Dog Rules for North Carolina Beaches

North Carolina is located on the eastern coast of the United States and is home to numerous protected beaches. Many beaches in North Carolina do allow pets; beaches like Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and the Beaches of Currituck County. Every beach has a specific set of guidelines to follow when bringing a dog.

  1. Leash Laws

    • Each beach in North Carolina has separate rules about their leash laws. All beaches require leashes on pets, although the Beaches of Currituck County do not have a length requirement. The following locations require a 6-foot or shorter leash: Kitty Hawk, Manteo and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The following locations allow dogs as long as they are on leashes that are 10 feet or shorter: Duck, Southern Shores, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. Kitty Hawk beach does allow pets to be on a 12-foot leash from the day after Labor Day until the day before Memorial Day, and both Kitty Hawk and Duck beaches allow well-behaved pets to play in the water unleashed under supervision.

    Time of Year

    • Restrictions are set forth on when dogs are welcome at individual beaches. The following North Carolina beaches are dog-friendly year-round: Duck, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Manteo. The Southern Shores beach does not allow dogs from May 15 until September 15 of every year, and Kill Devil Hills does not allow dogs during the same dates from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. unless it is aiding a handicap person.

    Various Rules

    • All beaches in North Carolina require that dogs wear a vaccination tag with proof of a current rabies vaccination. It is also the responsibility of the pet owner to clean up after all pets on beach property. The Visitors Bureau of Dare County recommends bringing an adequate supply of drinking water for the pet and to be cautious of the temperature of the sand on the pet's foot pads. It may be best to bring the pet onto the beach when the sand is cooler in the morning or the evening.