Dog-Friendly Beaches

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Tybee Island?

Leave the dog home. No dogs, ever Dogs are not allowed on Tybee beaches at all — the ban protects nesting sea turtles and shorebirds, and it is enforced (first-offense fines run into the hundreds). Service animals excepted. Tybee does have a dog park by the Rivers End campground, and leashed dogs are fine in the neighborhoods and business district.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Hilton Head Island?

Bring the dog. Leash or voice control Outside the restricted daytime hours, dogs may be on a leash OR under positive voice control. A separate restriction protects shorebirds near Fish Haul Creek — watch for posted signage there.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Isle of Palms?

Bring the dog. Off-leash OK Off-leash still means leash in hand, dog under voice command, and you clean up. At every other hour dogs are welcome but leashed — including in the water.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Sullivan's Island?

Bring the dog. Off-leash OK The strictest permit regime on this coast, and it is enforced. Confirm the current season's hours with the Town before you rely on them.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Folly Beach?

Leash up. Leashed only Leashed and under control whenever dogs are allowed; never on the pier. Members of the FIDO club with current tags get off-leash privileges outside peak season.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Hunting Island State Park?

Leash up. Leashed only State-park rule: leash no longer than six feet, always. Dogs are kept off the beach in the middle of the day through turtle season. Not allowed in cabins or park buildings.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Edisto Beach State Park?

Leash up. Leashed only One of the friendlier stretches in the off-season — voice control is accepted on the sand from November through April. Six-foot leash the rest of the year.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Daufuskie Island?

We have not checked. Check with the town Daufuskie's beach is unincorporated Beaufort County and we have not confirmed a dog ordinance for it — we would rather say so than invent one. Assume leashed and under control, watch for posted signage, and check with the County.

Q: Can I take my dog on the beach at Beachwalker Park (Kiawah)?

Leash up. Leashed only The only public access to Kiawah, and the rest of the island is private. Charleston County requires a leash and clean-up; the Town of Kiawah adds the season on top. Off-leash still means you stay with the dog and carry a lead, and you leash up if Beach Patrol or another beachgoer asks.

Dog-friendly Lowcountry

Can the dog be on the beach right now?

The rules change by beach, by season and by the hour, and getting them wrong is a fine rather than a telling-off. Tybee bans dogs outright. Sullivan’s Island wants a licence. Hilton Head keys off Memorial Day, and Isle of Palms off the sunrise. Each card below shows the answer for Sunday 6:44 AM and then the whole year underneath it. 2 of these 9 are confirmed against the town’s own page; the rest say so.

Savannah

Tybee Island

Leave the dog home

No dogs, ever

The rule

All year

Every hour: No dogs, ever

Dogs are not allowed on Tybee beaches at all — the ban protects nesting sea turtles and shorebirds, and it is enforced (first-offense fines run into the hundreds). Service animals excepted. Tybee does have a dog park by the Rivers End campground, and leashed dogs are fine in the neighborhoods and business district.

Not yet checked against the ordinance itself · Source

Hilton Head

Hilton Head Island

Bring the dog

Leash or voice control

Changes at 10am · No dogs

The hours, in full

1 October – 31 March

Every hour: Leash or voice control

1 April – the Thursday before Memorial Day

10am–5pm: Leashed only
5pm–10am: Leash or voice control

the Friday before Memorial Day – Labor Day

10am–5pm: No dogs
5pm–10am: Leash or voice control

the day after Labor Day – 30 September

10am–5pm: Leashed only
5pm–10am: Leash or voice control

Outside the restricted daytime hours, dogs may be on a leash OR under positive voice control. A separate restriction protects shorebirds near Fish Haul Creek — watch for posted signage there.

Confirmed with Town of Hilton Head Island · Source

Charleston

Isle of Palms

Bring the dog

Off-leash OK

Changes at 9am · Leashed only

The hours, in full

1 April – 14 September

5am–9am: Off-leash OK
9am–5am: Leashed only

15 September – 31 March

10am–4pm: Leashed only
4pm–10am: Off-leash OK

Off-leash still means leash in hand, dog under voice command, and you clean up. At every other hour dogs are welcome but leashed — including in the water.

Confirmed with City of Isle of Palms · Source

Charleston

Sullivan's Island

Bring the dog

Off-leash OK

Changes at 10am · No dogs

The hours, in full

1 May – 30 September

5am–10am: Off-leash OK
10am–6pm: No dogs
6pm–5am: Leashed only

1 October – 30 April

5am–12pm: Off-leash OK
12pm–5am: Leashed only

Permit required. A Sullivan's Island dog licence is required to have a dog anywhere in public on the island — residents and visitors alike. Buy it at Town Hall; bring a current rabies certificate.

The strictest permit regime on this coast, and it is enforced. Confirm the current season's hours with the Town before you rely on them.

Not yet checked against the ordinance itself · Source

Charleston

Folly Beach

Leash up

Leashed only

Changes at 10am · No dogs

The hours, in full

1 May – 30 September

10am–6pm: No dogs
6pm–10am: Leashed only

1 October – 30 April

Every hour: Leashed only

Leashed and under control whenever dogs are allowed; never on the pier. Members of the FIDO club with current tags get off-leash privileges outside peak season.

Not yet checked against the ordinance itself · Source

Beaufort

Hunting Island State Park

Leash up

Leashed only

Changes at 10am · No dogs

The hours, in full

1 March – 31 October

10am–5pm: No dogs
5pm–10am: Leashed only

1 November – 28 February

Every hour: Leashed only

State-park rule: leash no longer than six feet, always. Dogs are kept off the beach in the middle of the day through turtle season. Not allowed in cabins or park buildings.

Not yet checked against the ordinance itself · Source

Charleston

Edisto Beach State Park

Leash up

Leashed only

The hours, in full

1 May – 31 October

Every hour: Leashed only

1 November – 30 April

Every hour: Leash or voice control

One of the friendlier stretches in the off-season — voice control is accepted on the sand from November through April. Six-foot leash the rest of the year.

Not yet checked against the ordinance itself · Source

Daufuskie

Daufuskie Island

We have not checked

Check with the town

Daufuskie's beach is unincorporated Beaufort County and we have not confirmed a dog ordinance for it — we would rather say so than invent one. Assume leashed and under control, watch for posted signage, and check with the County.

We have not confirmed a rule for this beach · Source

Charleston

Beachwalker Park (Kiawah)

Leash up

Leashed only

The hours, in full

1 March – 15 October

Every hour: Leashed only

16 October – 28 February

Every hour: Off-leash OK

The only public access to Kiawah, and the rest of the island is private. Charleston County requires a leash and clean-up; the Town of Kiawah adds the season on top. Off-leash still means you stay with the dog and carry a lead, and you leash up if Beach Patrol or another beachgoer asks.

Not yet checked against the ordinance itself · Source

Rules change and signage wins. Always check what is posted at the access point.