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Pet Friendly Florida
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Fort Lauderdale

Pet-Friendly Beaches & Parks: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Canine Beach hours and limits, the A1A alternative, Snyder Park while Holiday Park is torn up, and Hollywood as the south-Broward option.

Updated October 24, 2026 4 min read By

Fort Lauderdale has one designated city dog beach plus a broader network of dog parks and regional pet-friendly recreation areas.

The most important rule is:

Ordinary dogs are prohibited on the sandy portion of Fort Lauderdale Beach except in the designated Canine Beach area.

Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach

Canine Beach is located near:

1269 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard

Current city rules place the dog-beach section from:

Lifeguard tower 16 to a point 100 yards north of Sunrise Boulevard

Current hours:

6:00–9:00 a.m. 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Current rules include:

  • Maximum three dogs per owner or handler
  • Current vaccinations
  • Current license
  • Cleanup required
  • Dogs under control

Official guide: parks.fortlauderdale.gov

The Rest of Fort Lauderdale Beach

The city’s current beach rules state:

Dogs and pets are prohibited on the sandy portion of the public beach except for:

  • Service animals
  • The designated Canine Beach area

Do not assume an oceanfront hotel or park gives ordinary dogs legal access to the adjacent sand.

A1A Dog Walking

Current city guidance allows dog walking on the west side of A1A:

  • From Sunrise Boulevard south to the Fort Lauderdale Beach / Seabreeze Boulevard intersection during designated hours
  • North of Sunrise Boulevard 24 hours a day

This is not the same as dog access to the sandy beach.

Holiday Park Dog Park

Holiday Park has a designated dog park.

Current published hours are:

7:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

The park is normally closed Monday and Wednesday from 8:00–11:00 a.m. for maintenance.

However, current 2026 construction is affecting the facility.

The western portion of the existing dog park is closed during construction, and walking paths are impacted.

Full improvements are expected by summer 2027.

Snyder Park Bark Park

A fenced, unstaffed dog park, and the most useful alternative while Holiday Park is under construction.

Hours: 7 AM – 7 PM. Closed Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 11 AM for maintenance, and closed entirely on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Parking is free, except during special events.

Snyder Park Dog Swim

This is the one city facility where a dog can actually get in the water, which matters here more than it would elsewhere: dogs are barred from the ocean sand outside Canine Beach’s two short windows, so a dog who wants to swim has nowhere else in Fort Lauderdale to do it legally.

Hours: 7 AM – 7 PM. Closed the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month from 8 to 11 AM for water treatment, and closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Parking is free, except during special events.

Riverside Neighborhood Dog Park

Inland and away from the beach traffic, which is the point of it. Hours: 6 AM – 9 PM. Address: 1320 SW 20th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.

Riverwalk Linear Park

Open all day, and a leashed walk rather than a dog park – no fence and nowhere to let a dog off. Useful in the middle of the day when the beach is closed to dogs and the sand is too hot anyway.

Rules that apply at all of the city dog parks

  • Puppies under four months old are not permitted. This one catches people out – if you are traveling with a young pup, the dog parks are closed to you.
  • Current vaccinations and a current license are required.
  • Maximum three dogs per person.
  • No food inside the parks; treats for training only.
  • Children under 13 must be with an adult.
  • Dogs in heat, unwell, or with parasites are not allowed.
  • None of these parks are staffed – you use them at your own risk, and the city can refuse entry.

About the permit you may have read about

The city publishes no dog-beach permit for Canine Beach. Older write-ups still circulating describe a Friday-to-Sunday afternoon schedule and an annual permit that had to be bought in person, with proof of Fort Lauderdale residency. That does not match the rules the city publishes today, and if it did, no visitor could legally use the beach at all. Go by the hours above, and if in doubt check the city’s own page before you drive over.

Hollywood Dog Beach

Hollywood Beach has another designated dog-beach option in Broward County.

Current Visit Lauderdale guidance identifies a dog beach between Pershing and Custer Streets during designated times.

Because hours and permits can change, verify Hollywood’s current rules before going.

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Beach

Current Visit Lauderdale guidance is explicit:

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is dog-friendly around town, but the beach is restricted to humans only.

Dogs may be seen:

  • On outdoor patios
  • Walking around town

but not on the beach.

General Fort Lauderdale Park Rules

Current city rules say domestic pets are generally allowed in parks on a leash or tether no longer than six feet.

Pets are not allowed in:

  • Athletic fields
  • Courts
  • Playgrounds
  • Splash pads
  • Swimming areas
  • Beaches
  • Bodies of water

unless specifically authorized.

Heat

South Florida heat is serious.

Best outdoor times:

  • Early morning
  • Evening

Wildlife

Keep dogs controlled around:

  • Shorebirds
  • Sea turtles
  • Iguanas
  • Freshwater wildlife
  • Dunes

Best Fort Lauderdale Outdoor Spot by Need

Best city dog beach: Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach Best beachfront walk outside dog-beach hours: A1A north of Sunrise Best off-leash alternative during Holiday Park construction: Snyder Park Best south Broward dog beach: Hollywood Dog Beach Best walkable beach-town outing without sand access: Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

The Broward County section of our Florida dog beach directory lists Canine Beach and the Hollywood dog beach with their hours, permit status and sources.

More Fort Lauderdale Guides

Continue with:

Fort Lauderdale’s beach rule is very specific:

Canine Beach: yes, during designated hours.

The rest of the sandy city beach: no ordinary pets.

Sources