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Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a pet-friendly destination that welcomes Fido year-round. Before Memorial Day and after Labor Day weekend, your leashed pup can frolic along the beach with no restricted hours. During the summer, your dog can enjoy the beach before 10:00 AM and after 6:00 PM at the north end of Virginia Beach above 42nd Street or at the south end in the Sandbridge area. Visit Website

Or call (757) 385-4621 or email fun@VBgov.com for more information.

Reviews

BringFido Guest Rating

Virginia Beach has received a rating of 3.2 out of 5 bones by 13 canine critics on BringFido.

  • Malissa
    Nov 12, 2022
    Great Beach to play

    If your dog is well behaved then off-leash is fine between Labor Day and Memorial Day. we visited in November and it wasn’t crowded so 2 of our 3 dogs got to run loose and play. we didn’t let our Golden Retriever puppy free since she would likely not listen to stay close. The boardwalk was is cement and in excellent condition for a nice walk to dry off after playing in sand and water before getting back in the RV

  • Melissa
    Apr 1, 2022
    Perfect pup beach-April 1st

    Mulligan walked us down the boardwalk walk and everyone was so friendly. Then he ran off leash down the actual beach which is something you’d be very hard to find in New Hampshire. He had a blast and even met the beach police on their ATVS! Spending the night right on the beach so dog friendly everywhere.

  • Ashleigh
    Sep 18, 2021
    Friendly but...

    Love the beach but not the best place for socializing a pup. Made that mistake myself. But a load of friendly people if you pups can get over the load trucks and motorcycles

  • Lori
    Aug 19, 2021
    Dogs

    This dog rule seems to be an act of ridiculousness. Who's gonna want to wait till 6pm to go to the beach. Second who's gonna want to leave the beach before 10am. My dog is my child. In FL they don't have rules like this. These rules are to controlling & unaccomodating. These people need to drop the 1800s way of doing things & come up to speed. If the dog is on a leash who the heck cares if the dog is on a public beach at any time of the day. Leave people alone & let them enjoy their time at the beach with their pet. Thanks!

  • Kassandra
    May 23, 2020
    Virginia Beach

    Went to the beach and looked for signs to be sure they accepted dogs. Well didn’t see any took my dog with me and a life guard drove by told us that she needed a leash ok no problem, then police went said she shouldn’t be but they were going to let it go, and the third time said she wasn’t allowed between hours 10a to 6p. Little disappointed as I looked prior to coming and then it took three times to tell us that. My dog was listening to voice commands was only near those she knows. Also, I did the research before coming and was in the area that online said was allowed.

  • Brenda
    Jun 22, 2018
    Pretty beach!

    We went with our pup Logan and parked on 46th street after 6. Everyone was super friendly to Logan and he made a bunch of new furiends. People around us didn’t mind dogs being off leash as long as they’re good on voice commands. Only thing we didn’t like is that they’re not allowed on the boardwalk on holidays but other that that We had a great time and will be back!

  • Theresa
    More than a year ago
    Dog Friendly? Only certain times.

    We love Virginia Beach, but I love my dog more. The rules are different here and during peak seasons they are not allowed on the beach except in areas far away from the rest of the activities. Came in June during an art show on the boardwalk where I was walking with my leashed friend. Was asked by a female police officer if I was a vendor and I told her no. She told me then that my dog was not allowed on the boardwalk after 10 am through the summer months. I was really disappointed wondering why only vendors dogs are allowed. Is there a difference? Not to me.... Will never comeback during the summer.

  • Donna r
    More than a year ago
    Head to Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach

    The beach fee is much cheaper than at First Landing: $5 per day. It is on Lynnhaven Roads. The body of water on the N side of VA Beach where the Ocean and Chesapeake converge. There is Bayville Farms park less than 2 miles to the S with free admission and lots of trees. Bayville is pet-friendly. hungry, and want some great Southern cooking? Piccadilly Cafeteria is about 9 miles s of Bayville, and about 10 miles from Lynnhaven. The food is the best, and very affordable. Only catch, it is not pet-friendly. So if it is hot, you'll have to take-out.

  • Lyndsay
    More than a year ago
    Not impressed

    Really had to go out of oir way with the pup. Was not allowed on the Boardwalk or beaches after 10am. He goes everywhere with us so not very convienent. First Landing state park was much more impressive, dogs can be there anytime while leashed.

  • Gayle
    More than a year ago
    Virginia Beach Dog Etiquette

    Virginia Beach is an unusually dog friendly town. The law allows dogs to be off-leash on the beach with these restrictions: During the summer, dogs can only go on the beach north of 42nd street or south of Rudee Inlet and only before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m In the resort area between 41st & Rudee Inlet, dogs are only allowed on the boardwalk before 10:00 and never allowed on the beach itself. The law also states that dogs off leash must be under direct, positive voice control at all times.

    It is important for dog owners to remember that not everyone is a dog person and not
    every dog is dog friendly. The future of the privilege to let our canine friends enjoy the beach is dependent on every dog owner observing the following dog etiquette:

    • Keep your dog on a leash unless he can be recalled reliably & quickly even with
    distractions. Be vigilant & keep a watchful eye at all times when off the leash.
    • Keep him from running uninvited to people, leashed dogs or unfamiliar dogs who might be anxious or fearful. Normally well behaved dogs may become more aggressive when around unfamiliar dogs. Dogs who are leashed may feel threatened by off leash dogs charging at them.
    • Retain a leash at all times so that you can quickly leash & remove your dog in the event of a problem.
    • Leash & remove your dog immediately at the first sign of fearful, anxious or aggressive
    behavior
    • Dogs off leash might claim balls that do not belong to them, which can lead to aggressive behavior. Do not allow your dog to play ball with an unfamiliar dog.
    • If a fight breaks out, pull the dogs apart from the back. Exchange contact info & call
    Animal Control immediately 757-385-5000 ext 2.
    • Fill in any holes dug in the sand so other people and dogs won’t fall in and hurt
    themselves.
    • Always Scoop the Poop year round.

    Many beaches have banned dogs because there were incidents with a person or dog. Or because too many owners did not scoop the poop. In a world where one bad experience can ruin it for everyone else, please maintain these common sense dog etiquette when on the beaches at Virginia Beach.

  • Michaela
    More than a year ago
    no leash, please

    My main problem was that the dog had to be on leash at all times.

  • Rebecca
    More than a year ago
    Chicks Beach area the Best

    We have taken our Golden Retrievers to the Chicks Beach area for years. Dogs are allowed on the beach before 10 a.m. and after 6:00 between Memorial Day and Labor Day. After that, they are allowed anytime. It's just very dog friendly and not that crowded. Dogs are supposed to be leashed, but people do let their dogs off leash some to play and swim as long as they are under voice control.

  • Melissa
    More than a year ago
    Pet friendly

    Just visited norfolk and Virginia beach. Dogs are allowed on-leash before memorial day and after labor day. But we were told that dogs are still allowed after 6pm during high season. The only thing though is that dogs are not allowed on the board walk during this high season until after 6pm which seems odd to me but we had to leave after a police woman asked us to. Other than that our puppy just loved digging on the sand and running around :)

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