Are Dogs Allowed on Huntington Beach? 2026 Guide & Tips
As one of the best surf spots in Southern California, Huntington Beach is a beach city in Orange County, between Los Angeles and San Diego. Featuring miles of beautiful coastline, it's the perfect place to enjoy a day filled with surf and sand. If you’re curious whether dogs are allowed on Huntington Beach, the answer is yes, but only at one specific location: Dog Beach.
In this article, we go over the rules regarding dogs at Huntington Beach and let you know where to find the designated canine play area. We also inform you about other options close by, where your dog can enjoy both leashed and off-leash beach time.
Dogs at Huntington Beach
The city of Huntington Beach is responsible for a 3.5-mile stretch of city beach, including the famous Huntington Pier area. Under its jurisdiction, leashed dogs are allowed on the service road near the beach and at Dog Beach.
The southern part of the Huntington coastline, near the border with neighboring Newport Beach, is made up of Huntington State Beach, regulated by the state of California. Here, dogs can accompany their owners on the scenic multi-use train as long as they’re on a leash no longer than 6 feet. However, they are not allowed on the sand at all.
Huntington Dog Beach
Located north of Huntington Pier, the 1.5-mile stretch of coast between Goldenwest St. and Seapoint St. is the city’s designated off-leash dog beach. Maintained by a non-profit, Huntington Dog Beach has a paid parking lot, restrooms, picnic tables, and multiple dog waste bag dispensers.
Dogs must stay on a leash while walking from the parking lot, which is a safer choice, anyway, since Dog Beach is located right next to the busy Pacific Coast Highway. The city recommends that all dogs wear a visible license tag. Owners must maintain control over their dogs at all times.
Dog Beach often hosts special events throughout the year. The non-profit relies on donations and volunteers to help keep the beach clean and supplied with waste bags.
Other Dog-Friendly Beach Options Near Huntington Beach
North of Huntington Beach, the city of Long Beach also offers a leash-free dog beach. Rosie’s Dog Beach is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bring your waste bags if you’re headed there, as available supplies are limited.
Newport Beach, the city just south of Huntington, allows leashed dogs on all beaches before 10 a.m. and after 4:30 p.m. every day. Laguna Beach and Corona Del Mar, other nearby Orange County cities, also allow leashed dogs on many city beaches during morning and evening hours.
If you’re in the mood for a day trip, pack up your pup, and head south to San Diego, where you’ll find several dog-friendly beaches, including the oldest off-leash dog beach in the country.
Conclusion
Huntington Beach offers an amazing, laidback beach lifestyle for humans. With a large, dedicated dog beach, your pup can take advantage of the sun and surf right along with you. Remember to always pick up after your dog and remove the full waste bags from Dog Beach when you leave. Otherwise, you could be looking at a steep fine. Pack water and shade for your pup, and don’t forget to rinse off the salt and sand once your day at the shore is complete!
See Also:
Featured Image Credit: everydoghasastory, Shutterstock
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Elizabeth Gray is a lifelong lover of all animals great and small. She got her first cat at 5 years old and at 14, she started working for her local veterinarian. Elizabeth spent more than 20 years working as a veterinary nurse before stepping away to become a stay-at-home parent to her daughter. Now, she is excited to share her hard-earned knowledge (literally--she has scars) with the readers. Elizabeth lives in Iowa with her family, including her two furry kids, Linnard, a husky mix and Algernon, the worldʻs most patient cat. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching all sports but especially soccer, and spending time outdoors with her family.
