New Jersey Shore dog beach guide: Where can your pup play?
Want to take your furry friend to the beach? Make sure you know which beaches allow dogs and when.
Each Jersey Shore beach has specific rules for dogs. While most require dogs to be leashed, some beaches, like Asbury Park and Bradley Beach, allow dogs off-leash in designated areas. Other beaches, like those in Brick, Lavallette and Seaside Park, don't allow dogs at all.
With the summer season approaching, most beaches won't allow dogs during swimming hours or won't allow them at all. Some bay beaches, like Fisherman's Cove in Manasquan, allow dogs year-round with no restrictions.
To learn more about the specific rules and times dogs are allowed at a particular beach, check out our beach guide for dogs.
Asbury Park beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 16 to Sept. 14): Dogs can be at the dog beach from 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., but they can't be on the boardwalk.
Off-season (Sept. 15 to May 15): Dogs can be at the dog beach anytime, but not on other parts of the beach. Dogs can go on the boardwalk during this time.
Leash rules: Dogs don’t need a leash on the beach if they’re supervised. Leashes are required on the boardwalk.
Atlantic City beach rules for dogs
Summer (Memorial Day to Sept. 15): No dogs on the beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to Memorial Day): Dogs can be on the beaches.
Leash rules: Always required.
Avalon beach rules for dogs
Summer (March 1 to Sept. 30): No dogs on beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to Feb. 28): Dogs can be on the beach but not the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Always required.
Avon-by-the-Sea beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 2 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 1): Dogs can be on the beach but not the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Always required.
Barnegat Light beach rules for dogs
Summer (April 15 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach or near the inlet.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to April 14): Dogs can be on the beach.
Leash rules: Always required.
Bay Head beach rules for dogs
Summer (June 15 to Labor Day): No dogs on the beach.
Off-season (Tuesday after Labor Day to June 14): Dogs can be on the beaches.
Leash rules: Always required.
Beach Haven beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 15 to Sept. 15): No dogs on ocean beaches, but there is a small dog beach on the bay at Taylor Avenue where dogs can play.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to May 14): Dogs can be on all ocean beaches.
Leash rules: Always required.
Belmar beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 1 to Sept. 30): Dogs are banned from beach and boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to April 30): Dogs can be on the beach, not the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Required at all times.
Bradley Beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 16 to Sept. 30): No dogs on beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 15): Dogs can be on the beach, not the boardwalk, unless crossing over.
Leash rules: Off-leash allowed on beach during off-season, but dogs need to be leashed going to and from beach.
Brick beach rules for dogs
Dogs can’t go on Brick's beaches at any time.
Brigantine beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 30 to Sept. 30): Dogs are allowed at North End Beach, but not on the ocean beaches.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 29): Dogs can be on all beaches.
Leash rules: Dogs need a leash at all times, even at North End Beach.
Cape May beach rules for dogs
Summer (April 1 to Oct. 30): Dogs can’t go on the beach.
Off-season (Nov. 1 to March 31): Dogs can be on the beach.
Leash rules: Leash always required.
Cape May Point beach rules for dogs
Summer (March 15 to Oct. 31): No dogs allowed.
Off-season (Nov. 1 to March 14): Dogs can be on the beach.
Leash rules: Always required.
Corson’s Inlet State Park beach rules for dogs
Summer (April 1 to Sept. 15): No dogs allowed.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to March 31): Dogs can be on the beach.
Leash rules: Must be leashed at all times.
Deal beach rules for dogs
Summer (Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day): No dogs on the beach.
Off-season (Monday after Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend): Dogs can be on the beaches.
Leash rules: Leashes required at all times.
Harvey Cedars beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 30 to Sept. 15): No dogs on the beach.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to May 29): Dogs allowed.
Leash rules: Always required.
Island Beach State Park beach rules for dogs
No dogs on swimming beaches. They can be on unguarded beaches.
Leash rules: Must be leashed always.
Lavallette beach rules for dogs
Dogs are not allowed on Lavallette's beach but can go on the boardwalk outside of bathing season.
Leash rules: Always required.
Loch Arbour beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 15 to Sept. 15): No dogs on the beach.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to May 14): Dogs can be on the beach.
Leash rules: Always required.
Long Beach Township beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 16 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 15): Dogs allowed on beaches, except at Bayview Park.
Leash rules: Always required.
Long Branch beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 1 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to April 30): Dogs allowed on the beach, not on the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Always required.
Longport beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 1 to Sept. 30): Dogs can be on the beach between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to April 30): Dogs can be on the beach anytime.
Leash rules: Always required.
Manasquan beach rules for dogs
Summer (April 16 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to April 15): Dogs allowed on the beach, not the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Always required.
Fisherman’s Cove beach rules for dogs
All year: Dogs allowed on the east portion of the beach year-round; they must always be leashed.
Mantoloking beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 15 to Oct. 1): Dogs allowed on the beach between sunrise and 10 a.m., and 6 p.m. and sunset. Dogs are not allowed in the North Lagoon area.
Off-season (Oct. 2 to May 14): Dogs can be on the beach anytime.
Leash rules: Leashes required in summer, optional in off-season.
Monmouth Beach rules for dogs
Summer (March 15 to Oct. 1): Dog are not allowed on areas marked as habitat for endangered species.
Memorial Day to Labor Day: Dogs are not allowed on any beaches.
Off-season (Oct. 2 to March 14): Dogs allowed on the beach.
Leash rules: Always required.
North Wildwood beach rules for dogs
All year: Dogs can be on the beaches between 6 and 9 a.m., and 5:30 and 10 p.m. Also, a dog park is available on the east side of the 24th Avenue beach from 8 a.m. to dusk with a $10 permit. Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Always required.
Ocean City beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 1 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to March 14): Dogs allowed on the beach, not the boardwalk.
Off-season (March 15 to April 30): Dogs allowed on the beach except in specific areas.
Leash rules: Always required.
Ocean Grove beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 2 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 1): Dogs allowed on the beach, not the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Always required.
Ortley Beach beach rules for dogs
Dog are banned at Ortley Beach.
Sandy Hook beach rules for dogs
Summer (March 16 to Sept. 14): Dogs allowed on bayside beaches, not ocean beaches.
Off-season (Sept. 15 to March 15): Dogs allowed on all beaches.
Leash rules: Always required.
Sea Bright beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 15 to Sept. 15): No dogs on any beaches.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to March 14): Dogs allowed on all beaches.
Leash rules: Always required.
Sea Girt beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 15 to Sept. 15): No dogs on the beach.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to May 14): Dogs allowed on the beach.
Leash rules: Always required.
Sea Isle City beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 2 to Sept. 29): No dogs on the beach.
Off-season (Sept. 30 to May 1): Dogs allowed on all beaches.
Leash rules: Always required.
Seaside Heights beach rules for dogs
Dogs are banned on the ocean beaches and the boardwalk but are allowed on the bay beach.
Seaside Park beach rules for dogs
Dogs are never allowed on Seaside Park's beaches.
Seven Presidents beach rules for dogs
Summer (April 1 to Oct. 31): No dogs in the park.
Off-season (Nov. 1 to March 31): Dogs allowed in the park, including beaches.
Leash rules: Always required.
Ship Bottom beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 1 to Oct. 1): No dogs on the beaches.
Off-season (Oct. 2 to April 30): Dogs allowed.
Leash rules: Always required.
Spring Lake beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 15 to Sept. 30): Dogs only allowed near Pitney Avenue between sunrise and 9 a.m., not on the boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 14): Dogs allowed on all beaches, not the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Leash required except in the dog park area.
Stone Harbor beach rules for dogs
Summer (Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day): Dogs can be on the beach from 7 p.m. until sunset.
Off-season (Day after Labor Day to Thursday before Memorial Day): Dogs allowed on the beach anytime.
Leash rules: Always needed.
Strathmere beach rules for dogs
Summer (March 15 to Sept. 15): Dogs can’t go on the beach.
Off-season (Sept. 16 to March 14): Dogs allowed on the beach.
Leash rules: Always required.
Surf City beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 1 to Sept. 30): No dogs allowed.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to April 30): Dogs allowed on the beaches all the time.
Leash rules: Always necessary.
Ventnor beach rules for dogs
Summer (May 15 to Sept. 30): Dogs allowed on the beach between 7 and 9 p.m.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 14): Dogs allowed on beach areas reached by high tide at all times.
Leash rules: Always required.
Wildwood beach rules for dogs
Summer (June 1 to Sept. 30): Dogs only allowed at Glenwood Avenue dog park; not allowed on the boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 30): Dogs allowed on the beaches, not the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Optional in the park, required elsewhere.
Wildwood Crest beach rules for dogs
Summer (June 1 to Sept. 30): No dogs on the beach or boardwalk.
Off-season (Oct. 1 to May 30): Dogs allowed on the beach anytime, but not on the boardwalk.
Leash rules: Always necessary.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Dog-friendly beaches at the Jersey Shore, from Asbury Park to Wildwood
