In recent years many towns have changed their ordinances because of dogs not following the beach rules. Please keep the beaches of New Hampshire and Maine dog friendly by following the rules! Here is a list of dog friendly beaches, with the dates and times dogs are allowed on beaches in New Hampshire and Maine during the 2024 Summer Season. For more information, please click on the highlighted name.
Also please remember your Dog Etiquette when enjoying these beaches so that dogs will continued to be welcomed:
- Obey the leash rules
- Clear up after your pet and dispose of waste properly
- Obey the piping plover / restricted area rules
- Respect your fellow beach visitors
Please note that beach dog rules are subject to change. Contact the town the beach is located for the most up-to-date information and to answer any additional questions. Links are provided for each beach / town.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NH State Beaches: NO Dogs allowed on New Hampshire State Beaches at any time.
Seabrook, NH
Seabrook Beach: Dogs permitted Memorial Day through Labor Day before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs must be leashed. Please note: parking is for residents only from Memorial Day to September 15. For complete rules SeabrookNH.Info.
Hampton, NH: No Dogs on state owned beach. Dogs are permitted on Hampton town owned beaches, which are Plaice Cove and Sun Valley, from Memorial Day through Labor Day before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs must be leashed. Please note that parking is for resident only at town owned beaches.
Rye, NH
Foss Beach: Dogs permitted on the Saturday before Memorial Day through the Saturday after Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 7:00 PM. Except on Saturdays when dogs are prohibited all day until AFTER 9:00 PM. Dogs allowed off-leash under voice control. Please note: there are steep fines for not picking up after your dog in Rye. See Town.Rye.NH.US for updates.
Jenness Beach: Dogs are NOT allowed on Jenness State Beach. There are town owned sections where dogs are allowed. Dogs permitted the Saturday before Memorial Day through the Saturday after Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 7:00 PM. Except on Saturdays when dogs are prohibited all day until AFTER 9:00 PM. Dogs allowed off-leash under voice control. Please note: there are steep fines for not picking up after your dog in Rye. See Town.Rye.NH.US for updates.
Wallis Sands: Dogs are NOT allowed at this state beach.
North Hampton, NH: NO Dogs allowed on North Hampton State Beach. NO Dogs allowed on town owned beaches May 30 through October 1.
New Castle, NH: NO Dogs allowed on New Castle Beach or Great Island Common May 15 through September 15. For off-season rules visit NewCastleNH.org.
MAINE
ME State Beaches: NO Dogs allowed on Maine State Beaches April 1 through September 30.
Kittery, ME
Fort Foster: Dogs are allowed at Fort Foster year round dawn to dusk. Memorial Day to Labor Day, dogs must be leashed when the park is open between 10:00 AM and sunset. Also weekends in May and September dogs must be on-leash between those times. Visitors must maintain possession of pet’s waste, and NOT leave it on property / paths for future retrieval before exiting the park. There are no receptacles for pet waste in this carry out park. Please note dogs are NOT allowed on the children’s beach to the left of the pier. For more information on visiting Fort Foster including parking fees visit, KitteryMe.gov.
Seapoint Beach: Only dogs licensed to Kittery residents permitted on Seapoint and Crescent Beaches from May 15 though September 30. From June 15 through September 10 residents’ dogs are restricted to before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. Dogs must be leashed. Permit parking for residents only during the summer season. Visit municipal codes regarding dogs on Kittery Beaches.
York, ME
Long Sands Beach: Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM. Dogs must be leashed after 6:00 PM. YorkParksAndRecs.org has additional information.
Short Sands Beach: Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM. Dogs must be leashed after 6:00 PM. Please note: dogs must be leashed in the park and are not allowed in playground area. YorkParksAndRecs.org has additional information.
York Harbor Beach: Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM. Dogs must be leashed after 6:00 PM. Please note: dogs must be leashed in Hartley Mason Park, and the cliff walk is NOT dog friendly. Parking is limited to resident only permit in lot. YorkParksAndRecs.org has additional information.
Cape Neddick Beach: Dogs permitted May 20 through September 20 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control between Sunrise and 8:00 AM. Dogs must be leashed after 6:00 PM. From May 15 through October 15, it is resident only permit parking. YorkParksAndRecs.org has additional information.
Ogunquit, ME
Ogunquit Beach: NO Dogs allowed on Ogunquit Beach or Marginal Way April 1 through September 30. Go to Ogunquit.org for off-season dog rules.
Wells, ME
Wells Beach: Dogs permitted June 16 through September 15 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs must be leashed. Dogs must stay away from posted Piping Plover nesting areas. For complete rules visit Wells Dog Codes.
Drakes Island Beach: Dogs permitted June 16 through September 15 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs must be leashed. Dogs must stay away from posted Piping Plover nesting areas. For complete rules visit Wells Dog Codes.
Crescent Beach: Dogs permitted June 16 through September 15 before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Dogs must be leashed. Please note: this is a low tide only beach, that disappears during high tide. For complete rules visit Wells Dog Codes.
Kennebunk, ME
Gooch’s Beach: Dogs permitted June 15 through Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. Dogs must be under voice control or on leashes. Visit KennebunkMaine.US for all dog beach information.
Mother’s Beach: Dogs permitted June 15 through Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. Dogs must be under voice control or on leashes. Visit KennebunkMaine.US for all dog beach information.
Kennebunkport, ME
Goose Rocks Beach: From April 1 to June 14, dogs are allowed on-leash. From June 15 through Labor Day dogs are allowed before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM, on-leash. Dogs must be leashed and kept at least 200 feet away from marked Plover nesting areas. From Labor Day through September 15, Dogs are allowed on-leash any time. Please visit KennebunkportME.gov for more information on their complicated beach rules.
Arundel Beach: Also known as Colony Beach, from April 1 to June 14, dogs are allowed on-leash any time. From June 15 through Labor Day dogs are allowed before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM, on-leash. Dogs must be leashed and kept at least 200 feet away from marked Plover nesting areas. From Labor Day through September 15, Dogs are allowed on-leash any time. Please visit KennebunkportME.gov for more information on their complicated beach rules.
Biddeford, ME
Fortunes Rocks: Dogs permitted May 25 through September 15 before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. Dogs must be leashed. For parking permit and dog information, go to BiddefordMaine.org.
South Portland, ME
Willard Beach: Dogs permitted May 1 through September 30 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Dogs must be on-leash 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. No “long” leashes allowed. When off leash Dogs must be within 50 feet of owner. Dogs are prohibited from dunes area. If a dog jumps on, barks at, or acts aggressively toward people and/or other dogs, or does not consistently come immediately upon command, or chases wildlife, the dog shall be leashed. Also please note: No Dog Toys Allowed! “The use of Chuckit and other dog toys is prohibited at Willard Beach from May 1 through September 30.” Please visit SouthPortland.org for complete dog rules and restrictions.
Portland, ME
East End Beach: Dogs allowed Memorial Day through Labor Day before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control. Please note on there are areas on the Eastern Promenade where dogs are also allowed off-leash under voice control from Memorial Day to Labor Day, before 9:00 AM and after 5:00 PM. These areas are the grassy hill between Cutter Street down to the lower sidewalk and over to the exit side of the Fort Allen roadway, and the mid-slope nature path, accessible from the northwest corner of the parking lot on the north side of Cutter Street. Owner must be within 50 feet and have leash in hand. See the EasternPromenade.org for more details.
Saco, ME
Bay View: Dogs allowed all day. April 1st through September 30th, dogs must be leashed at all times. No dogs within 100 feet of protected Plover areas. No leashes longer than 12 feet. For additional information, visit SacoMaine.org.
Kinney Shores: Dogs allowed all day. April 1st through September 30, dogs must be leashed at all times. No dogs within 100 feet of protected Plover areas. No leashes longer than 12 feet. For additional information, visit SacoMaine.org.
Ferry State Beach: No Dogs allowed on Maine State Beaches April 1 through September 30. Please note on similarly named Ferry Beach in Scarborough, dogs are allowed at certain times and in specific areas.
Scarborough, ME
Pine Point Beach: Scarborough has very specific rules as to where dogs are allowed during the spring and summer in order to protect the endangered Pipping Plover Shorebirds. From April 1 through Labor Day there are restricted areas. May 15 – Labor Day, no dogs allowed on entire beach between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From sunrise to 9:00 AM Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control, with leash in hand in the nonrestricted area. In the evening from 5:00 PM to dusk Dogs must be on-leash in the nonrestricted area. Please click highlighted name for specific details on dog restricted areas at for Pine Point Beach. To learn more about their complicated dog rules, visit ScarboroughMaine.org.
Higgins Beach: Scarborough has very specific rules as to where dogs are allowed during the spring and summer in order to protect the endangered Pipping Plover Shorebirds. From April 1 through Labor Day there are restricted areas. May 15 – Labor Day, no dogs allowed on entire beach between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From sunrise to 9:00 AM Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control, with leash in hand in the nonrestricted area. In the evening from 5:00 PM to sunset Dogs must be on-leash in the nonrestricted area. Please click highlighted name for specific details on dog restricted areas at Higgins Beach. To learn more about their complicated dog rules, visit ScarboroughMaine.org.
Ferry Beach: Scarborough has very specific rules as to where dogs are allowed during the spring and summer in order to protect the endangered Pipping Plover Shorebirds. From April 1 through Labor Day there are restricted areas. May 15 – Labor Day, no dogs allowed on entire beach between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. From sunrise to 9:00 AM Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control, with leash in hand in the nonrestricted area. In the evening from 5:00 PM to sunset Dogs must be on-leash in the nonrestricted area. Please click highlighted name for specific details on dog restricted areas at Ferry Beach. Of the three dog beaches in Scarborough, Ferry Beach offers dogs a very limited nonrestricted area to play, especially during high tide and due to the extremely fragile dunes. Please note: similarly named Ferry State Beach in nearby Saco does NOT allow dogs. To learn more about their complicated dog rules, visit ScarboroughMaine.org.
Old Orchard Beach, ME
Old Orchard Beach: Has very restrictive rules for dogs. Please visit their municipal codes for the most current information on their dog beach ordinance. There is conflicting information on OOBMaine.com. From what we can gather in 2021 the rule became: Between May 15 through Labor Day dogs are permitted off-leash 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM. NO dogs allowed on the beach between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Dogs must be on-leash from 5:00 PM to Dusk, and leashes must not be longer than 12 feet. More importantly, dogs MUST stay 100 feet away from the restricted Plover areas. There are steep fines for dog owners breaking these rules. Also please note: No dogs allowed within the public way from the top of Old Orchard Street to the beach, which includes the area known as the square, during the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day from the hours of 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM.
Harpswell, ME
Mitchell Field: This 120 acre park that offers trails, open fields and a small rocky beach. Dogs are allowed all day, and must be on leash 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Other times dogs must be under owner control, which is defined as within sight and returns upon command. North Beach: NO dogs allowed. South Beach: Dogs can be off leash to swim during 10-4 leashing hours. For complete rules visit Harpswell.Maine.gov.
Stockton Springs, ME
Sandy Point Beach: Dogs are welcome at Sandy Point Beach Park and Trails, but should be leashed or otherwise under their owner’s control. To learn more about this beach and park, visit StocktonSprings.org.
Lamoine, ME
Lamoine Beach Park: Dogs are allowed all day on-leash at this small town owned beach with views of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island. Please note Lamoine Beach Park is different than Lamoine State Park, located right up the road. NO dogs allowed at Lamoine State Beach. For more information visit, Lamoine-Me.gov.
Please remember your Dog Etiquette when enjoying these beaches so that dogs will continued to be welcomed! Always pick up after your dog. Use a leash when required to, and if your dog isn’t good at commands keep the leash on even if it is an off-leash area. Respect the Piping Plover nesting areas. Respect your fellow beach visitors.
