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Dog Friendly Beaches on Cape Cod
(The MUST-Know Rules!)

Updated: May 1, 2024

Are Cape Cod beaches dog friendly? Some are, sometimes. Others are, all the time. And a few aren't, ever.

Let's delve into the must-know rules so you don't unwittingly find yourself in deep (ummm) doo-doo with the law! ;-)

Puppy Play Time at the Beach

During the summer months, the general rule is "No Dogs on the Beach" in most (but not all) Cape Cod towns. 

In the off season, the rules are relaxed.

To leash or not to leash?  Unless noted otherwise below, assume that leashing is required at all times.

Dogs on the Beach: Town-by-Town Rules

Barnstable/Hyannis

Dogs are not allowed at any time, in any town-owned beach/recreation area, from May 15 to September 15.

Barnstable MA Beach Regulations

*Note: Sandy Neck Beach Park's rules are a bit different. See them, here (PDF).

Bourne

It is unlawful for any person to allow their dog(s) on any public beach. A public bathing beach is defined as a Town-owned beach.

This regulation is enforced from May 1 until October 15.

Town of Bourne MA Beach Regulations (PDF) [see Section 3.1.29(d)]

Brewster

Dogs and other pets are not allowed on Brewster's public beaches, tidal flats, landings, and public ponds between the dates of May 15th and September 15th.

Town of Brewster MA Beach & Landing Policies

Chatham

Dogs are banned from May 1st to September 15th of each year in the town's beach areas, with the exception of service animals and police K-9 animals.

Dogs are allowed at Jackknife Harbor Beach before 9:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. from May 1st to September 15th.

Chatham MA Beach Regulation (PDF) [See Section 1.6]

Dennis

No animals or pets are permitted on Dennis beaches, in the parking areas, or in unattended vehicles in the parking areas at any time from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Dennis MA Beach Regulations

Eastham

No animals or pets are permitted on town-owned beaches in Eastham, in the parking areas, or in vehicles in the parking areas at any time during the period of June 15th through Labor Day.

Eastham MA Dog Rules

Falmouth

Animals are not permitted on Falmouth beaches or in beach parking lots from May 1 to October 1. This includes leaving pets in parked vehicles.

Falmouth MA Beach Regulation

Harwich

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, no dogs are allowed on any of the town's beaches. The term "beaches" includes sand, dune, water and parking lots.

Red River Beach Only - Dog walking is allowed in the parking lot area only from Dawn - 9 am and from 4:30 pm to Dusk, Memorial weekend through Labor Day.

Harwich MA Beach Rules

Mashpee

Per Mashpee Town Code:

"No dogs shall be brought upon any [Town-owned] beaches, nor permitted thereon."

Mashpee MA Beach Regulations (PDF) [See Chapter 54, Section 54-7]

Orleans

Dogs are prohibited from April 1st through Labor Day on:

• Nauset Public Beach;
• North of Nauset Public Beach parking lot; and
  
• South of Nauset Public Beach Parking Lot to Trail #1. :
  

South of Trail #1 to Chatham Inlet, dogs are required to be on leash (not greater than 30 feet) at all times from April 1st through Labor Day.

Dogs are prohibited from Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day at:

• Skaket Beach; and
• Rock Harbor.
  

Also, no dogs are allowed at Crystal Lake or Pilgrim Lake from June 15 through Labor Day.

Town of Orleans MA Beach Regulations

Provincetown

From Memorial Day through November 1 dogs may be off-leash - if they're under voice and sight control - on Town-owned beaches between the hours of 6 am and 9 am and the hours of 6 pm and 9 pm.

From November 2 through the day before Memorial Day dogs may be off-leash - if they're under voice and sight control - on Town-owned beaches between the hours of 6 am and 9pm.

All dogs must be restrained on Town-owned beaches at all other times.

Provincetown MA Beach Regulations (PDF)

Sandwich

Dogs may not be on any public beach, including fresh water beaches, and the Sandwich Boardwalk, between May 15 and September 15.

Dogs are not allowed on the town's salt water beaches between April 1 and September 15.

Sandwich MA Beach Regulations (PDF)

Truro

Dogs are prohibited on town-owned beaches in Truro between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm from the third Saturday in June through Labor Day.

Truro MA Beach Regulations

Wellfleet

Dogs are not allowed on the lifeguarded portions of: Newcomb Hollow, Cahoon Hollow, White Crest and Maguire Landing at LeCount Hollow between the hours of 9am and 5pm during the summer season, except to walk from the parking lot to a point beyond the end of the guarded beach.

(*Note: The "summer season" is the third Saturday in June through Labor Day.)

Dogs are never allowed on these salt water beaches and landings: Burton Baker, Indian Neck and Nauset Road, Mayo Beach and Powers Landing.

Wellfleet MA Beach Regulations (PDF)

Yarmouth

Dogs are not permitted on Seagull Beach and Grey’s Beach (a/k/a Bass Hole Beach) from April 1 through Labor Day.

On all other beaches and ways to water in Yarmouth, dogs are not allowed from May 15 through Labor Day.

Yarmouth MA Beach Regulations

Dogs on the Beach: Cape Cod National Seashore Rules

Generally speaking, leashed dogs are allowed on Cape Cod National Seashore beaches year round.

Dogs Love Cape Cod National Seashore, Too!

However, during the summer months, dogs may not be on the lifeguard-protected parts of the beach.

It's okay to walk a leashed dog through the lifeguard-protected areas to get to the “non-protected” stretches of beach ... except when there are shorebird closures on or beyond lifeguard-protected beaches.

During shorebird nesting periods, pets are prohibited from posted areas. Passing through the posted areas is also prohibited.

National Seashore beaches are:

• Coast Guard Beach in Eastham
  
  
• Nauset Light and Marconi in Wellfleet
  
  
• Head of the Meadow in Truro
  
  
• Herring Cove and Race Point in Provincetown
  

Cape Cod National Seashore dog rules

Dogs on the Beach: MA State Park Rules

Scusset Beach State Reservation

At Scusset Beach State Reservation, no dogs are allowed on the beach. Although, it's not unusual to see folks walking their dogs at Scusset in the off season. ;-)

Scusset Beach Regulations [See the "Restrictions" section]

November at Scusset Beach

South Cape Beach State Park

Dogs are allowed on the the state-owned area of South Cape Beach in Mashpee from mid-September through April only. 

South Cape Beach State Park Regulations [See "Restrictions" section]

Off-Season Doggy Swim at South Cape Beach

Are Dogs Allowed on Private Beaches?

On privately owned beaches, it's up to the property owner to decide if pets are allowed on their beach.

Related Pages:

Pet Friendly Cape Cod Hotels, Motels & Inns

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