Want to bring your dog to the beach in Beaufort County? Check out these rules first
Editor’s note: A version of this story originally was published on Aug. 9, 2016. It was updated on June 3, 2020.
Want to take your dogs with you to the beach in Beaufort County but find the rules confusing?
You aren’t alone.
Here is a look at the where, when and how of letting your pups run through the surf at some of the county’s popular beaches.
Fish Haul Beach Park
This Hilton Head Island beach is in the area some locals know as Michelville Beach Park. The name was changed in 2017.
Hilton Head’s Beach Ordinance sets rules for the town’s beaches starting at the southern shore of Fish Haul Creek and moving south around the island.
Because all of Fish Haul Beach Park is north of Fish Haul Creek, state laws for beach usage apply to that area.
Dogs are allowed on this beach year-round at any time of day, but they must remain leashed at all times.
As an aside, Hilton Head code enforcement officer Wendy Conant noted, this is the same reason that Fish Haul Beach is the only beach on Hilton Head where horse-riding is permitted.
Other Hilton Head Island beaches
The rules for dogs on the beach get a little more complicated elsewhere on the island.
Those rules vary based on the time of year.
- From the Friday before Memorial Day to the Monday after Labor Day:
Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. unless they are service animals. At other times, any dog may be on the beach on a leash or under voice control.
- From the Tuesday after Labor Day to Sept. 30:
Dogs may be on the beach anytime, but they must be on leash between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Dogs are not allowed in designated swimming areas.
- From Oct. 1 to March 31:
Dogs can be on the beach anytime, either on a leash or under voice control.
- From April 1 to the Thursday before Memorial Day:
Dogs may be on the beach anytime, but they must be on leash between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Dogs are not allowed in designated swimming areas.
Hunting Island State Park
By contrast, the rules for dog owners visiting Hunting Island State Park are straightforward.
Dogs are allowed on the beach at Hunting Island year round at all times of the day.
They must be on a leash no more than six feet in length, and the person holding the leash must be in control of their pet, the rules say.
Dog owners who allow their pet to disturb wildlife or other guests, or destroy habitat, will be asked to leave, as will those with noisy pets.
The Sands
Dogs are welcome year round, but they must be leashed at all times at The Sands in Port Royal.
Dog owner etiquette
At all beaches in Beaufort County, owners are expected to pick up after their dogs. Find dog waste stations at every public access on Hilton Head beaches and elsewhere.
Don’t allow your pets to chase or harass shorebirds or other wildlife. Frightened birds might leave their offspring to bake in the sun or be eaten by predators, or the birds might not get the rest needed to complete their migratory journey, The Island Packet previously reported.
Designated swimming areas
At certain times of the year, dogs are prohibited from designated swimming areas on Hilton Head.
The following beaches have designated swimming areas and are specifically mentioned as being off-limits to pets from April 1 to the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend and from the Tuesday after Labor Day weekend to Sept. 30:
- Alder Lane
- Coligny
- Driessen
- Folly Field
- Islanders
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 2:19 PM with the headline "Want to bring your dog to the beach in Beaufort County? Check out these rules first."
