Dogs on Massachusetts beaches
Each Massachusetts town sets its own beach rules for dogs, often a summer ban from spring to Labor Day or later. State (DCR) beaches close to dogs from April 1 to September 15. Some towns, like Gloucester, allow off-leash dogs in the off-season.
Dogs allowedOff-leash OKLeash requiredNo dogs some hoursNo dogs that dayDog walk (paw marker)Walk route
Tap a beach or walk on the map to see its dog rules. Tapping a walk with a mapped route zooms to the green route line. Use two fingers to move the map on a phone.
What we coverCape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Ann, Boston and state beaches: 88 beaches. Next: Nantucket (once lifeguard season dates are confirmed), more South Shore and North Shore towns, and Dukes County beaches on Martha's Vineyard. Beaches not on the map aren't checked yet.
Shorebird closuresPiping plover and tern nesting areas close to dogs from spring to fall, and can change daily. Signs on the beach always take priority.
Leash laws"Dogs allowed" means there's no beach rule against dogs that day. Town and state leash laws still apply unless a beach is marked off-leash.
Still checkingRules for Bourne and Yarmouth come from a guide or an older town document, and are marked "not yet confirmed".