Are Dogs Allowed on Long Beach? Rosie’s Beach, Leash Rules, and Fines

Dogs are allowed on only one stretch of shoreline in Long Beach: Rosie’s Dog Beach, a 4.1-acre off-leash area on Ocean Boulevard between Granada Avenue and Roycroft Avenue. Every other sand beach in the city is closed to dogs, and citations for bringing a dog onto a prohibited beach start at $100.¹

Rosie’s Dog Beach: The One Place Dogs Can Go

Rosie’s is the only off-leash dog beach in Los Angeles County. It opened in 2003 and covers about 4.1 acres along Ocean Boulevard between Granada and Roycroft avenues. The area is not fenced, so your dog needs to respond to voice commands before you unclip the leash.²

Hours are 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Metered parking is in the Granada Avenue lot. The city stocks waste bag dispensers, pooper scoopers, trash cans, and nearby restrooms, though dispensers do run empty on busy days, so pack your own bags as a backup.²

A few rules apply specifically inside the zone. One dog per adult. No aggressive dogs. No puppies under four months, and no females in heat. Your dog can be off-leash within the designated area, but must be on a leash of six feet or shorter walking to and from the beach, including through the parking lot and along sidewalks.²

Where Dogs Are Not Allowed

Dogs are banned from every other sand beach in Long Beach. They are also banned from the beach bike path, with one narrow exception: a leashed dog may cross the bike path to reach Rosie’s or another permitted area.¹

Crossing is allowed. Walking along the path with your dog, even next to Rosie’s, is not, and can be cited.

Leash, License, and Cleanup Rules

Everywhere in Long Beach outside the off-leash zone at Rosie’s, dogs must be on a leash of six feet or shorter in public. Owners must pick up and dispose of waste immediately, and the dog must be under the control of an adult.¹

Your dog also needs a collar with current registration tags, up-to-date vaccinations, and a valid city license. Long Beach charges $28 per year to license a spayed or neutered dog and $250 per year for one that isn’t altered. Seniors pay half.³

Fines for Breaking the Rules

Animal Control Officers, police, Marine Patrol, Park Rangers, and lifeguards can all write citations for leash violations, failure to clean up, or bringing a dog onto a prohibited beach. Fines escalate for repeat offenses within one year:¹

First violation: $100
Second violation of the same code section: $200
Third and subsequent violations: $250 to $500, depending on the specific violation

Unpaid fines can lead to late charges or further collection action.¹

Keeping Your Dog Safe on the Sand

Hot Sand

Southern California sand heats up fast. When air temperature hits 85°F, sand can reach 125 to 140°F, hot enough to burn paw pads in under a minute. Press your bare hand or foot against the sand for ten seconds; if you can’t hold it, your dog shouldn’t walk on it. The 6:00 a.m. opening at Rosie’s makes it easy to beat the worst summer heat.

Saltwater

Dogs that swallow too much ocean water while swimming or chasing a toy can develop saltwater toxicity. Early signs include muscle tremors, disorientation, and seizures. Smaller amounts can still cause severe diarrhea from the magnesium content. Offer fresh water before you go and in regular breaks between swims.

Algal Blooms and Water Quality

The EPA advises keeping dogs out of water that looks slimy, has foam or scum on the surface, appears unnaturally blue, bright green, brown, or red, or smells foul.⁴ Long Beach tests ocean water three times a week and posts closure or warning signs when results fall outside state standards. Check conditions before you go by calling the city’s water quality hotline at (562) 570-4199.⁵

Marine Mammals Change the Rules, Even at Rosie’s

Long Beach’s coast is home to seals and sea lions. Under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, harassing these animals is illegal, and that includes letting your dog chase or corner one. The law defines harassment broadly, covering any act with the potential to disturb an animal’s behavior, including resting, breathing, or nursing.⁶

NOAA recommends staying at least 50 yards from seals and sea lions. Civil penalties go up to $36,498, with possible criminal fines or up to a year in prison. If you spot a marine mammal on the beach, leash your dog and give the animal wide clearance, even inside Rosie’s off-leash zone.⁶

Service Dogs Are an Exception

Service dogs trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability are allowed in public areas where pets are otherwise banned, including the restricted beach sections. This is a federal right under the ADA, and government agencies must modify “no pets” policies to accommodate them.⁷

Emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. A dog that provides comfort but has not been trained to perform a specific task related to a disability does not have the same public access rights.⁷

1
City of Long Beach. Dog Leash Required
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City of Long Beach. Rosies Dog Beach
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City of Long Beach. Pet Licensing
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US EPA. How to Protect Your Pooch
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City of Long Beach. Ocean Water Monitoring
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NOAA Fisheries. Frequent Questions: Feeding or Harassing Marine Mammals in the Wild
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U.S. Department of Justice ADA.gov. Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA