Restaurants (and other businesses) sometimes post signs stating that they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. But Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination by places of public accommodation (including restaurants) on the basis of disability.
In addition to these federal statutes that prohibit discrimination against protected classes of persons, some states and cities have laws that prohibit discrimination based on other classifications—such as sexual orientation.
Restaurants have the right to exclude or refuse to serve persons that fail to meet a dress code, for example (“No shoes, no shirt, no service”) or are disruptive, for example, but they do not have the right to exclude or discriminate against persons based on being part of a class or group of persons protected by federal law or by state or local laws.
In Iowa, as in all states, restaurants and other businesses are subject to federal anti-discrimination laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, and disability. Iowa also has its own Civil Rights Act (Iowa Code Chapter 216), which further prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, or disability. While businesses can set and enforce neutral dress codes or refuse service to individuals who are disruptive or pose a safety risk, they cannot refuse service based on a customer's membership in a protected class under federal or state law. It's important for restaurant owners and managers to understand these regulations to ensure compliance and avoid legal issues related to discrimination.