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Del Norte County | Humboldt County | Mendocino County | Sonoma County | Marin County | San Francisco County | Contra Costa County | Lake Tahoe | San Mateo County | Santa Cruz County | Monterey County | San Luis Obispo County | Santa Barbara County | Ventura County | Los Angeles County | Orange County | San Diego County

Del Norte County

Crescent City: Crescent Beach
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Undeveloped beach 3-4 miles south of Crescent City on Hwy I. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach

Crescent City area: Gold Bluffs Beach, Prairie Creek State Park
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50 miles north of Eureka and 25 miles south of Crescent City on Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway off of Highway 101. Dogs on a leash are allowed on designated areas of Gold Bluffs Beach.

Humboldt County

Humboldt County Parks Guidelines to Activities
Where permitted, dogs must be on a leash no greater than 10 feet in the parking and camping areas and within 100' of these areas. Permitted to be unleashed, if under complete control by owner, on the waveslope only at Clam Beach, Table Bluff, and Centerville all year and on the entire beach from October 1 through February 28. Permitted to be unleashed if under complete control by owner, on the beach at Big Lagoon, Moonstone, Luffenholtz and Mad River County Parks. Permitted only in vehicle in Freshwater County Park. Not permitted in Tooby Park.

Dogs must be on leash March 1 to September 30 at Clam Beach, Table Bluff, and Centerville County Parks, except on the waveslope, where they can be unleashed if kept under complete control of the owner. Dogs are not allowed to chase or harass plovers.

Samoa: Samoa Dunes Recreation Area
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300-acre sand dune park located just west of Eureka on Humboldt Bay. Dogs are allowed off-leash if they are under voice control.

Trinidad: Moonstone Beach
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Dogs are allowed off-leash if they are under voice control.

Mendocino County

Fort Bragg: MacKerricher State Park
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Located three miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1, near the town of Cleone. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach but are not permitted on park trails.

Fort Bragg: Noyo Beach Off-Leash Dog Area
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Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach year round.

Mendocino: Big River Beach
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Big River Beach is on the south side of Mendocino. It is accessible by vehicle from Highway 1, or by trails down the bluffs. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach.

Mendocino: Van Damme State Park
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Located three miles south of Mendocino on Highway 1. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowd on the beach.

Westport: Westport-Union Landing State Beach
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Located 19 miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1 and 2 miles north of Westport. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Sonoma County

Bodega Bay: Doran Regional Park
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Gualala: Gualala Point Regional Park
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6 miles north of Jenner and one mile south of Gualala on Highway 1. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Jenner area: Stillwater Cove Regional Park
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Russsian River District Dog Guidelines
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The following are designated areas where dogs are permitted on beaches adjacent to bodies of water in State Park Systems or portions of units: Marshall Gulch, Carmet Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, Portuguese Beach, Duncan's Cove, Wright's Beach, Furlong Gulch, Shell Beach, Blind Beach, Russian Gulch.

Marin County

Marin County Parks Rules & Regulations: Dogs in Parks
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Leashed dogs are permitted at all County of Marin parks except: McNear's Beach, Paradise Beach, and Stafford Lake. Dogs are permitted without leash, but under direct and immediate control at portions of McInnis Park and Upton Beach at Stinson Beach.

Bolinas: Agate Beach Park
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach.

Dillon Beach
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45 min. - 1 hr. north of San Francisco in the Bay Area. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach if they are under voice control.

Marin Headlands: Rodeo Beach, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
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Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control from the shoreline to the crest of the dunes.

Muir Beach, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
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Dogs are allowed off-leash if they are under voice control.

Point Reyes: Point Reyes National Seashore
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the following beaches: Kehoe Beach, Limantour Beach, and Point Reyes/Great Beach.

Stinson Beach: Upton Beach
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Upton Beach, owned by the County of Marin, is located north of the land administered by the National Park Service. Dogs are allowed off-leash if they are under voice control.

San Francisco County

San Francisco: Baker Beach, Golden Gate Recreation Area
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Dogs are allowed off-leash at the north end of the beach.

San Francisco: Crissy Field, Golden Gate Recreation Area
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Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach.

San Francisco: Fort Funston/Burton Beach, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
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According to the National Park Service, dogs must be on a leash. Fort Funston Dog Walkers Association

Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Recreation Area
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The beach runs parallel to the Great Highway (north of Fort Funston). There are several access points including Sloat Blvd., Fulton Street or Lincoln Way. This beach has a mix of off-leash and leash required areas. Dogs must be on leash on Ocean Beach between Sloat Blvd and Stairwell No. 21 (roughly at Fulton). North of Fulton to the Cliff House and South of Sloat for several miles are still okay for off-leash dogs, however parts of these areas may be impassible at high tide. The GGNRA stricly enforces the on-leash area between Sloat and Fulton.

Contra Costa County

Richmond: Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
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Dogs are allowed off-leash.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe
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Dogs on a leash are permitted on the following beaches: Carnelian Bay Beach (Carnelian Bay) - near Gar Woods restaurant. Coon Street Beach (King's Beach) - East of the boat ramp. Kaspian (West Shore, near Blackwood Canyon). Lake Forest (Tahoe City) - between the foot bridge and Coast Guard Station. Kiva Beach (South Shore). Tallac Picnic Area (South Shore).

San Mateo County

Half Moon Bay
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on Surfer's Beach and on Poplar Beach at the west end of Poplar St.

Half Moon Bay area: Montara State Beach
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Located 8 miles north of Half Moon Bay on Highway One. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Half Moon Bay area/Pescadero: Bean Hollow State Beach
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Located 17.5 miles south of Half Moon Bay and 3 miles south of Pescadero on Highway One. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Pacifica: Esplanade Beach
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Dogs are allowed off-leash on an area of the beach. Entrance via stairs at the end of Esplanade, north of Manor Dr.

Santa Cruz County

Aptos: Rio Del Mar State Beach
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Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach.

Capitola: New Brighton State Beach
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

La Selva Beach: Manresa State Beach
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Santa Cruz: Seabright State Beach
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East Cliff Dr. at Seabright Avenue, south of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Santa Cruz area: Seacliff State Beach
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State Park Drive exit from Highway 1 in the neighborhood of Aptos. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Santa Cruz: Lighthouse Field State Beach, Its Beach
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Dogs are allowed off-leash on Its Beach from sunrise to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to sunset, but are not permitted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Santa Cruz: Mitchell's Cove Beach
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Between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., dogs are permitted on-leash only. Dogs may be off leash from sunrise to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to sunset.

Santa Cruz: Twin Lakes State Beach
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Watsonville: Palm State Beach
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Monterey County

Big Sur: Pfeiffer Beach
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach. Day use only, no overnight camping.

Carmel: Carmel River State Beach
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Located on Highway 1 in Carmel, one mile south of Ocean Avenue. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Carmel: Garrapata State Beach
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Located on Highway 1, 6.7 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

Carmel-by-the-Sea: City Beach
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Located at the end of Ocean Avenue. Dogs allowed off-leash on Carmel City Beach.

Monterey: Monterey State Beach
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Located at the Seaside exit off Highway 218, west of Highway 1. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on Monterey State Beach from Wharf #2 to Seaside State Beach.

Pacific Grove: Asilomar State Beach
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Located on the Monterey Peninsula in the city of Pacific Grove. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach.

San Luis Obispo County

Avila Beach: Avila Beach & Old Port Beach
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach before 10 a.m and after 5 p.m.

Cayucos: Cayucos State Beach
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the state beach from the south end of Studio Drive in Cayucos to Cayucos Pier.

Pismo Beach: Pismo State Beach
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beaches of Pismo State Beach with the exception of Pismo Dunes Natural Preserve.

Oceano/Pismo Beach area: Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
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Santa Barbara County

Goleta: Goleta Beach County Park
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach.

Santa Barbara: Arroyo Burro Beach, aka Hendry's Beach
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Currently the one beach that is legal for off leash use in the City of Santa Barbara is the beach that runs below the Douglas Family Preserve--it begins east of the slough at Arroyo Burro (Hendry's) Beach, and stretches almost to the steps at Mesa Lane. From the parking lot at Arroyo Burro, walk to the beach, turn left, and cross the slough to the off-leash legal area.

Santa Barbara: Rincon Park and Beach
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach.

Ventura County

Oxnard City Beaches
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the city beaches all day.

Oxnard: Hollywood Beach
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on Hollywood Beach before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

Ventura: Seaside Wilderness Park, Harbor Cove, Marina Park Beach, Promenade Park
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beaches.

Los Angeles County

Long Beach: The Dog Zone
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Los Angeles County's only off-leash dog beach, the Dog Zone is located in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. Only 1 dog per human is permitted.

Malibu: Leo Carillo State Park & Beach
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Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed in one marked area north of lifeguard tower 3.

Malibu: Thornhill Broome Beach, Point Mugu State Park
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Dogs are permitted at Thornhill Broome Beach which is 15 miles south of Oxnard on Pacific Coast Highway.

Orange County

Huntington Beach: Huntington Dog Beach
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37 miles south of Los Angeles and 89 miles north of San Diego. Dogs allowed off-leash.

Laguna Beach City Beach
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From June 1 to Sept. 15, leashed dogs are allowed on the beach only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. From Sept. 16 to May 31, leashed dogs are allowed on the beach at all times.

San Diego County

Del Mar
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North of 29th Street: From June 16th through Sept. 14th, dogs on a leash are allowed. From Sept. 15th through June 15th, dogs are allowed off-leash and under voice control. South of 29th Street and North of Powerhouse Park: From Oct. 1st through May 31st, dogs on a leash are allowed. From June 1st through Sept. 30th, dogs are not permitted. South of Powerhouse Park: Dogs on a leash are allowed year round.

Imperial Beach City Beach
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Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach.

San Diego: Ocean Beach Dog Beach
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Located in the community of Ocean Beach, just south of the Mission Bay channel entrance. Dog Beach is a sandy area at the north end where dogs are allowed off-leash.

San Diego: Fiesta Island, Mission Bay
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This island in Mission Bay Park allows dogs off-leash anywhere outside the fenced areas.

San Diego/Coronado: Coronado Dog Beach
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Located in Coronado at 100 Ocean Blvd. (North Beach) at the most northern end of the beach next to the Naval Air Station. Dogs allowed off-leash year round.