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 Utah, as in all states, restaurants and other businesses are subject to federal anti-discrimination laws, which include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These laws prohibit discrimination against individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and disability. Utah businesses must comply with these regulations and cannot refuse service based on these protected characteristics. Additionally, Utah has state laws that further protect individuals from discrimination. The Utah Antidiscrimination Act prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation, which includes restaurants, based on race, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions, age (if the individual is 40 years of age or older), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. While restaurants can enforce dress codes or refuse service to individuals who are disruptive or do not meet certain service conditions, they cannot legally refuse service based on a customer's inclusion in a protected class under federal or state law.