Long Beach Approves Leashed Dogs on Ocean Beach Sand
A unanimous City Council vote creates a pilot program allowing leashed dogs on sand at Ocean Beach Park through April 15.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Dogs
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The Long Beach City Council unanimously approved a pilot program on Wednesday night allowing leashed dogs on the sand at Ocean Beach Park. Dog owners must obtain a permit, costing $25 for residents and $50 for nonresidents.
Why it matters
The temporary trial lets city officials evaluate the program's impact before any permanent decision is made. The approval follows weeks of community debate, with opponents raising concerns about beach cleanliness and uncollected dog waste.
Residents pay $25 for a permit and nonresidents pay $50, with fines of up to $1,000 for failing to follow the rules. Dogs must stay leashed at all times and be current on rabies vaccinations.
The players
Long Beach City Council
The elected legislative body of the city of Long Beach, which approved the pilot program by unanimous vote.
Ocean Beach Park
The city park in Long Beach where the pilot program permits leashed dogs on the sand.
The details
Pets must remain leashed on the sand and be up to date on rabies vaccinations. Council members have indicated they will readjust the program if it does not work as intended.
Timeline
Wednesday night: City Council unanimously approves the pilot program.
April 15, 2027: The pilot program permitting leashed dogs on the sand ends.
Lifestyle Context
Temporary pilot programs let Long Beach test leashed dog access on Ocean Beach Park sand before committing to permanent rules. The trial's permit fees and fine structure set the framework city officials will evaluate through April 15, 2027.
Dog owners who want to bring pets onto the Ocean Beach Park sand must secure a permit at $25 for residents or $50 for nonresidents. Owners should keep pets leashed and confirm rabies vaccinations are current to avoid fines of up to $1,000.
The takeaway
Dog owners planning to use the sand at Ocean Beach Park should budget for the permit fee and confirm their dog's rabies vaccination before the pilot program ends in April 2027.
What happens next
The pilot program permitting leashed dogs on the sand ends on April 15, 2027, at which point city officials will assess its results.
Further reading
For more on local pet rules, see Dogs coverage across Long Beach.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News 12 - Long Island.
Live Poll
Should your town allow leashed dogs on public beaches despite cleanliness concerns?
