Canine Beach

Canine Beach is the City of Fort Lauderdale's official dog-friendly Atlantic Ocean shoreline, spanning a designated 100-yard sandy stretch north of Sunrise Boulevard starting at Lifeguard Tower 16. Unlike enclosed turf parks, this coastal beach zone offers open oceanfront sand and shallow Atlantic surf where dogs on a six-foot non-retractable leash can walk along the water's edge, splash in the waves, and socialize with fellow beach-loving pups during cooler morning and late-afternoon hours.

Located directly across the coastal highway from metered beachfront parking lots, the beach entry features pet-waste bag stations, trash receptacles, and freshwater rinse showers along the beachfront promenade to wash off ocean salt and sand after a visit. Shaded pedestrian sidewalks and oceanfront benches line the adjacent seawall, giving handlers a breezy spot to relax and hydrate their dogs while watching boats pass offshore.

Canine Beach operates during designated daily windows from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, giving dogs cool sand temperatures before and after peak midday sun. Each adult handler may bring up to three dogs, and every dog must wear a collar with a valid rabies vaccination tag and municipal license. Dogs must remain within the posted 100-yard Canine Beach boundary markers and are not permitted on other sections of the public beach, so visitors should verify any seasonal permit updates with Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation and pay metered parking upon arrival.