogs, the neighborhood gains a dog-friendly patio. The county's public list and the business's own channels would both show it.

Better Than Coco dog patio permit lapses unused

Possible Resolves by Oct 29, 2027

Discussed by: County permit renewal cycle; no public statement from the business

The record could stay dormant. If Better Than Coco never posts dog patio signs or seats dogs, the annual permit may go unrenewed, and the record drops off the county's list. The patio would then follow the default rule: no animals except trained service dogs.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

July 1990

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. The law requires restaurants and other public accommodations to admit trained service dogs alongside their handlers.

Then

Restaurants nationwide had to allow service dogs, overturning decades of no-pets policies.

Now

The ADA set the baseline every state and county food code builds on: service dogs are always allowed, all other animals are excluded by default.

Why this matters now

Salt Lake County's Regulation #5 starts from that same baseline, which is why a cafe needs a separate dog patio permit to allow any other dog.