Dog beaches in Los Angeles: where to go

Almost every beach in Los Angeles is closed to dogs. The county states the rule without exception for the beaches it runs, and the cities of Malibu and Santa Monica do the same on theirs. Two places are the exception: Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach, and the north beach at Leo Carrillo State Park, near the Malibu and Ventura county line. Here is what the authorities that run them publish, and the rules to know before you pack a towel and a leash.

Are dogs allowed on Los Angeles County beaches?

No, and no other animal either. In its beach rules, the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors publishes a line with no exception: no animals are allowed on the beach, no cats, no dogs, no horses.

That rule covers most of the coast visitors have in mind. The county page lists these beaches: Dan Blocker, Dockweiler, Hermosa, Las Tunas, Malibu Surfrider, Manhattan, Marina “Mother’s” Beach, Nicholas Canyon, Point Dume, Redondo, Topanga, Torrance, Venice, White Point/Royal Palms, Will Rogers and Zuma. Venice Beach, Zuma and Will Rogers, the three names that come up first when you picture a walk by the water, are therefore not an option with a dog.

Which beaches near Los Angeles do take dogs?

Two, and they work in different ways. The first is Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach, where a dog may be off leash inside a marked zone. The second is the north beach at Leo Carrillo State Park, run by California State Parks, where a dog stays on a leash.

The City of Santa Monica confirms as much on its own page. Asked whether you can bring a dog to the beach, it answers that dogs are not allowed on Santa Monica State Beach, and adds that the closest beach where dogs are legally allowed is Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach.

How does Rosie’s Dog Beach work?

It is a dog zone open every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Long Beach places this 4.1-acre area along Ocean Boulevard, between Granada Avenue and Roycroft Avenue, on the south side of the boulevard. It opened in 2003.

The city spells out several points that save a wasted trip. The area is not fenced in and, in the city’s own words, is not a dedicated dog beach: it is a marked zone within an ordinary beach. Parking is metered, in the Granada Avenue lot. Trash cans and restrooms are nearby, and some bags are provided in dispensers, though the city encourages visitors to bring their own. It also notes that the zone may close occasionally for a special event or because of poor beach conditions.

Two limits are stated plainly. Dogs are not allowed outside the posted hours, or anywhere other than the dog zone and its access paths. And the leash stays on along the way: a dog may only be let off once inside the zone.

What are the rules at Rosie’s Dog Beach?

They are the rules the city posts for its dog zones, and they are specific. Every dog must be under the control of an adult, and only one dog per adult is allowed. The dog must stay under visual and voice control at all times, and owners must pick up after it and use the containers provided.

The city also asks for dogs older than four months, vaccinated and licensed, wearing a collar with current tags. Puppies under four months are not allowed, nor are female dogs in heat, aggressive dogs or spiked collars. No food of any kind, human or canine, is allowed in the zone, and owners are expected to bring drinking water for their dog. Professional trainers and handlers may not use the facility for instruction. The city adds that owners are legally responsible for injuries caused by their dog.

Outside those zones, the Long Beach municipal code is strict. Section 6.16.100 requires that a dog on any street, sidewalk, park or other public place be held on a secure leash no more than six feet long, in the hands of someone able to control it, or stay confined in a car. The same section sets the opening hours of designated off-leash areas at 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and says dogs may not be left unattended.

Can you take a dog to Leo Carrillo State Beach?

Yes, on the north beach and on a leash. California State Parks states for this park that dogs are allowed in the day-use areas, the campground and North Beach, north of Lifeguard Tower 3, and that they are allowed neither on the backcountry trails nor on South Beach, south of that same tower. The park page specifies that those dogs are on a leash.

The general state park rules apply on top of that. A dog must be on a maximum six-foot leash at all times and physically under control. Unless it is a service animal, it does not go into buildings or undeveloped areas, and as a rule it is not allowed on trails. The same agency writes that dogs are not permitted on most beaches, and that overnight campers must keep their dog in a tent or a vehicle. Service animals are allowed in areas open to the public, and misrepresenting a dog as a service animal is a misdemeanour in California.

What about the beaches in Malibu and Santa Monica?

Both are closed to dogs. The City of Malibu answers the question in one sentence: dogs are not allowed on any beach in Malibu. It adds that an owner who turns up with a dog will be asked to leave and may also be cited, and it is Malibu itself that points to Leo Carrillo State Beach as the one beach in the area that takes dogs on a leash, on part of its sand.

Its beach ordinances also cover private beaches, of which Malibu has many: an owner may have a dog on their own beach, but always on a leash, and never on the public part of the sand below the mean high tide line. Enforcement is handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Among the state parks in the area, the answer is the same: Point Dume State Beach and Topanga State Park are closed to dogs, Malibu Lagoon State Beach takes them in the parking lot only, and Will Rogers State Beach is run by the county, so the county ban applies. For a walk, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area allows dogs on its paved road only. Dog parks remain the one place to let a dog run in the city, as our Los Angeles guide explains.

When should you keep a dog out of the water?

After rain, and away from storm drains. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health writes that ocean water should be avoided for 72 hours after a rainstorm, because the volume of storm drain water discharged during and after a storm can raise bacteria levels along the coast. It also advises staying at least 100 yards away from storm drain discharges and runoff, and avoiding swimming next to piers.

When tests exceed state standards, lifeguards post warning signs in the affected area; after a sewage or chemical spill, the beach is closed outright. The county runs a beach advisory and closure hotline on (800) 525-5662. That guidance is written for swimmers, but it describes the water a dog would run and drink in: check the signs on site before letting it into the waves.

What if your dog flew to Los Angeles in the cabin?

That is possible on a private flight, without the weight limit imposed by scheduled airlines. Loulou Air, an AEROAFFAIRES brand and a private aviation broker since 1991, sells Pay-per-Seat private jets for your dog and you: you pay for your seat, not the jet, and one ticket covers one person and their dog. Your dog flies in the cabin with you, at your feet for the whole flight, never in the hold, and boarding is through a private aviation terminal, with no queues. The crew is briefed on welcoming animals, with water, bowls and blankets on board. United States entry requirements still apply on every flight, private ones included, and our brokers check every dog’s file before departure: our travel requirements pages list the documents expected.

See the flights to Los Angeles or talk to a broker, who confirms your dog case by case. What happens on arrival is covered in our article on Van Nuys airport.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the closest beach to Los Angeles where dogs are allowed?

Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach, according to the City of Santa Monica, which describes it as the closest beach where dogs are legally allowed. It is open every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., along Ocean Boulevard between Granada Avenue and Roycroft Avenue.

Can a dog be off leash at Rosie’s Dog Beach?

Yes, but only inside the dog zone. The City of Long Beach writes that dogs must be on a leash on the way to the beach and do not have to be once inside the zone, which is not fenced in. Outside it, the municipal code requires a leash no more than six feet long.

Are dogs allowed on Venice Beach or Santa Monica beach?

No. Venice Beach is one of the beaches listed by the county Department of Beaches and Harbors, whose rules allow no animals on the sand, and the City of Santa Monica states that dogs are not allowed on Santa Monica State Beach.