Dog owners in Long Beach can now take their dogs onto the ocean beach. The City of Long Beach has launched a pilot program that allows dogs on the sand, effective now and running through April 15, 2027, which covers the full off season from late fall through early spring.

The pilot opens the beach to dogs during the months when the sand is mostly used by walkers, runners and surfcasters rather than swimmers, and the city has set a short list of conditions that owners have to meet for the program to continue.

What a dog needs to go on the beach

Every dog on the sand has to wear two tags. The first is a Long Beach beach tag, which is specific to this program. The second is a current New York State dog tag. The city issues both at the City Clerk's office at City Hall, 1 West Chester Street, so an owner whose dog does not yet have its state tag can take care of both in the same visit.

City Hall can be reached at (516) 431-1000, and the city recommends making an appointment before going in.

The rules on the sand

The city has set four conditions for owners using the beach:

  • Leashes at all times. Dogs must be leashed for the entire time they are on the beach. There is no off-leash area in the program.
  • Owners clean up. Each owner is responsible for picking up after their dog and disposing of the waste properly.
  • Ramp to ramp only. Dogs may only get onto the beach and off it by the ramps, going directly from the ramp to the sand and back.
  • No dogs on the boardwalk. Walking a dog along the boardwalk remains prohibited. The beach is open to dogs; the boardwalk above it is not.

Breaking any of these rules can bring a fine of up to $1,000, according to the city.

Why it is called a pilot

The program is a trial run with an end date. The city has said it wants dog owners to use the beach responsibly so that the program can succeed, which makes the next five months the test of whether dogs on the sand become a regular part of the Long Beach off season. The current window closes April 15, 2027, ahead of the spring and summer beach season at Ocean Beach Park.

What it means for a walk this weekend

For an owner whose dog already has its state tag, the practical steps are short: pick up a beach tag at City Hall, clip both tags to the collar, bring a leash and bags, and use a ramp to get down to the sand. The walk itself runs along the ocean beach, with the boardwalk off limits to the dog.

For anyone who lives in Long Beach without a dog, the change will be visible on any walk by the water this winter, with leashed dogs on the sand for the first time under city rules.

How to take part

Get both tags at the City Clerk's office, Long Beach City Hall, 1 West Chester Street, Long Beach. Call (516) 431-1000 or email [email protected] with questions, and check the city's news page for any update to the program before April 15, 2027.

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