Dog Beaches & Parks in South Florida

If you’re moving to Palm Beach or Broward with a dog, you have good options—ocean access, freshwater swim spots, and clean fenced parks. Rules vary by city, so I’ve pulled the current hours, permit details, and tradeoffs for each popular place below.

Open the Dog Parks & Beaches Map (Apple Maps Collection)

Jupiter—Jupiter Dog Beach

• Where: From dune crossover #26 to #57 along A1A.
• Vibe: Long, wide beach with plenty of room to run and swim.
• Good to know: Off-leash with reliable voice control. Avoid guarded swim zones. Free parking at nearby parks.

Boca Raton—Bark Beach at Spanish River Park

• Where: Between Lifeguard Towers 18–20 at Spanish River Park.
• Hours: 7 days a week; 7–9am and 3pm–Sunset (EST) / 5pm–Sunset (DST).
• Permit: Annual permit required (Oct–Sept cycle). Resident: $35/dog · Non-resident: $210/dog · 3-day pass: $15/dog (3 consecutive days). Each dog needs its own permit; limit 2 dogs per person.
• Parking: Beach parking permit is not included — purchase separately or use metered parking on Spanish River Blvd (limited).
• Tip: Midday gap between the morning and afternoon sessions is real — plan around it. Bring water; no digging allowed.

Hollywood—Hollywood Dog Beach

• Where: Pershing St to Custer St.
• Hours/Cost: Daily, sunrise–sunset; dog beach is free (standard beach parking rates apply).
• Note: Leash requirements and enforcement follow posted signs; keep dogs leashed outside the dog-beach zone.

Fort Lauderdale—Canine Beach

• Where: Small, marked stretch of beach just north of Sunrise Blvd.
• Hours: Weekends only, afternoons/evenings with seasonal times.
• Permit: Weekend or annual dog-beach permit required.
• Why choose it: Easy add-on to a Las Olas or Birch State Park day.

Boynton Beach—Oceanfront Bark (Event)

• Where: Oceanfront Park.
• Schedule: Select Saturday mornings (seasonal, typically Nov–Feb) with free parking during the event window.
• Format: Temporary fenced off-leash beach area.

Delray Beach: Dogs are not permitted on Delray’s municipal beaches (service animals only). Choose nearby Jupiter or Boca instead for beach time.

Fort Lauderdale—Snyder Park Dog Swim (East Lake)

• What it is: A dog swim lake with adjacent fenced bark park.
• Hours: 7am–7pm (Mar–Oct); 7am–6pm (Nov–Feb); routine maintenance closures.
• Access: City rules apply; membership/entry fee may be required.
• Why it helps: Reliable water days when the ocean is rough.

Palm Beach County

• Canine Cove – Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park (West Boca): Four pods by size, shade, water, wash station; closes Wed 12–3pm for maintenance.
• Lake Ida Dog Park (Delray Beach): Big/small dog areas, shaded seating; part of Lake Ida West Park; morning weekday closures for upkeep.
• Pooch Pines – Okeeheelee Park (West Palm): Large fields, agility features; mid-day Wed maintenance window.
• Lake Woof – John Prince Park (Lake Worth): Multiple yards around the lake, good paths; Thu mid-day maintenance.

Broward County

• Barkham at Markham Park (Sunrise): 3.5 acres; separate small/large areas; fee to enter park on weekends/holidays.
• Woofing Waters – Quiet Waters Park (Deerfield): Seasonal splash/water play area for dogs inside Quiet Waters.
• Happy Tails Dog Park (Plantation): Three zones including an agility/exercise area; shady seating.
• Snyder Park Bark Park (Fort Lauderdale): Fenced areas plus the swim lake noted above.

• Boca Raton Bark Beach: Annual permit (Oct–Sept). Now open 7 days a week; morning and late-afternoon sessions only (midday closed).
• Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach: Weekend or annual permit; hours vary by season.
• Broward County Parks: Many parks charge a weekend/holiday gate fee per person/vehicle.
• Maintenance Windows: County dog parks commonly close one weekday mid-day. Check signage before you go.

• Water + portable bowl
• Towels (and seat cover for the drive home)
• Waste bags (even if dispensers are on site)
• Leash (6 ft max is standard) + backup slip lead
• Shade or cooling vest in summer

• Skip peak heat. Aim for early mornings or late afternoons.
• Watch surf and rip currents; choose the lake option if your dog is new to waves.
• Keep vaccines and flea/tick meds current.
• Stay within the marked zones; leash up from the car to the beach entrance.
• If your dog guards toys or gets overstimulated, choose fenced parks during quieter windows.

From recent community threads: Canine Cove (West Boca) for space and shade, Mizner Bark (Boca) with three size-based areas, Lake Ida Dog Park (Delray) for easy parking, and Woofing Waters (Deerfield) for water-loving pups. If you want true open beach to run, Jupiter Dog Beach is the most consistent choice.