Dog-Friendly Beaches Near Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale keeps dogs off almost all of its sand, but there is one city dog beach about two miles from the house, a free one in Hollywood, and a few more within a day trip. Here is where each one is, when dogs are allowed, what it costs and the rules, checked in September 2026.

Canine Beach in Fort Lauderdale

Canine Beach is the only part of Fort Lauderdale's beach open to dogs: the posted stretch from lifeguard tower 16 to 100 yards north of Sunrise Boulevard, entered at the second set of parking spaces north of Sunrise on A1A (about 1269 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.). It is roughly a 10-minute drive from the house.

City code requires a permit and says the dog stays leashed and under your control, with every mess picked up. The limit is three dogs per person. Visit Lauderdale, the county tourism bureau, lists permits at $30 a year per dog for city residents, $45 for non-residents and $7 per dog for one Friday-to-Sunday weekend. It says annual permits are sold in person at the Parks and Recreation office in Holiday Park (1150 G. Harold Martin Dr.), weekdays 8 am to 5 pm, with a paper copy of your dog's current vaccination certificate.

Double-check the hours. As of September 2026 the city's dog page lists 6 to 9 am and 5 to 7 pm, while Visit Lauderdale still shows the older schedule of Friday to Sunday only, 3 to 7 pm from November through March and 3 to 9 pm from April through October. Call Parks and Recreation at (954) 828-7275 before you go.

Hollywood's Dog Beach

Hollywood's Dog Beach runs between the Pershing Street and Custer Street lifeguard stands, at about 4999 N. Surf Road, some 25 minutes from the house. As of September 2026 the city lists it as free and open daily from sunrise to sunset, no pass needed. Your dog needs a current rabies tag and a leash outside the dog zone. Sick dogs, dogs in heat and aggressive dogs are not allowed, and neither are alcohol, glass, balloons or single-use plastics. Parking is on the street.

Haulover and the Miami Beach dog beaches

Miami-Dade County's Haulover Park (10800 Collins Ave., across the inlet from Bal Harbour) allows dogs on the beach daily from sunrise to sunset, between lifeguard towers 2 and 3 only. Park in lots 3 or 4, where the county lists $5.47 per vehicle with the dog in the car. The posted rules allow dogs off leash inside that stretch if you keep control, two dogs per person, and no puppies under six months.

The City of Miami Beach runs three free Bark Beaches with metered lots across the street: 21 Street and 53 Street, open every morning, and the original North Beach site between 80 and 81 streets (enter at Collins Avenue and 81 Street), open Friday through Sunday afternoons. Keep the collar and rabies tag on and a leash in hand; digging and dogs in heat are not allowed, and the limit is two dogs per owner.

Jupiter Dog Beach

For the most room, Jupiter Dog Beach covers 2.5 miles, from dune crossover 26 (just north of Ocean Cay Park, 2188 Marcinski Road) to crossover 57 (just south of Carlin Park). Dogs that come when called may run off leash from sunrise to sunset, but they walk on a leash from the car and stay out of lifeguarded areas. Parking is free, restrooms and showers are at both parks, and the town asks for tags, a license and proof of rabies vaccination. It is about an hour and 20 minutes each way.

The dog beaches side by side

Drive times are from the house without traffic; hours and fees were checked in September 2026.

Beach	City	Days and hours	Permit or fee	Drive from the house
Canine Beach	Fort Lauderdale	City lists 6-9 am and 5-7 pm; tourism listing says Fri-Sun afternoons (call first)	City permit: $30 or $45 a year, or $7 a weekend, per dog	About 10 min
Dog Beach	Hollywood	Daily, sunrise to sunset	Free	About 25 min
Haulover Park dog beach	Miami-Dade County	Daily, sunrise to sunset	$5.47 parking in lots 3 and 4	About 40 min
North Beach Bark Beach	Miami Beach	Fri-Sun, 1:30-5:30 pm Nov-Feb, 3-7 pm Mar-Oct	Free; metered parking	About 45 min
21 St and 53 St Bark Beaches	Miami Beach	Daily, 7-9 am Nov-Mar, 9-11 am Apr-Oct	Free; metered parking	50 min to 1 hr
Jupiter Dog Beach	Jupiter	Daily, sunrise to sunset	Free; free parking	About 1 hr 20 min

Where dogs are not allowed

Most of Broward County's sand is off-limits to pets. Fort Lauderdale bans dogs on the beach everywhere except Canine Beach, service animals aside. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea says dogs are not allowed on its beach, and Deerfield Beach's beach rules allow no animals. Fort Lauderdale's city parks have welcomed leashed dogs since November 2024, but that rule still keeps pets off beaches, playgrounds, courts and splash pads and out of the water.

Pompano Beach's parks department now lists a Wags & Waves Dog Beach at the SE 2nd Street beach access but had posted no hours or rules when we checked, so call (954) 786-4111 first. For state park beaches and trails, see State Parks and Nature With Your Dog.

Beach manners, heat and sand

• Go early or late. The Town of Jupiter's dog-beach page warns about burned paws, strong sun, jellyfish, sea lice and rip currents.
• Bring fresh water and a bowl. Haulover's posted rules put it simply: hydrate your dog.
• Pick up every time, fill in any hole your dog digs, and stay off the dunes.
• Rinse off the salt and sand afterward. At the house, hose the dog down with the outdoor shower; the pool is for people.

For heat and water hazards in more detail, read Keeping Your Dog Safe in South Florida. When beach hours don't fit, try the dog parks in and around Fort Lauderdale, more things to do with your dog, or the fenced backyard at the house.

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