Dog Friendly Vacations South Carolina – This comprehensive beach guide for dog owners aims to help you easily find the perfect South Carolina beach to take your dog.
If you live on the coast or are just in town for a visit, navigating the patchwork of beach dog rules and regulations can be difficult, but not anymore! The following alphabetical list summarizes published regulations regarding dogs on the beach and provides links to relevant information sources and/or contact information. When rules are not published, Audubon South Carolina provides appropriate recommendations.
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In addition to knowing the rules, it’s also helpful to understand why they apply. Often this is done to coincide with the tourist season and increased beach attendance. But at best, the rules are in place to protect the declining populations of shorebirds and seabirds that depend on these beaches for survival.
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Pipit and seabirds see dogs as predators, so no matter how friendly your pup is, just seeing your four-legged friend can cause birds to abandon their nests, putting their eggs and chicks at risk of dying from the heat or predation. Mom and Dad only need a few minutes in the nest for the eggs and chicks to die in the hot summer sun. Dogs also increase bird kills during spring and fall migration. Birds see humans and dogs as predators, so when they approach, they waste valuable energy flying to eat. This means you spend less time eating and resting as you travel thousands of miles.
Regardless of posted rules, if you see flocks of birds on the beach or signs indicating possible nesting sites nearby, keep your distance, keep your dog on a leash at all times, and do your best not to disturb the birds. Their lives and the entire population depend on it!
This list was last updated in February 2023. Please contact [email protected] for relevant updates on published rules or regulations.
The reserve’s beaches, which are important resting and nesting sites for birds, are not suitable for dogs. Dogs must be controlled at all times in the central area of the reserve.
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There are several offshore islands in the area where different rules apply. To view DNR managed beaches that are not on this list, open them in a new tab: https://www2.dnr..gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/ManagedLand/122
There are no dog rules posted online on Bay Point Island, but it is an important area for shorebirds and seabirds. Because the island has a vulnerable bird population, Audubon encourages visitors to the island to leave their dogs at home.
There are many islands within the boundaries of Cape Romain NWR that share the same rules. Bulls Island gets a special mention on this list because ecotourism boats often travel to the island.
(c) No dogs are allowed on Capers Island North Beach from April 1 to August 31. Closed areas for dogs are published by the Department of Natural Resources.
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(d) Dogs on leashes or similar devices are permitted in designated areas of Price’s Inlet.
(b) Dogs are prohibited in all other areas from April 1 to August 30. Closed areas for dogs are published by the Department of Natural Resources.
Dogs are allowed on the beach before 9am and after 5pm. Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Dogs are allowed on the beach at any time of the year, but must be kept on a leash no longer than 7 feet and controlled at all times.
(a) Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day: No dogs allowed between 10 A.M. and 5 p.m. April 1
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(b) Thursday before Memorial Day and Tuesday after Labor Day – September 30: Dogs must be on a leash between 10 A.M. and 5 p.m.
Dogs must be on a leash or under positive voice control at all times. Animal waste must be removed and properly disposed of by beach animal control personnel. It is illegal to allow your pet to chase or harass wild animals.
During the official beach season from April 1st to September 30th, pets are allowed on the beach anytime before 10:00am, after 5:00pm or during the off season. Beaufort County law requires dogs to be on a leash at all times.
Dogs must be on a lead at all times when on or along the beach between 9am and 7pm all year round.
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Dogs are allowed on the island, but only off-leash on the beach between Marshmallow Walk and Willow Walk. All dogs, even those on a leash, must stay away from the pied piper nesting area at the end of the island during the summer when the sun is out. Avoid climbing above the high tide line and dune areas where plovers may be at risk of using them for shelter, nesting or breeding.
Edingsville Beach is a private beach with no rules posted online. This beach is also known as Jeremy Cay Private Community.
May 1 – October 31: Dogs are allowed on Edisto Beach but must be on a leash. November 1 – April 30: Dogs are off-leash.
Animals are allowed on the beach as long as they are physically restrained or on a leash no longer than 6 meters. Owners must remove pets that are noisy or dangerous, or that threaten or harass wildlife.
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May 1 – September 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 10:00 and 18:00. October 1 – April 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
All year round, dogs must be leashed and controlled while on the beach, but running, walking, playing fetch and swimming are allowed. Dogs are not allowed at Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Reserve, on the northernmost tip of the island.
Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day: No dogs allowed between 10 A.M. and 5 p.m. April 1 – Thursday before Memorial Day and Tuesday after Labor Day – September 30: Dogs must be on a leash between 10 A.M. and 5 p.m.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Animal waste must be removed and properly disposed of by beach animal control personnel. It is illegal to allow your pet to chase or harass wild animals.
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Dogs are allowed on the beach but must be on a leash. Keep dogs away from backwaters and tide pools and stay away from the edges of all lagoons on the island, where crocodiles are common.
May 1 – Labor Day: No dogs allowed on the beach between 10:00am and 5:00pm. All year round, dogs must be controlled at all times and on a leash no longer than 7 feet.
Dogs must be on a leash between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Dogs that are not on a leash at any other time must be under voice control and owners must be able to show voice control to law enforcement officers upon request.
Dogs are kept on leashes all year round. It’s a good idea to keep your dog away from bird nesting areas on the south end of the island and away from large flocks of birds on the beach. Harbor Island complies with Beaufort County regulations requiring dogs to be on a leash at all times while on the beach. There are several dog waste bag dispensers located around the island for convenient collection.
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May 1 – Labor Day: No dogs allowed on the beach from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
All beach animals must be on a leash no longer than 7 feet and under the control of an animal keeper.
To protect important shorebird habitat, no dogs are allowed at the end of North Beach beyond the posted markings. Animals are allowed in most other outdoor areas as long as they are physically restrained or on a leash no longer than 6 meters. Owners must remove pets that are noisy or dangerous, or that threaten or harass wildlife.
Dogs are allowed on the south end of the beach all year round. Dogs are prohibited on the property, including the north end of the beach and Watchtower. The north end extends from the beach access road from the north parking area to the pier. All dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times.
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April 1 – September 14: Dogs are allowed off-leash from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. September 15 – March 31: Dogs are allowed off-leash from 4:00 PM to 10:00 AM. Dog owners must keep their dogs on leashes, give voice commands to their dogs and pick up their waste. Otherwise, dogs must be on a leash and under full control, even in the water.
All dogs living or visiting the Isle of Palmas must be vaccinated against rabies and wear a metal tag on their leash with the name of the veterinarian who provided the vaccine. Dog owners must always have a valid rabies vaccination certificate.
Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, with restrictions depending on location, season and time of day. the dogs
