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A visitor recently asked me about dog friendly beaches on Cape Cod. She wondered:
Great questions, Audrey. Thanks for asking!
I'm sure lots of vacation-loving dogs and "their people" are curious about Cape Cod's pet friendly beach rules, too.
During the summer months, the rule is "No Dogs on the Beach" in most Cape Cod towns. In the off season, the rules are relaxed.
To leash or not to leash? Unless I've noted otherwise below, assume that leashing is required at all times.
Before you take your dog to the beach, make sure you know whether the beach is managed by the town, by the National Seashore, or by the Massachusetts State Parks system. The rules are different, depending on which entity is in charge. (See below)
Barnstable/Hyannis
Dogs are not allowed at any time, in any beach/recreation area, from May 15 to September 15.
All about Barnstable/Hyannis beaches
Bourne
Dogs are not allowed on the beach from May 1 to October 15.
All about Bourne MA beaches
Brewster
Dogs are not allowed on town beaches between May 1 and October 1.
All about Brewster MA beaches
Chatham
Dogs are not allowed in beach areas from May 1 to September 15.
All about Chatham MA beaches
Dennis
No pets are permitted on the beaches, in the parking areas, or in unattended vehicles in the parking areas at any time from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
All about Dennis MA beaches
Eastham
No pets are allowed on the beaches, in the parking areas, or in vehicles in the parking areas at any time from June 15th through Labor Day.
All about Eastham MA beaches
Falmouth
Dogs are not allowed on public beaches between May 1st and October 1st.
All about Falmouth MA beaches
Harwich
No pets are permitted on any beaches (including sand, dune, water and parking lots) from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
All about Harwich MA beaches
Mashpee
No dogs allowed on town-owned public beaches at any time.
All about Mashpee MA beaches
Orleans
No pets may be on the beaches, in the parking areas, or in vehicles in the parking areas at any time from the Friday before Memorial Day through Columbus Day.
All about Orleans MA beaches
Provincetown
From Memorial Day through November 1, dogs may be off-leash on town beaches, if under voice and sight control, between the hours of 6 am and 9 am and the hours of 6 pm and 9 pm.
From November 2 through the day before Memorial Day, dogs may be off-leash on town beaches, if under voice and sight control, between the hours of 6 am and 9pm.
All dogs must be restrained on town beaches at all other times.
All about Provincetown MA beaches
Sandwich
From May 15 to September 15, dogs are prohibited on any public beach or dune.
All about Sandwich MA beaches
Truro
All animals are prohibited between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from the third Saturday in June through Labor Day.
All about Truro MA beaches
Wellfleet
Salt Water Beaches and Landings:
Dogs must be leashed at all times on town beaches and landings between May 15th and October 15th.
Dogs are not allowed on the lifeguarded portions of Newcomb Hollow, Cahoon Hollow, White Crest and Maguire Landing at LeCount Hollow between the hours of 9am and 5pm during the summer season, except to walk from the parking lot to a point beyond the end of the guarded beach.
Dogs are never allowed on Burton Baker Beach, Indian Neck and Nauset Road Beach, Mayo Beach and Powers Landing.
Freshwater Ponds:
Dogs are not allowed in the following freshwater ponds or on the beaches of these ponds: Gull Pond, Long Pond, Great Pond, Duck Pond, Higgins Pond, the Sluiceway, Spectacle Pond, or Dyer Pond from May 15th through October 15th.
All about Wellfleet MA beaches
Yarmouth
Dogs are not allowed on public beaches at any time.
All about Yarmouth MA beaches
Generally speaking, leashed dogs are allowed on Cape Cod National Seashore beaches year round.
However, during the summer months, dogs may not be on the lifeguard-protected parts of the beach. (It's okay to walk a leashed dog through the lifeguarded areas to get to the “non-protected” stretches of beach.)
Also, during shorebird nesting periods, pets are prohibited from posted areas. Passing through the posted areas is also prohibited.
National Seashore beaches are:
At Scusset Beach State Reservation, no dogs are allowed on the beach. Although, it's not unusual to see folks walking their dogs at Scusset in the off season. ;-)
At South Cape Beach State Park in Mashpee, dogs are allowed at the beach from mid-September through April.
On private beaches, it's up to the property owner to decide if pets are allowed on the beach.
Please, do yourself a huge favor. Check with the property owner or rental agent before you sign a vacation rental agreement to be sure your furry friend can enjoy the beach with you!
Related Pages:
Ask Me a Question About Dogs at the Beach
Pet Friendly Cape Cod Hotels, Motels & Inns
This Month's Most Popular Pages
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